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File Submitted: 12 Feb 2012
File Category: Devotionals
Daily Bible Readings in the Life of Christ
James R. Miller, 1890
Updated to e-Sword standardized fonts.
"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them: Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." Mar_6:31
PREFACE
The volume of a year's readings has been prepared in the hope that it may prove daily spiritual food to some earnest children of God in their life of care, struggle, and duty. It is made to cover the earthly life of our Lord, from its beginning to its close. The book thus provides a year's daily readings on the story and the words of Jesus.
The readings themselves are only fragments of thought suggested by the texts. They are neither exegetical nor expository - but are rather practical and devotional hints. The author's aim has been to put a life-thought on each page - a word that may give a little glimpse of some phase of the beauty of Christ, or unveil in some of our Lord's sayings - a suggestion of duty or of encouragement or of comfort. The book has but a single aim - to honor and glorify Christ in the eyes of those who follow its pages.
There is a tendency to leave the Bible out of the prayer-closet. We hear a great deal of earnest counsel concerning secret prayer. We are urged both to open and close the day at God's feet. We are taught that prayer is the Christian's vital breath. And not a word too much can be said on this subject. If we would live strong, noble, beautiful, radiant, and useful Christian lives - we must get seasons of secret prayer into all our busy days. But we must take our Bibles with us into the prayer-closet. While we talk to God - we must also listen to God talking to us. God feeds us through His Word. It is "into all truth" (Joh_16:13) that the Holy Spirit leads Christ's disciples. Seasons of prayer without meditation on some Word of God - cannot yield the full blessing that we need.
For devotional pondering it is well always, however much of the Scripture we may read besides, to fix our thought on some one verse or clause, taking it as a word for the day. It is in this way that it is hoped this book may prove a help in the prayer-closet. Its daily text, with the few words of practical suggestion which accompany it, may help the reader to make the day's life more beautiful, more victorious, more radiant, more beneficent.
Life is hard for most of us; at least, it is hard to live nobly, grandly, purely, Christianly. We can do so only by getting a great deal of help from Christ. We need, therefore, daily to heed His invitation, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mar_6:31). In communion with Him we shall receive strength and blessing to enable us to fulfill our mission of obedience and ministry in His name. We shall rob ourselves therefore, of divine anointing and divine help - if we do not make room in our busiest days for quiet retreats from noise and strife - alone with Christ, where we may sit at His feet to hear His words; or lie on His bosom to absorb His spirit, for the refreshing and transforming of our own lives.
New England and Yale Review: This book is a treasure chest devotional reading. At the top of each page is a verse of Scripture, and the texts chosen are made to cover the earthly life of out Lord. The readings which follow each text are not intended to be exegetical nor expository - but practical and promotive of a devotional spirit. They are exceedingly full of suggestions to duty, and encouragements to a holy life. It is a good book to take into one's "inner chamber" as a help to devout meditation upon the words of our Savior.
AUTHOR NOTE
James Russell Miller, D.D., was born on March 20, 1840 at Frankfort Springs, Pennsylvania and died on July 2, 1912.
The author was an active pastor and prolific author of Christian books and materials. James Russell Miller was probably best known for his ministry to troops during the American Civil War with the United States Christian Commission. J.R. Miller completed his theological studies after the war was over and was ordained on September 11, 1867. He authored over 80 books, booklets, and pamphlets - along with a great many periodicals. Dr. J.R. Miller became the Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication and a very active pastor in a succession of churches.
Rev. James Russell Miller was one of the best selling Christian authors of his era. He had a total circulation of over two million copies during his lifetime. The Presbyterian Board of Publication, under his direction, published over 66 million copies of his periodicals in 1911.
SOURCE NOTE AND SPECIAL THANKS
Grace Gems Editors (God's Servants) at http://www.gracegems.org/ updated, revised, and adapted this beautiful material to modern English. They adopted a 'flowing poetic form' for most of the quotes as an aid to reflection and comprehension. http://www.gracegems.../literature.htm Grace Gems Copyright Policy: We frequently get requests asking for permission to use literature from Grace Gems. Since everything on our website is public domain, there is no need to ask permission. We encourage others to use our literature in any way they desire. Forward it to others — add it to your website — put it in your church bulletins — make it into books or booklets for distribution. Also, feel free to add a "link" to http://www.gracegems.org/ on your website — there is no need to ask for permission. (Formatted for e-Sword by Tom Rightmer using e-Sword ToolTip v3.45)
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