Devotions

Only one man has ever justly presented himself as both shepherd and lamb─the God-man, Christ Jesus. As the Lamb without spot or blemish, He alone can be both the keeper of His sheep and the worthy sacrifice for their redemption. God tells us to “behold the Lamb.” In doing so, we find nothing wanting.

“And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8). “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm” (Isaiah 40:11). “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7). “John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold . . . but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18–19). “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. . . .  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him” (Revelation 22:1, 3).

GOLDEN THOUGHT: Behold the Lamb of God!

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (May 18 reading).]

If any single attribute would have set the Lord Jesus apart as He walked this earth, it surely would have been His consistent kindness. Since the fall of man, selfishness has eclipsed kindness until we are quite surprised to see the latter. Kindness quickly singles out the Christian in a jaded world and causes the unbeliever to turn a curious eye.

“Blessed be the Lord: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city” (Psalm 31:21). Solomon says of the wise woman, “In her tongue is the law of kindness” (Proverbs 31:26). “Turn unto the Lord your God: for he is . . . of great kindness” (Joel 2:13). “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7). “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, . . . kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering” (Colossians 3:12). “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration” (Titus 3:4–5).

GOLDEN THOUGHT: God showed me His marvelous kindness.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (May 11 reading).]

JEHOVAH—“I AM.” God has told us His name. If that is all we have, it is enough as we are told in Psalms 91:14:

“I will set him on high, because he has known my name.”

The Hebrew word Jehovah means the One who is. The root of the word is I AM (Genesis 3:14). The first occurrence is in Genesis 2:4, “The Lord God [Jehovah Elohim] made the earth and the heavens.” It was the voice of Jehovah God that Adam and Eve heard in the garden (Genesis 3:8). But God revealed His name first to Moses, who later wrote Genesis. “But by my name Jehovah was I not known to them” (Exodus 6:3). Asaph sang, “That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth” (Psalms 83:18). The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation” (Isaiah 12:2). He later exhorts, “Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:4).
The name Isaiah means Jehovah is salvation.

GOLDEN THOUGHT: The Lord Jehovah is my strength.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (May 4 reading).]

Image consultants get paid handsomely nowadays by men and women who hope to boost their careers with a favorable impression.  But for the believer, a favorable image is the work of divine grace. God takes pleasure in seeing His Son in us. Old or young, rich or poor, strong or weak, every Christian is a work in progress and is being renewed day by day in the inner man.

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” (1 Corinthians 15:49). “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Paul refers to Christ, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature” (Colossians 1:15). Paul also says, “Ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Colossians 3:9–10).

GOLDEN THOUGHT: We will be conformed to the image of His Son.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (April 27 reading).]

Honesty is a low priority and rare commodity in the world of modern ethics. Threatened by political correctness, and even regarded as a sign of weakness, truth has never been more trampled in the streets.  But the Lord promises fruitfulness to the honest believer. See the premium He puts on it in the verses below.

Jesus taught, “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). Paul wrote, “Provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Romans 12:17). “Let us walk honestly as in the day” (Romans 13:13). “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2 Corinthians 8:21). “Ye should do that which is honest” (2 Corinthians 13:7). “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest . . . think on these things” (Philippians. 4:8). “That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:2). “We trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly” (Hebrews 13:18).

GOLDEN THOUGHT: Let us walk honestly as in the day.

[Excerpt adapted from Wonderful Words by Stewart Custer (April 20 reading).]