Simpson Devotional

Simpson Devotional - Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

When a Roman soldier was told by his guide that if he insisted on taking a certain journey it would probably be fatal, he answered, "It is necessary for me to go; it is not necessary for me to live. That was depth. When we are convicted like that we shall amount to something. The shallow nature lives in its impulses, its impressions, its intuitions, its instincts and very largely in its surroundings. The profound character looks beyond all these and moves steadily on, sailing past the storms and clouds into the clear sunshine which is always on the other side. It waits for the afterward that inverts sorrow, seeming defeat and failure. When God has deepened us, then He can give us His deeper truths, His profoundest secrets, His mightier trusts. Lord, lead me into the depths of Thy life and save me from a shallow experience. On to broader fields of holy vision; On to loftier heights of faith and love; Onward, upward, apprehending wholly All for which He calls thee from above.

For I am now ready to be offered
2 Timothy 4:6

Simpson Devotional - Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

It is not losing all but coming short that we are to fear. We may not lose our souls, but we may lose something more precious than life-God's full approval, His highest choice and our incorruptible and star-gemmed crown. It is the one degree more that makes all the difference between hot water-powerless in the boiler and steam. I want, in this short life of mine, As much as can be pressed Of service true for God and man; Help me to be my best. I want, among the victory throng, To have my name confessed; And hear my Master say at last, Well done, you did your best. Give me, 0 Lord, Thy highest choice; Let others take the rest; Their good things have no charm for me, For I have got Thy best.

Looking diligently lest any man fail
Hebrews 12:15

Simpson Devotional - Monday, December 01, 2008

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Jesus will come into our surrendered lives and unite Himself with us, imparting to us His own life and being. From day to day, He will become the supply of our spiritual needs and the substitute for our helplessness. Our part is simply to yield fully, recognizing our worthlessness, and then taking Jesus Himself to live in us and be, moment by moment, our strength and purity and victory. One in His death on the tree, One as He rose from the dead; I from the curse am as free E'en as my glorious Head. One in His merits I stand, One as I pray in His name, All that His worth can demand I may with confidence claim. All that He has shall be mine, All that He is I shall be; Robed in His glory divine, I shall be even as He.

As he is, so are we in this world
1 John 4:17

Simpson Devotional - Sunday, November 30, 2008

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

When the apostle speaks of the deep things Of God (1 Corinthians 2:10), he means more than deep spiritual truth. There must be something before this. There must be a deep soil and a thorough foundation. Much of our spiritual teaching fails because the people to whom it is directed are so shallow. Their deeper nature has never been stirred. The beatitudes begin at the bottom of things-the poor in spirit, the mourners, the hungry hearts. Suffering is essential to profound spiritual life. We need not go to a monastery or a hospital for the leprous to find it. Unless we are born into a different race than Adam's, the first real opportunity for unselfishness will bring into our lives the anguish of crucifixion. Because men and women have not faced this truth, they know little of suffering and death. We must have deep convictions. Truth must be to us a necessity and principle a part of our very being. Lord, make me poor in spirit. Help me to be even as Thou wert when on earth-always the lowest and, therefore, highly exalted (Philippians 2:9).

In lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves
Philippians 2:3

Simpson Devotional - Saturday, November 29, 2008

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

A young woman whose parents had died while she was an infant had been cared for by a friend of the family. Before she was old enough to know him he went to Europe. Through all his years of absence he wrote regularly to her and never failed to send her money for all her wants. Finally word came that during a certain week he would return and visit her. He did not fix the day or the hour. During that week the young woman received several invitations to take pleasant trips with her friends. one of these sounded so exciting that she could not resist accepting it. But during her trip her benefactor came, inquired as to her absence and left. Returning she found a note: "My life," the note said, "has been a struggle for you; might you not have waited one week for me?" More she never heard, and her life of plenty became one of want. Jesus has not fixed the day or hour of His return but He has said, Watch. Should He come today, would He find us absorbed in thoughtless dissipation? May we be found each day in the expectant attitude of those watching for a loved one.

Could ye not watch with me one hour?
Matthew 26:40

Simpson Devotional - Friday, November 28, 2008

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

How much can we do for Christ? We are accustomed to say, "As much as I can." Have we ever thought that we can do more than we can? This thought was lately suggested by the remarks of a Christian friend who told how God had laid it upon her heart to do something for His cause which was beyond her power. When she dared to obey Him, He gave her the assurance of His power and resources. So marvelously did He meet her faith that she was enabled to do more than she could have otherwise. She was able to accomplish her heart's desire and see a work fulfilled to which her resources were unequal. The apostle says, I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me, and yet He says we are not able to think anything, as of ourselves (2 Corinthians 3:5). Oh, blessed sufficiency! Oh, blessed All-Sufficiency! Oh blessed nothingness, which brings us all things! Oh, blessed faith, whose rich dowry is, All things are possible to him that believeth! Oh, to be found of Him in peace, Spotless and free from blame.

Without me ye can do nothing
John 15:5

Simpson Devotional - Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:00:00 GMT

The two men who stand worshiping at the gate of Eden represent the two divisions of mankind-believers and unbelievers. The earthly man has far more beauty, culture and real effort in his religion. He brings the first and best of the rich, ripe produce of summer. Perhaps his altar is in favorable contrast to the rude mound of clay on which Abel offers the ghastly and revolting sacrifice of a bleeding, dying lamb. Cain's whole offering was a direct denial of what God had said about the curse upon the ground and its fruits, of the fact of sin and the need of an atoning Savior. Abel's sacrifice acknowledged this truth and accepted God's way of pardon. The first act of faith is to believe what God says about sin-to believe that we are sinners because God says it. Abel did. He took the sinner's place and instantly found the sinner's Savior. Cain would not see his sin and as a result, fell into deeper sin. The devil tricks us into saying, "I have not sinned." Humble faith accepts God's judgment upon sin and thereby escapes its penalty.

And the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering
Genesis 4:4