The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.

Matthew 25:40 (NIV)

How is it to be explained - the very heart and mystery of the Christian faith? To soothe those battered old heads, to grasp those poor [leprous] stumps, to take in one's arms those children consigned to dustbins, because it is his head, as they are his stumps and his children, of whom he said that whosoever received one such child in his name received Him.

— Malcolm Muggeridge

Daily Meditations by Pat Nordman ©

July 17

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it...for no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church..." (Ephesians 5:25,29 KJV).

When we love, we indeed cherish, prize, esteem, treasure the object of our love. We appreciate that person for what he or she is, not for what we think we can make of him or her. Certainly the sword of ridicule will not cure the person of whatever we think is the problem. We are unique and it is that very uniqueness we can cherish in our family member or our friend. O Father, soften our hearts.

Pat Nordman ©

Excerpts from today's Spurgeon's Devotions
Spurgeon's Morning for July 17	Spurgeon's Evening for July 17
"Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God." – 1 Thessalonians 1:4	"Let not one of them escape." - 1 Kings 18:40
Go to Jesus, be you never so guilty, just as you are. Leave all curious inquiry about election alone. Go straight to Christ and hide in his wounds, and you shall know your election. The assurance of the Holy Spirit shall be given to you, so that you shall be able to say, "I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him."	Our darling sin must die. Spare it not for its much crying. Strike, though it be as dear as an Isaac. Strike, for God struck at sin when it was laid upon his own Son. With stern unflinching purpose must you condemn to death that sin which was once the idol of your heart.

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July 17 Job 34:1 - 37:24

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Current Bible Question

Solomon was always called Solomon, but at his birth God gave him what name?

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The Jews sent priests from Jerusalem to ask John if he was what prophet?

Elijah — John 1:19-21

Today's Devotion

But my mouth would encourage you;
comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
Job 16:5 (NIV)

FEAR

by Cathy Vinson

"and [He] was heard in that He feared"

(Hebrews 5:7)

When we have been taught about fear, we realize fear has torment (1 John 4:18). It repels. The word we have thought of comes from phobos: phobia which has to do with flight, dread, terror, being scared. "If any man shall draw back, My soul has no pleasure in Him" (Heb 10:38). We have learned an imperfected love has fear (1 Jn 4:18). Then what did Jesus have to do with fear?

"in that He feared (eulabeia)." Caution. Then reverence, apprehension, especially holy fear. "...that mingled fear and love which combined, constitute the piety of man toward God; the OT places emphasis on the fear, the NT...on the love, though there was love in the fear of God's saints then, as there must be fear in their love now" (Trench, Syn.).

It appears we need to allow this tension in our love with God that accommodates and allows space for reverential caution even apprehension, yet still is ever drawn to Him. "In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence; and his children shall have a place of refuge" (Proverbs 14:26). In the irony of God's ways, it is in allowing the loss of any smugness in the face of Almighty God that we find confidence, confidence that bars the way from all other fear.

Send a note to Cathy Vinson , the writer of this devotion.

In the irony of God's ways, it is in allowing the loss of any smugness in the face of Almighty God that we find confidence, confidence that bars the way from all other fear.

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