For Saturday, July 4, 2026.

SATURDAY. 

Morning.

Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. 

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved.  

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of person: 

But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 

A sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God. 

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.  

Eccles. ix. 7.   

Eph. i. 6.   

Acts x. 34, 35.   

Phil. iv. 18.    

1 Cor. x. 31. 

Evening. 

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. 

For he that is dead is freed from sin. 

Now, if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. 

For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

Col. iii. 3.   

Rom. vi. 7, 8.   

Gal. ii. 19, 20. 

July 4.

"Glory ye in his holy name; let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord." 

— Psalm cv. 3.

"Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say unto you rejoice." 

—Phil. iv. 4.

The hearts of those that seek the Lord are called upon to rejoice — how much more the hearts of those that find Him? Who should rejoice if not they? Who has so much to make them rejoice? It is true they have also many a time much to make them weep; but the command, "rejoice in the Lord alway" stands for them as steadfast as any of the ten; and He gives no commandment which He does not mean us to obey, and which He will not give us strength to obey when we ask Him for it. Hundreds, nay, thousands, of His people have been enabled to rejoice in the Lord when they had nothing else to rejoice in; and if we would not seek so much to find our joys apart from Him, we might find it easier to obey this command, and to rejoice when He calls us to do so; but we too often look for happiness far away from Him — the things on which we found our joys perish; and when we would again open our hearts to our heavenly joy, we find, perhaps, to chasten us for our sin, He has withdrawn Himself and is gone! And thus we learn that we need the work of His own Spirit to make us rejoice in Him, for the "fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, and peace." Keep close to Christ if you would share His joy!

July Fourth.

"I praise and extol the King of Heaven."  

-- Dan. 4:37. 

     O GOD, our Father, we turn to Thee with the thankful for Thy mercies We thank Thee for the light of the morning, and trusting in Thy care. rest of the night, and for the fresh gift of daily bread from Thy bounty. We thank Thee for the renewal of strength, and for the opportunities of service that await us. We thank Thee for the dear bonds of family affection and for the counsel and comfort of Thy word. Help us, O Lord, this day to bear each other's burdens, and to serve Thee by serving our fellow men. Grant us grace for the duties of the day. May the spirit of our toil bear witness to our faith. Especially we commend to Thee all our dear absent ones, wherever they may be. Though we see them not, we rejoice that Thine eye is upon them, and Thy care enfolds them. May our church be a true Household of the Faith. Bless our nation. May it uphold the banner of righteousness. Bless all who labor for the poor and the suffering. Be with those who in distant lands proclaim Thy love, and hasten the day when all shall know and serve Thee. 
     Keep us, O Father, through the day, and bring us to its close in peace. We ask it all in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.