Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
(Psalm 119:105 ESV)
The Word of God is indeed a glorious light that shines into worldly darkness. The "lamp" herein is kept burning with the oil of the Spirit, and is reminiscent of the tabernacle lamp and the pillar of fire which guided the Israelites. God continues to lead His people today on their earthly journey by the light of His Word. We will always remain on the right path when we are directed by the power of God's Word.
– Matthew Henry Commentary, paraphrased
Original Reference
You crown the year with Your goodness…
(Psalm 65:11 NKJV)
We may understand this expression to mean that God's love encircles the year as with a crown; each month has its gems, each day its pearls. God's kindness and love toward us is evident every day throughout all the years of our lives. Let us begin this year by daily offering Him our praises.
– C H Spurgeon, Treasury of David, paraphrased
Original Reference
Love is of God &… for God is love.
(1 John 4:7-8 NKJV)
This is a glorious truth. Love not only describes the self-sacrificing nature and heart of God, it is an essential aspect of His being, and it colors every attribute of His character–including His holiness, His righteousness, and His perfect justice. Everything God does, in one way or another, expresses His Divine love. When we personally experience God's love through Jesus Christ, it becomes evident by our own increase of love for Him and for one another.
– David Guzik, Study Notes
Original Reference
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
(Proverbs 18:10 KJV)
The walls of a tower protect its inhabitants, and its heights give warning of an enemy's approach. In the same way, the Lord's love protects us and His grace has opened our eyes to see that Satan is our enemy. In order to use the tower's height and protection fully, we must find ourselves within its bounds. The Lord's love and grace stands as the strongest of towers. Trust in God and take shelter in the towering strength of His arms.
– BLB Daily Promises, March 5
Original Reference
I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet he shall live.
(John 11:25 ESV)
The Savior is working mightily among men; every day He is invisibly persuading numbers of people all over the world to accept His faith and to be obedient to His teaching. Can anyone, in face of this, still doubt that He has risen and He lives; or rather that He is Himself the Life? Does a dead man prick the consciences of men, so that they throw all the traditions of their fathers to the winds and bow down before the teaching of Christ?
– Athanasius of Alexandria, On the Incarnation, paraphrased
Original Reference
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
(Psalm 8:1 ESV)
No human words or language can perfectly express the divine excellency of the LORD and His holy name. His glory is set higher than the heavens, where one day every knee will bow and tongue confess His Lordship! Let us continue the privilege of worshipping Him now, and look forward to praising His majestic name throughout eternity.
– C H Spurgeon, Treasury of David, paraphrased
Original Reference
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword…
(Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)
The Word of God has inherent life and power; it can diagnose our hearts with a surgeon's precision. God meets us in His Word, and the Holy Spirit empowers the ministry of the Word to do deep and sanctifying work in our hearts. Have you ever wondered how the preacher's message can be so relevant to your life? It is the sharpness of the Word of God, delivering the message to your heart at just the right time.
– David Guzik, Study Notes
Original Reference
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
(John 8:32 NKJV)
God promises truth and freedom to all those who love Him and abide in His good pleasure. In a life full of uncertainty, the truth of God is wonderful to contemplate indeed! We never need to doubt the veracity of the Lord for He Himself is the measure of truth. He is the standard by which all claims stand or fall. If He says we are made free, then nothing can stifle our liberty. Rejoice in your freedom, O Christian, and use it to pursue the righteousness of God!
– BLB Daily Promises, April 21
Original Reference
My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.
(2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV)
God does not expect mere human strength to be sufficient for our spiritual callings. When we realize our drastic insufficiency, that is God's way of reminding us to seek His supply of strength. Those who admit that they are weak are the very ones to whom God offers His strength. Whenever we agree with God concerning our complete frailty in any given area of life, His grace is always available to meet our needs.
– Pastor Bob Hoekstra, Day By Day By Grace, February 2
Original Reference
All people are like grass…the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.
(1 Peter 1:24-25 NIV)
All flesh is as the grass which withers and dies away. But the great hope for mankind to become incorruptible is for him to hear and receive the everlasting truth of God's Word. If received by faith, the Word of God will preserve man to eternal life, and He will abide with him forever. This message, preached by Isaiah and others in the Old Testament, is the same message the apostles preached in the New Testament. It endures forever.
– Matthew Henry Commentary, paraphrased
Original Reference
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will…increase the harvest of your righteousness.
(2 Corinthians 9:10 ESV)
It is God who gives us seed to be sown, He supplies the food produced from the seed, and finally He gives even more seed for an increased harvest. God gives abundantly that we may share from our fruits with those in need. Know this dear believer, works of charity are far from impoverishing–they are the God-given means to a harvest of righteousness.
– C H Spurgeon, Treasury of David, paraphrased
Original Reference
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise.
(Psalm 100:4 KJV)
It is in public worship today that believers enter into his gates and into his courts. It is a blessed privilege to be admitted into God's service, and to give Him thanks for the liberty of having access to Him. The golden threads of praise and thanksgiving are always evident in the lives of God's children. The hearts of grateful believers give thanks in every ordinance, as well as in every providence.
– Matthew Henry Commentary, paraphrased
Original Reference
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth.
(John 1:14 NKJV)
One of Jesus' titles is "The Word." When He became a man, He was God's incarnate message–His Word to humanity. As the early disciples watched Jesus living His perfect life of godliness, they were looking at the glorious revelation of God's uniquely begotten Son. His life was an overflowing demonstration of divine grace and truth. Jesus came to offer that fullness of grace to all who would trust in Him.
– Pastor Bob Hoekstra, Day By Day By Grace, January 2
Original ReferenceThe Authorized Version or King James Version (KJV), 1611, 1769.
Scripture quotations marked "NKJV" are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011
The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.
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