Pathway in the Sea

MorningEvening.com Spurgeon's Morning by Morning December 31 Click Here to Read the Evening Devotional "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink." --John 7:37 Patience had her perfect work in the Lord Jesus, and until the last day of the feast He pleaded with the Jews, even as on this last day of the year He pleads with us, and waits to be gracious to us. Admirable indeed is the longsuffering of the Saviour in bearing with some of us year after year, notwithstanding our provocations, rebellions, and resistance of His Holy Spirit. Wonder of wonders that we are still in the land of mercy! Pity expressed herself most plainly, for Jesus cried, which implies not only the loudness of His voice, but the tenderness of His tones. He entreats us to be reconciled. "We pray you," says the Apostle, "as though God did beseech you by us." What earnest, pathetic terms are these! How deep must be the love which makes the Lord weep over sinners, and like a mother woo His children to His bosom! Surely at the call of such a cry our willing hearts will come. Provision is made most plenteously; all is provided that man can need to quench his soul's thirst. To his conscience the atonement brings peace; to his understanding the gospel brings the richest instruction; to his heart the person of Jesus is the noblest object of affection; to the whole man the truth as it is in Jesus supplies the purest nutriment. Thirst is terrible, but Jesus can remove it. Though the soul were utterly famished, Jesus could restore it. Proclamation is made most freely, that every thirsty one is welcome. No other distinction is made but that of thirst. Whether it be the thirst of avarice, ambition, pleasure, knowledge, or rest, he who suffers from it is invited. The thirst may be bad in itself, and be no sign of grace, but rather a mark of inordinate sin longing to be gratified with deeper draughts of lust; but it is not goodness in the creature which brings him the invitation, the Lord Jesus sends it freely, and without respect of persons. Personality is declared most fully. The sinner must come to Jesus, not to works, ordinances, or doctrines, but to a personal Redeemer, who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree. The bleeding, dying, rising Saviour, is the only star of hope to a sinner. Oh for grace to come now and drink, ere the sun sets upon the year's last day! No waiting or preparation is so much as hinted at. Drinking represents a reception for which no fitness is required. A fool, a thief, a harlot can drink; and so sinfulness of character is no bar to the invitation to believe in Jesus. We want no golden cup, no bejewelled chalice, in which to convey the water to the thirsty; the mouth of poverty is welcome to stoop down and quaff the flowing flood. Blistered, leprous, filthy lips may touch the stream of divine love; they cannot pollute it, but shall themselves be purified. Jesus is the fount of hope. Dear reader, hear the dear Redeemer's loving voice as He cries to each of us, "IF ANY MAN THIRST, LET HIM COME UNTO ME AND DRINK."

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Today's Devotions Morning December 31 Daniel 9:2-3, 19 (NIV) 2in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. 19O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name." The prophet Daniel was reading the prophecies of Jeremiah and discovered that it was time for the captivity to be over. He didn't run out and tell everyone to pack their bags. In his heart, he knew the people were not spiritually ready, so he interceded for them in prayer. He discerned the need for repentance before they returned in order to keep from making the same mistakes as before. He was very earnest in his intercession, even fasting and donning sackcloth and ashes. What a heart this man of God had for the people of God! But even more than that, he had a heart after God. So he closes his prayer by asking forgiveness for the people and city that bear the Name of Jehovah. He was concerned about the reputation of the name of the Lord in the world. Have you ever prayed for the church you attend with that in mind? "God help us because we are a poor example of Christ. We need forgiveness and restoration because we are called Christians." It is a new perspective for many of us. We pray for all kinds of reasons, but rarely out of concern for the name of the LORD. May the LORD help us in all we do and say to be a testimony to the great name of God. The angel Gabriel came to speak to Daniel about his prayer. Gabriel told Daniel that he is highly esteemed. He is a Hall of Fame person in heaven. Tomorrow's evening devotion is on the incredible word the angel brought to Daniel in regards to forgiveness and restoration. Consider: May we all prefer the honor of heaven over the honor of man. Evening December 31 Revelation 22:12, 17 (NIV) 12"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. You have come to end of Through the Bible Daily Devotional. Be sure to read the whole story, the Bible. It is a story upon which all other stories are based. Jesus is the superhero of all superheroes. He is King that was separated from His kingdom but returned to set things right. He is the one who conquers the dark power of evil. He is the handsome Prince that has come to rescue His damsel in distress, but He is greater than every story that imitates this true story. We could not imagine a more wonderful King, Groom, and Friend. It is such a wonderful story that at times we wonder if it is really all true. Will it really turn out this way? Is He really coming soon with our reward? Then the assurance of the Spirit that He has deposited within us says, "Yes! I have not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Not one small mark will fail until ALL is fulfilled. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." Listen! The Spirit within you says, "Come!" When you think of the end of the curse, the reward that awaits you, and of being forever in His presence, you say "Come!" Everyone that reads the Book or hears the story says, "Come!" Every thirsty soul that wishes may come and drink freely of this gift, the water of life. Meditation: He is coming soon, and His reward is with Him. He will give to each person according to what he or she has done. For sermons from Pastor Paul in audio and text and download Bible studies, go to bible-sermons.org Next DevotionPrevious Devotion