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Persevere with Sweeter Promises in the Gospel

Today I read: 2 Kings 21, Psalms 75-76, Hosea 14, and Hebrews 3.

Gospel summary: Knowing that we all will be judged by God, we must constantly exhort one another in the faith to persevere and resist the deceitful promises of sin. We are God's children by his gracious choice, not our wise decision making or moral uprightness, but if we fall away we are proving ourselves to have never known Jesus.

Prayer: Father in heaven, thank you for graciously drawing me to yourself in Christ though I was lost in sin and a rebel to your throne. The deceitful promises of sin held me fast, but you broke through and conquered Satan and sin's grip on me by means of the cross. You freed me to believe your trustworthy Word and be saved. Sin is always making its sweet promises to me everywhere I turn, but show me that there is gravel and fire at the end of sin's path. Help me remain faithful to you, resisting sin's very real hardening dangers by the sweeter promises Jesus bought for me in the gospel. Show me that I can only believe your Word in this life if I wish to endure to the end. Give me the words today to encourage others to remain faithful on your pathway too. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Memory verses: "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end." (‭Hebrews‬ ‭3‬:‭12-14‬ ESV)

Hymn: "Abide With Me" by Henry F. Lyte

Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see:
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence ev'ry passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's pow'r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness:
Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies;
Heav'n's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

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