<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+14:5-13">Romans 14:5-13</span></span></p><p>It seems almost unbelievable that the thing which stopped the psalmist's feet from slipping and sliding was not the awareness of his relationship with God but the awareness of his relationship with his brothers and sisters. It might not have been the highest spiritual principle he could have held on to, but it saved him from disaster. It is this matter - our relationship with one another - that Paul is speaking about in today's passage. You will be familiar, I am sure, with the passages in  <span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+8,10">1 Corinthians 8,10</span> where Paul enlarges on this subject and where, in a remarkable statement, he says: "I mean for the sake of his conscience, not yours, do not eat it. For why should another man's scruples apply to me, and my liberty of action be determined by his conscience?'  (<span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+10:29">1 Corinthians 10:29</span>, Amplified Bible). He is saying, in other words, that you might see no need to refrain from eating meat offered to idols for your own sake, because your conscience is not offended, but what about your weaker brother for whom Christ also died? You see, "none of us lives to himself alone", so when next the devil tries to convince you that you are an isolated case and that what he is suggesting concerns you and you alone, quote this verse to him. We do not act in isolation; if you fall, you do not fall alone, the whole Church falls also. If nothing else can stop you from doing wrong, remember the people to whom you belong, remember you are part of a heavenly family, and that when you fall, others fall with you.</p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Father, drive deeply into my spirit this truth that I cannot act in isolation, for I am bound up with my redeemed brothers and sisters. Help me experience an ever-growing consciousness of this important fact. In Jesus' Name. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+9:15-22">1 Corinthians 9:15-22</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ac+20:35">Acts 20:35</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="ro+15:1">Romans 15:1</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="1th+5:14">1 Thessalonians 5:14</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>What was Paul's approach to the weaker brethren?</li><li>What was Paul's word to the Thessalonians?</li></ul></div></div>

Let a little light into your soul every day with this wonderful devotional from English pastor Selwyn Hughes.

Every Day Light with Selwyn Hughes

"For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone." (v. 7) 

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="col+1:15-27">Colossians 1:15-27</span></span></p><p>We spend one more day meditating on the text: "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." Today we ask ourselves: What did Jesus mean by the phrase, "for they will inherit the earth"? It means, so I believe, that when we develop the attitude of meekness, the whole universe is behind us. If, for example, we decide to manifest the attitude of anger and hostility rather than cultivating a meek and quiet spirit, then the anger and hostility becomes, as someone put it, "sand in the machinery of life". The universe has been made in a Christlike fashion. Our text for today shows that when God made the world, He made it to work in the way of Christ: "All things were created by him [Christ] and for him." Edison, the scientist, tried eleven hundred experiments, all of which turned out to be failures. Someone said to him: "You must feel that you have wasted your time." "Oh no," answered Edison, "I simply found out eleven hundred ways how not to do things." This is what is happening in the world right now - humanity is finding out how to live. People are discovering that there are some things which the universe will not approve and some things it will approve. The meek are those who have come to terms with reality and know that they cannot twist it to their own ends or make it approve of what cannot be approved. Whoever has the first word in this universe must always remember that the universe has the last word. The Christian who adopts the attitudes of his Master finds the universe backing him in everything he does. </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">Father, thank You for reminding me that life works in one way only - Your way. When I live life as You designed it, then the whole universe works with me. I inherit all things - all that is Yours is mine. Blessed be Your Name for ever. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="php+2:1-11">Philippians 2:1-11</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="joh+1:3">John 1:3</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+8:6">1 Corinthians 8:6</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="heb+1:1-2">Hebrews 1:1-2</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>How did Jesus demonstrate meekness?</li><li>How does this apply to you?</li></ul></div></div>

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth ' all things were created by him and for him." (v. 16)

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="col+1:1-20">Colossians 1:1-20</span></span></p><p>Does salvation come up from mankind through striving, helped by the Divine, or does it come down to us from above, through the act of God and our receptivity of that act? Is it an attainment or an obtainment? The answers separate Christianity from all other religions. Non-Christian religions teach that salvation is the work of mankind; the Christian faith teaches that salvation is the gift of God - Christianity alone falls into the category of obtainment. Some people try to blunt the sharpness of the question "Does mankind strive to reach up to God or does God come down to redeem mankind through the incarnate Jesus?" by saying the answer is both. But by the very nature of things it cannot be both. The starting points are different. One begins with mankind; the other begins with God. Since the beginnings are different, the endings will be different. The whole of the New Testament revolves around the Person and work of Jesus. In some form or another He is on every page. A letter I received protested against a statement I made which went something like this: "There is only one Person around whom the universe can unite, and that Person is Jesus." "There have been good persons in history," said my correspondent, "why not unite around all of them rather than just one?" Because Christ is the meeting point of the human and the divine. No one else can hold that position. An Indian Hindu said recently: "There is no one else bidding for the heart of humanity except Jesus. There is no one else on the field." There isn't! </p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O Father, we want to thank You that when we couldn't come to You, You came down the ladder to us through the Incarnation. We are eternally grateful. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="eph+1:1-23">Ephesians 1:1-23</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="joh+3:31">John 3:31</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+8:6">1 Corinthians 8:6</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>List some of the things that we have obtained in Christ.</li><li>What did John declare about Jesus?</li></ul></div></div>

"... he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead ..." (v. 18) 

<p><span class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold">For Reading and Meditation:</span><br><span class="italic">     <span class="scriptRef" ref="heb+1:1-14">Hebrews 1:1-14</span></span></p><p>The words of our text today point out that though God spoke in times past through prophets and sages (referring to the religion of Judaism), His final Word to this world is in His Son. That is our claim as Christians. Not that the Jewish religion contains nothing of value. God forbid! But it is not God's last Word to the men and women of His creation. No other world faith claims that its great teacher was God incarnate. Yet we claim for Christ just that - and also that as God He meets every human need. He comes to us where we are and He does the work. He can relieve any plight of the human soul, and He has the power to meet every human need. Every spiritually sensitive person is aware of the presence of guilt which arises from indwelling sin, and is aware too that he or she alone can do nothing to dissolve it. Christ atoned for sin and is able to forgive it. Every normal person also stands in awe of death, knowing it is impossible to escape it. But Christ has conquered death and has opened the way to eternal life. Christ's call is to all humanity. He does not differentiate between groups of people or races. He abides no barriers of class or creed. "Whosoever will may come" is His constant message. Devotees of other faiths regard Christians as intolerant when they cannot concede even by implication that there are any "gods" or prophets equal to Him. He is unique in His Person, His mission and in His finished work.</p><p class="center-it italic bold mlr40 mtb20">O God, how can I express my gratitude that I have found the best, or rather that the Best has found me? May I lay hold of all that is in Jesus and reflect Him to the world, not in arrogance but in humility. Amen.</p><div class="tl-lightgrey mt20 pt20 flexbox-row-wrap jc-around"><div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">AdditionalVerses</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="php+2:1-11">Philippians 2:1-11</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="eph+1:22">Ephesians 1:22</span></li><li><span class="scriptRef" ref="1co+8:6">1 Corinthians 8:6</span></li></ul></div>

<div><div class="fs-17 fg-mustard bold center-it">Questions to Consider</div><ul style="margin-top:0px"><li>Why has God exalted Christ?</li><li>What does Paul acknowledge? What is his conclusion?</li></ul></div></div>

"... he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things ..." (v. 2)

<font size="2" face="Verdana">
<p align="justify"><i>There is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. (1 Corinthians 8:6 NIV)</i></p>
<p align="justify">Salvation is not just to get a soul saved, but 
to start that soul on the way to the fullness of Christ. Every ministry in the 
Word and in the Spirit, is governed by that end. And to be just saved and stay 
there is to fail of the purpose of the Word and to fall short of the energy of 
the Holy Spirit. To go to any part of this world in what we call "<i>the work of 
the Lord</i>" must mean that we are governed by this thing: that in that place 
there shall be nothing less than the fullness of Christ; as far as it is 
possible, that Christ shall be everything and in all there. That is final, 
utter, and ultimate. There can be no division and no sharing with Christ. It must be 
Christ as everything and in all.</p>
<p align="justify">When we recognize that that is the aim and 
object of the Holy Spirit, we have life and ministry defined. It applies to all. 
If you are the Lord’s, your life should be governed by the Word of the Lord and 
by the Holy Spirit. If it is not, there is something wrong with your 
relationship to the Lord. Whatever your work is – it may be in the home as a 
parent, it may be in household duties, it may be in business – if you are there 
in relation to the Lord, so far as you personally are concerned, your life has 
got to represent Christ; and that is the ministry. If we carried that into every 
sphere of life, things would be very different. That must challenge every 
motive, that must govern every consideration, that must settle every quarrel, 
every conflict, everything that arises which causes us disturbance, annoyance, 
and throws us into the vortex of some battle. The thing has to be tested on this 
point only – Christ as everything and Christ in all. </p>



</font>

<p>This devotional contains short daily portions from a selection of Mr. Austin-Sparks' messages. In his own words, “Perhaps this is just like a window opened into heaven. If you get the right window you can see quite a lot. You can see great things and you can see far things. But the best that I can hope is that this has just opened a window, and that as you look through it you are seeing one thing - how superior is Jesus Christ to all else, and how superior is the dispensation into which we have come, and how superior are all the resources at our disposal to all that ever was before!” </p><p>Open Windows messages have been selected and compiled by Austin-Sparks.Net from the works of T. Austin-Sparks. In some cases they appear in abridged form. The introductory verse and its associated Bible version have been selected by the editor and did not always appear within the original message.</p>

Open Windows

Filled Unto All the Fulness of God - Chapter 3

 The Fullness Of God 

<p>For us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ. § All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. § Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. § Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.<br><br>I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” … Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen</p>

Daily Light on the Daily Path or Daily Light is a Christian daily devotional scripture reading published by Bagster & Sons about 1875. It has been reprinted continually since then. It consists of brief groupings of scripture passages which speak to prominent Biblical themes—two themes (morning and evening) for each day of the year. It appends no commentary, but simply allows scripture to speak for itself.

Morning Daily Light

 Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion. 

<p><span class="bible-text "> <sup class="verse-num ">6 </sup>yet for us there is but one God,   the Father,   from whom all things came   and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord,   Jesus Christ, through whom all things came   and through whom we live. </span></p>

yet for us there is but one God,<cr>1</cr>  the Father,<cr>2</cr>  from whom all things came<cr>3</cr>  and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord,<cr>4</cr>  Jesus Christ, through whom all things came<cr>5</cr>  and through whom we live.

1 Corinthians 8:6

 6 yet for us there is but one God,   the Father,   from whom all things came   and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord,   Jesus Christ, through whom all things came   and through whom we live.

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and 2011 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

New International Version

 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

<p><span class="bible-text ">yet for us there is but one God,   the Father,   from whom all things came   and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord,   Jesus Christ, through whom all things came   and through whom we live. </span></p>

 yet for us there is but one God,   the Father,   from whom all things came   and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord,   Jesus Christ, through whom all things came   and through whom we live.

Bible Verse of the Day

May 12, 2021

1 Corinthians 8:6 NIV

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