They shall see his face

Daily Light Devotions - April 8 - Evening

They shall see his face.

They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 1

Moses said, "Please show me your glory." But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live." 2

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known. 3

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 4

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth. 5

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 6

As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. 7

Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 8

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 9

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1 Rev 22:4; 2 Exo 33:18,20; 3 John 1:18; 4 Rev 1:7; 5 Num 24:17; 6 Job 19:25,26; 7 Psa 17:15; 8 1 John 3:2; 9 1 Thess 4:16,17

In everything ye are enriched by him

Daily Light Devotions - April 8 - Morning

In everything ye are enriched by him.

that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge-- 1

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 2

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 3

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 4

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 5

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 6

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 7

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 9

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1 1 Cor 1:5; 2 Rom 5:6; 3 Rom 8:32; 4 Col 2:9,10; 5 John 15:4,5; 6 Rom 7:18; 7 Eph 4:7; 8 John 15:7; 9 Col 3:16

Where has Christ promised that He will ... feed and nourish believers with His body and blood ... as certainly as they eat the Lord's supper?

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 77. Where has Christ promised that He will thus feed and nourish believers with His body and blood as certainly as they eat of this broken bread and drink of this cup?

Answer. In the institution of the Supper, which says: “The Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had eaten, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He come.”[1] And this promise is also repeated by the Apostle Paul, where he says: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, so we being many are one body, for we are all partakers of that onebread.”[2]

[1] 1 Cor 11:23-25; [2] 1 Cor 10:16-17

The LORD will strengthen him

Daily Light Devotions - April 7 - Evening

The LORD will strengthen him ...

The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. 1

In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. 2

So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." 3

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 4

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 5

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 6

for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are indeed his offspring.' 7

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. 8

The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, Destroy. 9

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1 Psa 41:3;

2 Isa 63:9;

3 John 11:3;

4 2 Cor 12:9;

5 Phil 4:13;

6 2 Cor 4:16;

7 Acts 17:28;

8 Isa 40:29-31;

9 Deut 33:27

What does it mean to eat the crucified body and drink the shed blood of Christ?

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 76. What does it mean to eat the crucified body and drink the shed blood of Christ?

Answer. It means not only to embrace with a believing heart all the sufferings and death of Christ, and thereby to obtain the forgiveness of sins and life eternal;[1] but moreover, also, to be so united more and more to His sacred body by the Holy Spirit,[2] who dwells both in Christ and in us, that, although He is in heaven[3] and we on earth, we are nevertheless flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone,[4] and live and are governed forever by one Spirit, as members of the same body are governed by one soul.[5]

[1] Jn 6:35, 40, 47-48, 50-54; [2] Jn 6:55-56; 1 Cor 12:13; [3] Acts 1:9-11, 3:21; 1 Cor 11:26; Col 3:1; [4] 1 Cor 6:15, 17, 19; Eph 3:16-19, 5:29-30, 32; 1 Jn 4:13; [5] Jn 6:56-58, 63, 14:23, 15:1-6; Eph 4:15-16; 1 Jn 3:24

As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing

Daily Light Devotions - April 7 - Morning

As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing ...

as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. 1

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 2

I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy. 3

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 4

for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 5

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, 6

Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 7

And God is 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. 8

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1 2 Cor 6:10; 2 Rom 5:2,3; 3 2 Cor 7:4; 4 1 Pet 1:8; 5 2 Cor 8:2; 6 Eph 3:8,9; 7 James 2:5; 8 2 Cor 9:8

They that know thy name

Daily Light Devotions - April 6 - Evening

They that know thy name ...

And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. 1

In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.' 2

With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. 3

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 4

I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. 5

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 6

which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. 7

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 8

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 9

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. 11

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD! Like birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem; he will protect and deliver it; he will spare and rescue it." 12

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1 Psa 9:10; 2 Jer 23:6; 3 Psa 71:16; 4 Isa 9:6; 5 Jer 10:23; 6 Isa 9:6; 7 2 Tim 1:12; 8 Isa 9:6; 9 Eph 2:14; 10 Rom 5:1; 11 Prov 18:10; 12 Isa 31:1,5

He ever liveth to make intercession

Daily Light Devotions - April 6 - Morning

He ever liveth to make intercession.

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

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 2

For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 3

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 4

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 5

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 6

For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 7

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1 Heb 7:25; 2 Rom 8:34; 3 Heb 9:24; 4 1 John 2:1; 5 1 Tim 2:5; 6 Heb 4:14-16; 7 Eph 2:18

How is it signified and sealed to you in the Holy Supper that you partake of the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross and all His benefits?

Heidelberg Catechism

~The Holy Supper

Question 75. How is it signified and sealed to you in the Holy Supper that you partake of the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross and all His benefits?

Answer. Thus: that Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat of this broken bread and to drink of this cup in remembrance of Him, and has joined therewith these promises:[1] first, that His body was offered and broken on the cross for me and His blood shed for me, as certainly as I see with my eyes the bread of the Lord broken for me and the cup communicated to me; and further, that with His crucified body and shed blood He Himself feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life, as certainly as I receive from the hand of the minister and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, which are given me as certain tokens of the body and blood of Christ.

[1] Mt 26:26-28; Mk 14:22-24; Lk 22:19-20; 1 Cor 10:16-17, 11:23-25, 12:13

Jesus the author and finisher of our faith

Daily Light Devotions - April 5 - Evening

Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 1

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." 2

Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. 3

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: 4

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 5

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 6

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 7

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. 8

for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 9

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1 Heb 12:2; 2 Rev 1:8; 3 Isa 41:4; 4 Jude 1:1; 5 1 Thess 5:23,24; 6 Phil 1:6; 7 Gal 3:3; 8 Psa 138:8; 9 Phil 2:13

I will not let thee go, except thou bless me

Daily Light Devotions - April 5 - Morning

I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Then he said, "Let me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 1

Or let them lay hold of my protection, let them make peace with me, let them make peace with me." 2

Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly. 3

Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." 4

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 5

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" 6

Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people." And he said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 7

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1 Gen 32:26; 2 Isa 27:5; 3 Matt 15:28; 4 Matt 9:29; 5 James 1:6,7; 6 Luke 24:28,29,31,32; 7 Exo 33:13,14

That is how Jesus died

Greg Gilbert:

Shredded flesh against unforgiving wood, iron stakes pounded through bone and wracked nerves, joints wrenched out of socked by the sheer dead weight of the body, public humiliation before the eyes of family, friends, and the world — that was death on the cross, "the infamous stake" as the Romans called it, "the barren wood," the maxima mala crux. Or as the Greeks spat it out, the stauros. No wonder no one talked about it. No wonder parents hid their children’s eyes from it. The stauros was a loathsome thing, and the one who dies on it was loathsome too, a vile criminal whose only use was to hang there as a putrid decaying warning to anyone else who might follow his example.

That is how Jesus died.

("The Gospel: God’s Self-Substitution for Sinners” in Don’t Call It a Comeback, ed. Kevin DeYoung (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2011), 72)

(HT: Of First Importance)