- TODAY'S BIBLE TEXT
Text: Matthew 15:17-19
17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
- THURSDAY, 1ST FEBRUARY 2024 DEVOTIONAL
Thursday, 1st February 2024
THE SNARE OF EVIL THOUGHTS 2
Text: Matthew 15:17-19
Memory verse: Exodus 8: 24 And the LORD did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.
Pharaoh, King of Egypt, was plagued with flies. They came upon his servants, and the houses of the Egyptians were full of swarms of flies, “and the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.” The heads of great people are like the houses of the Egyptians, full of swarms of evil thoughts, thick as flies, and all as small, and in themselves as insignificant. The flies tormented the Egyptians when they sat in their chambers, flying round them, buzzing in their ears, lighting on their hands and faces; when they went to their meals the flies were there, all over the meat and the bread, and falling into their cups, and defiling everything. When they went to bed the flies were in their bedrooms, and all night long were racing over their faces, and driving away sleep.
Now look at your evil thoughts, you who are plagued with a swarm of them. When you kneel to say your prayers, they are there distracting your attention. When you are at the table or with friends, they are there disturbing your thoughts, perhaps corrupting your conversation. When you are alone, they are there filling your mind with images and sounds. When you are in bed, they are there, keeping you awake. Your thoughts, these evil thoughts, so numerous, in such swarms, never forsake you. In church they are present, disturbing you. When you walk, they surround you when you work, they interrupt you. And, like the flies in Egypt, “the land is corrupted by reason of the swarm.” Your hearts are corrupted by the bad thoughts always hovering over them and settling down on them.
Am I drawing a fanciful picture? Not at all. I know it is so with many, I do not say all, but with many. They disregard evil thoughts because they are such trifling things, like flies, so easily brushed away; like flies, so light and volatile; like flies, so little. And yet they utterly degrade and corrupt the heart. “The land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.
- TODAY'S HYMNAL
CGDS HYMN 53: SS&S 873:
YIELD NOT TO TEMPTATION, FOR YIELDING IS SIN
1. Yield not to temptation For yielding, yielding is sin Each victory, victory Will help you, some other to win2. Fight manfully on, onward dark, oh, dark passions subdue Mmh, you just look, look ever, ever, ever, ever To Je-, Jesus and I know that He Lord, He will carry you, He'll carry you all through3. Oh, oh, you just are asking Why don't you try asking Him to help you Why don't you just ask Him, ask Him to keep you Why don't you just ask Him, ask Him to comfort4. Get down on your knees and ask Him, oh, to keep you Lord, I know Jesus, I know that He's willing Oh, I know He's able, He's able to help you And I know, I know that Jesus Oh, Jesus will carry you again, you through - TODAY'S PRAYERS
Prayers:
- 1. Lord Jesus, help us to make Your thoughts our thoughts and Your ways our ways always.
- 2. LORD God Almighty, let Your Words get hold of my mind and form the basis of my thoughts and imagination in Jesus’ name. Amen.
- 3. Pray for others in this regard.