13 Jan Jan 13th | Morning Devotional
“Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber”
Now Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail—they were wrecked at Ezion Geber.
—1 Kings 22:48 [NIV]
Solomon’s ships had returned in safety, but Jehoshaphat’s vessels never reached the land of gold. Providence prospers one, and frustrates the desires of another, in the same business and at the same spot, yet the Great Ruler is as good and wise at one time as another. May we have grace to-day, in the remembrance of this text, to bless the Lord for ships broken at Ezion-geber, as well as for vessels freighted with temporal blessings; let us not envy the more successful, nor murmur at our losses as though we were singularly and specially tried. Like Jehoshaphat, we may be precious in the Lord’s sight, although our schemes end in disappointment.
The secret cause of Jehoshaphat’s loss is well worthy of notice, for it is the root of very much of the suffering of the Lord’s people; it was his alliance with a sinful family, his fellowship with sinners. In 2 Ch. 20:37, we are told that the Lord sent a prophet to declare, “Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath broken thy works.” This was a fatherly chastisement, which appears to have been blest to him; for in the verse which succeeds our morning’s text we find him refusing to allow his servants to sail in the same vessels with those of the wicked king. Would to God that Jehoshaphat’s experience might be a warning to the rest of the Lord’s people, to avoid being unequally yoked together with unbelievers! A life of misery is usually the lot of those who are united in marriage, or in any other way of their own choosing, with the men of the world. O for such love to Jesus that, like him, we may be holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners; for if it be not so with us, we may expect to hear it often said, “The Lord hath broken thy works.”
Dec 31st | Morning 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.” On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let… Continue Reading Dec 31st | Morning Devotional...
31 December, 2018 Daily Devotional 3 LikesDec 31st | Evening Devotional
“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” “The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.” —Jeremiah 8:20 [NIV] Not saved! Dear reader, is this your mournful plight? Warned of the judgment to… Continue Reading Dec 31st | Evening Devotional...
31 December, 2018 Daily Devotional 1 LikeDec 30th | Morning Devotional
“Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof.” The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. —Ecclesiastes 7:8 [NIV] Look at David’s Lord and Master; see his beginning. He was despised and… Continue Reading Dec 30th | Morning Devotional...
30 December, 2018 Daily Devotional 1 LikeDec 30th | Evening Devotional
“Knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end?” Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”… Continue Reading Dec 30th | Evening Devotional...
30 December, 2018 Daily Devotional 1 LikeDec 29th | Morning Devotional
“Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.” Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” —1 Samuel 7:12 [NIV] The word “hitherto” seems like a hand pointing… Continue Reading Dec 29th | Morning Devotional...
29 December, 2018 Daily Devotional 1 LikeDec 29th | Evening Devotional
“What think ye of Christ?” “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. —Matthew 22:42 [NIV] The great test of your soul’s health is, What think you of Christ? Is he to you “fairer… Continue Reading Dec 29th | Evening Devotional...
29 December, 2018 Daily Devotional 1 LikeDec 28th | Morning Devotional
“The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God.” I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I… Continue Reading Dec 28th | Morning Devotional...
28 December, 2018 Daily Devotional 1 LikeDec 28th | Evening Devotional
“I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword.” Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. —Matthew 10:34 [NIV] The Christian will be sure to… Continue Reading Dec 28th | Evening Devotional...
28 December, 2018 Daily Devotional 1 LikeDec 27th | Morning Devotional
“Can the rush grow up without mire?” Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water? —Job 8:11 [NIV] The rush is spongy and hollow, and even so is a hypocrite; there is no substance or stability in… Continue Reading Dec 27th | Morning Devotional...
27 December, 2018 Daily Devotional 1 LikeDec 27th | Evening Devotional
“And the LORD shall guide thee continually.” The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. —Isaiah 58:11 [NIV]… Continue Reading Dec 27th | Evening Devotional...
27 December, 2018 Daily Devotional 1 Like