For Friday, July 10, 2026.

Week Twenty-seven. 

FRIDAY. 

Morning.

     Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness: 

     I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory. 

     Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

     Oh that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments!  Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea: 

     Thy seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of thy bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me. 

Isa. xlvi. 12, 13.    

Isa. xlviii. 17, 18, 19.  

Evening. 

     Verily, thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. 

     O Lord, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee. 

     O the Hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night? 

     Why shouldest thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? yet thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name; leave us not. 

     He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  

Isa. xlv. 15.      

Jer. xiv. 7, 8, 9.      

Heb. xiii. 5.

"Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one." 

— Job xiv. 4.

Here lies the secret of the deep-rooted and widespread disease of sin. It cleaves to every child of Adam, the first sinful man; but when the blessed Jesus became man to save us, he was born of a virgin, and "in him was no sin." Therefore, we may rejoice in knowing that our load of sins is borne by a perfect Saviour; His righteousness is a complete righteousness, and His atoning death for our sakes was the death of the only acceptable sacrifice, a "Lamb without blemish and without spot." How marvellous is the wisdom that devised such a plan of salvation! How wonderful the love that carried it into execution! Well might the Apostle say, "O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" Teach us, good Lord, to meditate, to wonder, and to adore, and may the souls redeemed at such a price be more and more filled with Thy love, and devoted to Thy service!

"What thanks I owe Thee, and what love,

A boundless, endless store,

Shall echo through the realms above,

When time shall be no more !

July Tenth. 

"According to your faith, be it done unto you."

-- Matt. 9:29. 

     ALMIGHTY GOD, our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for Thy great goodness unto the sons of men. We realize that it is in Thee we live and move and have our being. We give Thee thanks for Thy love which sent into this world One who is its Master - Jesus Christ our Lord. We not only thank Thee for Thy Fatherhood, but also for Thy Motherhood, for we know that as one whom his mother comforteth, so wilt Thou comfort us. We look to Thee for strength in our weakness; hope in our time of despondency; courage in the fearful hour. 

     Day after day we are bidden to get us to Cherith, only to find the brook is drying up! Continue to try our faith, and lend us of that spirit of trust and patience that we may hear Thy words, "Get thee to Zarephath," where we come face to face with Thy availing mercy. Feed us with the bread of Heaven, that we may be strong of mind, pure of heart, and unselfish in our service, and may the love of Jesus Christ so fill our hearts that others will take knowledge of us that we have been with Thee. Help Thou us to attain to the character of Thy Son, to incorporate His spirit, and live His life. Amen.