Daily word of encouragement

“Joint-heirs with Christ.”

“You are our Father, O LORD, our Redeemer.”

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the children of God…who were born, not of blood, nor of human desire or will, but of God.”

“Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels do always look on the face of My Father who is in heaven.”

“‘Is not Ephraim My dear son? Is he a delightful child? For though I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still; therefore, My heart yearns for him. I will surely have mercy upon him,’ says the LORD.”

“[T]o which of the angels said He at any time, ‘You are My Son. This day have I begotten you’? And again, ‘I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to Me a Son’?”

“So God created human beings in His own image, in the image of God created He them. Male and female created He them.”

“Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, be of good cheer. Your sins are forgiven.’”

“And He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you whole. Go in peace, and be free of your suffering.’”

“For you have not received the spirit of slavery again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs-- heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, as long as we suffer with Him that we may be also glorified with Him.” 

“Father divine, I come to Thee,
I yield, a captive, to Thy sway,
That love’s gold chain may set me free
For all the burden of the day.

I come not to avoid my care,
I come not to desert the strife;
I come to seek new strength to bear,
I fly to find new power for life.

Many there be that seek Thy face
To meet the hour of parting breath,
But ‘tis for earth I need Thy grace—
Life is more solemn still than death.

When morning gilds the porch of day,
I feel so vile amid the glow
That I should faint, didst Thou not say,
‘I make thee whiter than the snow!’

When noontide brings its work to all,
I find my task so hard to be,
That I should sink, didst Thou not call,
‘My strength is perfected in thee!’

When darkness leads the world to rest,
The silent burden of the night
Would crush, but for Thy message blest,
‘At evening time there shall be light!’

Oh, may these streams of golden light
To all my desert way be given,
Till faith itself is lost in sight,
And days on earth be days of Heaven.”

(G. Matheson)

 November 17

“‘And let the one who is thirsty come!’”

“Come hither, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.”

“And they brought infants to Him that He would touch them, but when His disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for of such is the kingdom of God.

Truly, I say to you that whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.’”

“John saw Jesus coming to him and said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God.’”

 “And they overcame… by the blood of the Lamb….”

“The marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”

 “And Jesus called a little child to Him and set him in their midst, and said, ‘Truly I say to you, except you change and become as little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever therefore becomes as humble as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’”

“Except a person be born of water and of the Spirit, he or she cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

“And a little child shall lead them.”

“Blessed are they who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who is thirsty come! And let whoever will, take the water of life without price.” 

“See Israel’s gentle Shepherd stand
With all-engaging charms:
Hark how he calls the tender lambs,
And folds them in his arms!

‘Permit them to approach,’ He cries,
‘Nor scorn their humble name:
For ‘twas to bless such souls as these,
The Lord of angels came.’”

His little flock, with pleasure hear;
His children, seek His face,
And fly with Transport to receive
The blessings of His grace.

(P. Doddridge)