BJU Press Blog

Devotions

NAME

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To know the Lord’s name is an unparalleled, yet possibly perilous privilege. The Lord Jesus utters an ominous judgment-day prophecy in Matthew 4:23 that some would prophesy, cast out devils, and do good works in His name. But He will not allow them a place in heaven because they never trusted their soul’s salvation to Him. Theirs was, instead, the ultimate taking of the Lord’s name in vain. Only those who have truly abandoned all hope in themselves understand what it means to pray, “Hallowed be thy name.”

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“O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:1). “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee” (Psalm 9:10). “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7). “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name” (Psalm 91:14). “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Psalm 103:1). “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10). “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

GOLDEN THOUGHT: The name of the Lord is a strong tower.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (June 22 reading).]

MIND

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Believers crave the awareness that God is for us, yet as the target of the devil and in our own weak flesh, our belief in this truth is continually challenged. For the believer, daily time in God’s word and communion with Him are truly essential to maintaining a sound mind.

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“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37). “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). “That ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27). “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). “Saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people” (Hebrews 8:10).

GOLDEN THOUGHT: We have the mind of Christ.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (June 15 reading).]

MARVELOUS

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It is easy to see how marveling can be a precursor to worship. Luke 4:32 tells us that the response of Jesus’ listeners to His words was that “they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.” Marveling is not something we do while multitasking. It engages the observer’s full attention and evokes an emotional response. When last did you or I stop to marvel at God’s gracious words or works?

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“I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works” (Psalm 9:1). “Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city” (Psalm 31:21). “Remember his marvellous works that he hath done” (Psalm 105:5a). “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:22–23). “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God” (1 Peter 2:9–10). “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty” (Revelation 15:3).

GOLDEN THOUGHT: Remember His marvellous works.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (June 8 reading).]

LOVE

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It certainly goes without saying that Christ’s coming to earth brought us the most vivid picture of love that the world has ever seen. But it was when He left and returned to the halls of heaven that we received the power to exercise His love. Love has first place in the list of His fruits of the Spirit. It is for the believers to give and to enjoy.

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The Lord said, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3). Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matthew 22:37). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us” (Ephesians 5:2). “See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22). “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light” (1 John 2:10). “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).

GOLDEN THOUGHT: Walk in love as Christ has loved us.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (June 1 reading).]

LIGHT

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Life on earth began with and is sustained by light. When God said, “Let there be light,” He bore testimony to us that He is the only source of light and life. The apostle John declares in 1 John 1:5 “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

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God said, “Let there be light: and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1). “In thy light shall we see light” (Psalm 36:9). “O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me” (Psalm 43:3). “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18). “Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12). “Ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Golden thought: The Lord is my light.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (May 25 reading).]