For Reading and Meditation:      Philippians 3:7-21Today we ask: What happens to those who hunger and thirst after righteousness? The answer is clear: they will be filled. Make righteousness your goal and you will be eternally satisfied. If, once again, I might venture upon a paraphrase of my own, I would put it like this: "Congratulations to those who ardently crave to become more and more like Me and to know My righteousness, for they shall find a satisfaction that will never vanish or be destroyed." May I be permitted to ask you this personal question: What are you most hungering and thirsting for? Is it health? Is it relief from pain? Is it freedom from anxiety? Is it financial security? All of these are legitimate cravings, but if your primary hunger and thirst is not to become more and more like Christ, then you will experience an inner emptiness that nothing you chase after can fill. Let me point out one more thing - something that might astonish you: to the extent that your deepest hunger and thirst is not for God, to that extent you will experience spiritual and psychological problems. If you are not hungering and thirsting after Him, you will hunger and thirst after something else. When we make it our goal to glorify God, then we will enjoy Him. We must not make it our goal to enjoy Him in order to glorify Him. Remember the goal of happiness is elusive, regardless of how well- thought-out is our strategy. But the by-product of happiness is freely available to those whose goal is to know God and be found in Him.Father, You are teaching me Your ways - written in Your Word and also in me. Help me to surrender to Your purposes so that I might be the vehicle of victory. Amen.<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>Psalm 38:9</li><li>Psalm 73:25</li><li>Isaiah 26:1-9</li><li>1 Peter 2:2-3</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 the psalmist's confession?</li><li>What did Isaiah's desire cause him to do?</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

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection '" (v. 10) 

OUR beloved Saviour is now at the right hand of God. He waits, expecting His enemies to be made His footstool. He will come again; the time is hastening on; and we should be living in expectation of His appearing. The Christian posture is that of waiting, looking, hasting to the coming of the day of God. He will come the second time, as certainly as He did the first. He will come as a thief in the night. He will come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him. He will come to reign, to reward His people, and to punish His foes. Let us not be slothful, careless, or indifferent about the coming of our Lord. He comes for our salvation. Let us look for Him daily, with earnest desire, ardent hope, fervent love, importunate prayer, and diligent preparation. When He comes, the earth will be delivered from the bondage of corruption, into the glorious liberty of the children of God; the groans of creation will be silenced, the prayers of the Lord's people will be answered, and crowns of righteousness bestowed. Let us abide in Him, that we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.Lo! He comes with clouds descending, Once for favour'd sinners slain; Thousand thousand saints attending, Swell the triumph of His train; Hallelujah! Jesus comes, and comes to reign.

Written by James Smith for his own flock around 1840, but such was the demand that by 1846 over thirty thousand copies where in circulation.

The Believer's Daily Remembrancer

We look for the Saviour. Philippians 3:20

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For … your life is hidden with Christ in God. § For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. § Brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. § Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.

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

 My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word. 

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled. My soul also is greatly troubled; but You, O Lord—how long? Return, O Lord, deliver me! Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake! § My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror has overwhelmed me. And I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” § You have need of endurance. While they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” § Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. § The blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

 My eyes fail from looking upward. 

The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. § We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. § And it will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

 We also eagerly wait for the Saviour. 

As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. § By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him. Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.§ Christ … will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. § As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

 When He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 

Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. § We ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. § Bow down Your heavens, O Lord, and come down; touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven. § To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. § It will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! § The blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. § Our citizenship is in heaven.

 Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! 

Above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around… This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. § It has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore. § They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb.

Evening Daily Light

 The Lord Jesus Christ … will transform our lowly body  that it may be conformed to His glorious body. 

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. § As we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man. The Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, . . . will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. § He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once. If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

 How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? 

We finish our years like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. § Here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. § I am the Lord, I do not change. § Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. § The creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. § Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!

 Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. 

Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! § As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? § Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. § Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. § God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope. § Whom having not seen you love. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! § It will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”

 I hope to see you shortly,and we shall speak face to face. 

Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. § If the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. § Now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. § If we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection. § The Lord Jesus Christ … will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. The firstborn from the dead. § If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

 Christ the firstfruits. 

You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. § For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. • [The Father] has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. As sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.

 Fellow citizens with the saints. 

The body is sown in corruption … It is sown in dishonor … It is sown in weakness … It is sown a natural body. § The first man was of the earth, made of dust. § Dust you are, and to dust you shall return. § One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and secure …  Another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, never having eaten with pleasure. They lie down alike in the dust, and worms cover them. My flesh … will rest in hope. § After my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God. § The Lord Jesus Christ … will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. § So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

 The dust will return to the earth as it was. 

20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

But our citizenship<cr>1</cr> is in heaven.<cr>2</cr> And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,<cr>3</cr>

Philippians 3:20

 20 But our citizenship   is in heaven.   And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,  

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

 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,

 But our citizenship   is in heaven.   And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,  

Bible Verse of the Day

February 12, 2024

Philippians 3:20 NIV

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