ShinyNinja

Morning

Perfect through suffering.

“My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”—And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.—Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none.—Look to the right and see: there is none who takes notice of me; no refuge remains to me; no one cares for my soul.

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Heb. 2:10; Matt. 26:38, 39; Luke 22:44; Ps. 116:3; Ps. 69:20; Ps. 142:4; Isa. 53:3 (Read full verses…)

Evening

The LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.—By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.—Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Ex. 20:11; Ps. 19:1; Ps. 33:6, 9; Isa. 40:15; Heb. 11:3; Ps. 8:3, 4 (Read full verses…)

<< Mar 14 | Mar 15 | Mar 16 >>

Excerpted from Daily
Light on the Daily Path ©2002 Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good
News Publishers.

Morning

In everything . . . may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.—Abstain from every form of evil.—If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler.—Be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.—“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.—Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Titus 2:10; Phil. 1:27; 1 Thess. 5:22; 1 Pet. 4:14, 15; Phil. 2:15; Matt. 5:16; Prov. 3:3, 4; Phil. 4:8 (Read full verses…)

Evening

“The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth.—The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. . . . Your promise gives me life. . . . I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I will not forget your word. . . . I trust in your word. . . . The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. . . . I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life. . . . How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

John 6:63; Jas. 1:18; 2 Cor. 3:6; Eph. 5:25-27; Ps. 119:9, 50, 11, 16, 42, 72, 93, 103, 104 (Read full verses…)

<< Mar 13 | Mar 14 | Mar 15 >>

Excerpted from Daily
Light on the Daily Path ©2002 Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good
News Publishers.

Morning

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things.

“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”

We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.—But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace.—He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. . . . Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.—Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 2:14; Isa. 45:22; 1 John 2:1; Eph. 2:13, 14; Heb. 9:12, 15; Heb. 7:25 (Read full verses…)

Evening

And my God. My soul is cast down within me.

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you.—For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.—Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.

“Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”— “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. . . . Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”—“Do not disbelieve, but believe.”—“And behold, I am with you always.”

Ps. 42:6; Isa. 26:3, 4; Ps. 55:22; Ps. 22:24; Jas. 5:13; John 14:27; Matt. 6:25, 26; John 20:27; Matt. 28:20 (Read full verses…)

<< Mar 12 | Mar 13 | Mar 14 >>

Excerpted from Daily
Light on the Daily Path ©2002 Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good
News Publishers.

Morning

“The LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.—He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.—The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love! O LORD, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you.—By your favor, O LORD, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.—Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face.

May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!

“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

Num. 6:25, 26; John 1:18; Heb. 1:3; 2 Cor. 4:4; Ps. 31:16, 17; Ps. 30:7; Ps. 89:15; Ps. 29:11; Matt. 14:27 (Read full verses…)

Evening

What pleases him.

And without faith it is impossible to please him.—Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.—The LORD takes pleasure in his people.

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.—Your adorning . . . with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit . . . in God’s sight is very precious.

“The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!”—I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to pre-sent your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

1 John 3:22; Heb. 11:6; Rom. 8:8; Ps. 149:4; 1 Pet. 2:19, 20; 1 Pet. 3:4; Ps. 50:23; Ps. 69:30, 31; Rom. 12:1 (Read full verses…)

<< Mar 11 | Mar 12 | Mar 13 >>

Excerpted from Daily
Light on the Daily Path ©2002 Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good
News Publishers.

Morning

“The LORD bless you and keep you.”

The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.—For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. . . . The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.—I, the LORD, am its [the vineyard’s] keeper; every moment I water it. Lest anyone punish it, I keep it night and day.

“Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me.”

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Num. 6:24; Prov. 10:22; Ps. 5:12; Ps. 121:3-5, 7, 8; Isa. 27:3; John 17:11, 12; 2 Tim. 4:18 (Read full verses…)

Evening

Jesus wept.

A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.—For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.—For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.—Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting.

“See how he loved him!”—For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

John 11:35; Isa. 53:3; Heb. 4:15; Heb. 2:10; Heb. 5:8; Isa. 50:5, 6; John 11:36; Heb. 2:16, 17 (Read full verses…)

<< Mar 10 | Mar 11 | Mar 12 >>

Excerpted from Daily
Light on the Daily Path ©2002 Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good
News Publishers.

Morning

“The LORD will provide.”

“God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.”

Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear.—“The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.”

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God.—Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.—He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”—The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Gen. 22:14; Gen. 22:8; Isa. 59:1; Rom. 11:26; Ps. 146:5; Ps. 33:18, 19; Phil. 4:19; Heb. 13:5, 6; Ps. 28:7 (Read full verses…)

Evening

He grazes among the lilies.

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”—“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”

Let my beloved come to his garden, and eat its choicest fruits.—I came to my garden, my sister, my bride, I gathered my myrrh with my spice, I ate my honeycomb with my honey.—But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”—“Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”—[Being] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Song 2:16; Matt. 18:20; John 14:23; John 15:10; Song 4:16; Song 5:1; Gal. 5:22, 23; John 15:8; John 15:2; Phil. 1:11 (Read full verses…)

<< Mar 9 | Mar 10 | Mar 11 >>

Excerpted from Daily
Light on the Daily Path ©2002 Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good
News Publishers.

Morning

God . . . richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

“Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them . . . then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God . . . for it is he who gives you power to get wealth.”

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.—For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.—There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”

1 Tim. 6:17; Deut. 8:11, 12, 14, 18; Ps. 127:1, 2; Ps. 44:3; Ps. 4:6 (Read full verses…)

Evening

They were singing a new song.

The new and living way that he opened for us.—Not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.—For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory.—To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.—“You were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”— After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number . . . crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Rev. 14:3; Heb. 10:20; Titus 3:5, 6; Eph. 2:8, 9; Ps. 115:1; Rev. 1:5, 6; Rev. 5:9; Rev. 7:9, 10 (Read full verses…)

<< Mar 8 | Mar 9 | Mar 10 >>

Excerpted from Daily
Light on the Daily Path ©2002 Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good
News Publishers.

Morning

You have cast all my sins behind your back.

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

“For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer.—“I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.—The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Isa. 38:17; Mic. 7:18, 19; Isa. 54:7, 8; Jer. 31:34; Ps. 32:1, 2; 1 John 1:7 (Read full verses…)

Evening

I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able.

Able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.

Able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Able to help those who are being tempted.

Able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy.

Able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

Who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

“Do you believe that I am able to do this?” . . . “Yes, Lord.” “According to your faith be it done to you.”

2 Tim. 1:12; Eph. 3:20; 2 Cor. 9:8; Heb. 2:18; Heb. 7:25; Jude 24; 2 Tim. 1:12; Phil. 3:21; Matt. 9:28, 29 (Read full verses…)

<< Mar 7 | Mar 8 | Mar 9 >>

Excerpted from Daily
Light on the Daily Path ©2002 Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good
News Publishers.

Morning

“For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name.”

This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.—You shall no more be termed Forsaken . . . but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her . . . for the LORD delights in you . . . and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.—He has sent me . . . to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit.

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; . . . as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

“And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.”

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Isa. 54:5; Eph. 5:32; Isa. 62:4, 5; Isa. 61:1-3; Isa. 61:10; Hos. 2:19; Rom. 8:35 (Read full verses…)

Evening

My times are in your hand.

“All his holy ones were in his hand.”—And the word of the LORD came to [Elijah], “Depart from here and turn eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. You shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” . . . Then the word of the LORD came to him, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.”

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. . . . Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.—Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Ps. 31:15; Deut. 33:3; 1 Kings 17:2-4, 8, 9; Matt. 6:25, 32; Prov. 3:5, 6; 1 Pet. 5:7 (Read full verses…)

<< Mar 6 | Mar 7 | Mar 8 >>

Excerpted from Daily
Light on the Daily Path ©2002 Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good
News Publishers.

Morning

Watching over the way of his saints.

The LORD your God . . . went before you in the way to seek you out a place to pitch your tents, in fire by night and in the cloud by day, to show you by what way you should go.—Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that flutters over its young, spreading out its wings, catching them, bearing them on its pinions, the LORD alone guided him.—The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand.—Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.—For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.—And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.—“With us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness.

Prov. 2:8; Deut. 1:32, 33; Deut. 32:11, 12; Ps. 37:23, 24; Ps. 34:19; Ps. 1:6; Rom. 8:28; 2 Chron. 32:8; Zeph. 3:17 (Read full verses…)

Evening

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace . . . and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. . . . stricken for the transgression of my people. . . . Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief.

Jesus our Lord . . . was delivered up for our trespasses.—For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God.—He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.—Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.

Matt. 27:46; Isa. 53:5, 6, 8, 10; Rom. 4:24, 25; 1 Pet. 3:18; 1 Pet. 2:24; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13 (Read full verses…)

<< Mar 5 | Mar 6 | Mar 7 >>

Excerpted from Daily
Light on the Daily Path ©2002 Crossway Books, a publishing ministry of Good
News Publishers.