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Andrew A. Bonar (1810 - 1892) |
| Prayer | |
| 0h brother, pray; in spite of Satan, pray; spend hours in prayer; rather neglect friends than not pray; rather fast, and lose breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper - and sleep too - than not pray. And we must not talk about prayer, we must pray inright earnest. The Lord is near. He comes softly while the virgins slumber. | |
| One Year With Jesus |
| James C. Galvin, Linda Chaffee Taylor, and David R. Veerman, 21st February |
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Jesus tells about the spiritual harvest John 4:27-38 Just then his disciples arrived. They were surprised to find him talking to a woman, but none of them asked him why, or what they had been discussing. Then the woman left her water pot beside the well and went back to the village and told everyone, "Come and meet a man who told me everything I ever did! Can this be the Messiah?" So the people came streaming from the village to see him. Meanwhile, the disciples were urging Jesus to eat. "No," he said, "I have some food you don't know about." "Who brought it to him?" the disciples asked each other. Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God who sent me, and from finishing his work. Do you think the work of harvesting will not begin until the summer ends four months from now? Look around you! Vast fields of human souls are ripening all around us, and are ready now for reaping. The reapers will be paid good wages and will be gathering eternal souls into the granaries of heaven! What joys await the sower and the reaper, both together! For it is true that one sows and someone else reaps. I sent you to reap where you didn't sow; others did the work, and you received the harvest." The "food" about which Jesus was speaking was his spiritual nourishment. It includes more than Bible study, prayer, and attending church. Spiritual nourishment also comes from doing God's will and helping to bring his work of salvation to completion. We are nourished not only by what we take in, but also by what we give out for God. Wages of Joy The wages Jesus offers are the joy of working for him and seeing the harvest of believers. These wages come to sower and reaper alike because both find joy in seeing new believers come into Christ's Kingdom. The phrase "others did the work" (John 4:38) may refer to the Old Testament prophets and to John the Baptist, who paved the way for the gospel. Sometimes Christians excuse themselves from witnessing by saying that their family or friends aren't ready to believe. Jesus makes it clear, however, that around us a continual harvest waits to be reaped. Don't let Jesus find you making excuses. Look around. You will find people ready to hear God's Word. |
| View book information |
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One Year with Jesus has been prepared especially for those who want to learn more about Jesus and grow closer to him through the year. Each day contains a selection from the four Gospels, a Life Application note, and an information note. The readings for each day are arranged according to the Harmony of the Gospels found in the back of this book. A harmony is a useful tool for studying the life of Christ. It simply arranges the events in the four Gospels in chronological order and makes it easier for you to compare parallel accounts. Each day's reading includes a number that guides you to the correct location in the harmony. Referring to the harmony helps you see what happened before and after any particular event. You can deepen your study by looking up any parallel passages noted for a particular reading. The Life Application notes provide insight and encouragement to take action. The information notes provide interesting background and helpful explanations. Although these daily readings begin January 1, you can easily begin with today's date. Alternatively, you can use a bookmark to begin on the first reading no matter what date you begin. Either way, you will finish in one year and meet your goal of learning more about Jesus and growing closer to him. One Year with Jesus: 365 Daily Devotions based on the chronological life of Christ. |
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