Prayer
Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle (Psalm 28:1-2).
Today’s Hymn
Words: J. Wilbur Chapman, 1910.
JESUS! WHAT A FRIEND FOR SINNERS
Click here for tune.
Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.
Refrain
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.
Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him.
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my victory wins.
Refrain
Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows over me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.
Refrain
Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night overtakes me,
He, my Pilot, hears my cry.
Refrain
Jesus! I do now receive Him,
[or Jesus! I do now adore Him,]
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.
Refrain
Thought Provoker
The Daily Doorstep Devotional goes out to many different families from many different cultures in many different countries around the world. As I write I try to keep in mind that examples that are familiar with one culture may not be familiar to those from another country or culture. In other words, I realize that there are many things that I do not have in common with my brothers and sisters around the world. Many times I wonder, what are my brothers and sisters in these other countries and cultures like? How are we different and how are we alike? I have often thought also about my brothers and sisters of another time, those who have gone before me, and those who will come after me. Am I anything at all like the saints of old? Peter tells us today that we are all alike in at least one way
Dad’s Study
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:1). All who are in Christ have at least one thing in common, the same kind of faith! There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all (Eph 4:4-6). There is only one, true, saving faith that unites us to Christ. It comes from the righteous heavenly Father, by His grace and power. It is a faith in which He has granted to us all things pertaining to life godliness, and eternal life (Verse 3). Another thing that He has provided to us for life and godliness is His precious promises. Peter writes, Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Pet 1:4). Why has He graced us so? It is so we can be conformed to the divine nature. Peter gives us a list of Christian graces in our life that are the evidence of this conformity having taken place in us. As a family, discuss what each of these virtues means and how they are to be put into practice.
1. Diligence, verse 5
2. Faith, verse 5
3. Moral Excellence, verse 5
4. Knowledge, verse 5
5. Self-Control, verse 6
6. Perseverance, verse 6
7. Godliness, verse 6
8. Brotherly kindness, verse 7
9. Love, verse 7
Verses 8, 10-11 tell us that the diligent practice of these graces makes us useful and fruitful in the knowledge of Christ. The practice of these graces in service to Christ is one evidence of our salvation and being conformed to the image of Christ. It encourages us in being certain about His choosing and calling us as His children. It also gives us reason to hope that our entrance into His heavenly kingdom has been abundantly supplied to us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Verse 9 tells us that the absence of these graces from our life should be a warning or “red flag,” that if we lack these graces we are blind and that our salvation may not be sure, and our hope of heaven may be in vain. If this is the case, we should diligently and prayerfully examine our own hearts, seeking His grace that leads to faith and repentance.
Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
Truth in Practice
Fathers, encourage each in your family to hold up this list of Christian graces as a mirror, in which each is to examine his own heart.
Catechism
Question 52
Q. Which is the fifth commandment?
A. The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
