Morning
I am dark, but lovely.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. § “Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,” says the Lord God.
I am a sinful man, O Lord! § Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair!
I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. § You are all fair, my love, and there is no spot in you.
I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. § Be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.
I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells. § You are complete in Him. § Perfect in Christ Jesus.
You were washed, … you were sanctified, … you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. § That you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Song 1:5; Ps. 51:5; Ezek. 16:14; Luke 5:8; Song 4:1; Job 42:6; Song 4:7;
Rom. 7:21; Matt. 9:2; Rom. 7:18; Col. 2:10; 1:28; 1 Cor. 6:11; 1 Peter 2:9
Evening
All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
I have come to “set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law… A man’s enemies will be those of his own household.” § Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. § Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. . . . “A servant is not greater than his master.” § I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
2 Tim. 3:12; Matt. 10:35–36; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15–16; John 15:18–20; 17:14
