April 15 – In the Spirit on His Day

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

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“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day.” Revelation 1:10

Reader, I know not who or what you are — but may the God of all grace bless this meditation to your soul. Perhaps you are a careless sinner, who to this day has trifled with Sabbaths. O do not profane the Lord’s day anymore! But, if you have any value for your soul, attend upon His worship and desire to be “in the Spirit on His day.” Perhaps you are punctual in outward services; so far is praiseworthy — but awful is your mistake if you make any outward service the ground of your acceptance. “In the Lord alone,” exclaims the enlightened believer, “have I righteousness and strength,” and so will you say, if “in the Spirit.”

Or you may have been a splendid professor — but now a grievous backslider. If, happily, once more you should be “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,” you will look to God for fresh sprinklings of the Redeemer’s blood, and to the Spirit for His restoring influences.

If you are a believer under sharp trials, may you be “in the Spirit,” that so when tribulations abound, consolations may abound also. If you are a believer walking close with God, rich in knowledge and experience, you will wish to be “in the Spirit,” that grace may be magnified, Jesus more loved, and His name more honored.

Reader, whatever you are, if you wish to be “in the Spirit” and would have your temporal and spiritual concerns prosper, make conscience of keeping the Sabbath day holy.

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)