Ministries
Resources
Bible Reading:
Psalm 128:
1Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
2For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
3Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
4Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
5The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.
Devotional:
Blessing (happiness from God) comes from fearing God and walking in His love. The picture of blessing in this Psalm is a home complete with wife and children.
Man was made by God to be a social being. Not only was he made to enjoy being with people, he was made to enjoy being with his own people, the same people, day after day and year after year in the same place, home. Man was made to flourish in the environment of a family. This family needs a base. Man needs a place to which he can return and find love, a place where he belongs.
A haunting contemporary song speaks of 'all the lonely people/ Our world today is filled with lonely people. Many of these are people who have left their homes to find something they thought would be better. Ironically, that which they have turned their backs upon is that which they need and which needs them.
There can be no emptiness, meaninglessness, alienation when we are part of a family which fears the Lord and is walking in His way. According to the Master Planner the needs of men are to be met in the home. When He is present, our spiritual needs are met there, too.
God wanted us to know something of what heaven will be, so He planned for us homes, Christian homes.
We are happy to have obtained permission to post as our current daily devotional Heirs Together of Life: Daily Bible Reading for Husbands and Wives, published by The Banner of Truth Trust. Don't be misled by the subtitle. As the book's "Preface" indicates (see below), although Heirs Together of Life is "especially prepared for couples,"the authors declare, "Since the basis for this guide is God's Word, we believe it would have value for any reader."
Charles and Norma Ellis are husband and wife and the authors not only of Heirs Together of Life (which was first published in 1980 and continues in print today), but also of Wells of Salvation (first published in 1985, and likewise still in print today). The latter contains a series of short studies covering the entire book of Isaiah, while the former contains a series of almost 200 short studies covering the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Both books by the Ellises can be ordered from the publisher, The Banner of Truth Trust. We trust that these daily Bible readings, posted daily on our site, will be helpful to you in your Christian walk before God. Whether married or not, all of us are members of families and members of the family of God.
Charles Ellis was educated at Wheaton College and Westminster Theological Seminary. Upon graduation from Westminster (where he earned not only a Th.B. but also a Th.M.), he was ordained to the ministry in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and pastored a number of OPC churches, including Immanuel OPC in West Collingswood, New Jersey; First OPC in Cincinnati, Ohio; Covenant OPC in East Orange, New Jersey; Knox OPC in Silver Spring, Maryland; and Lakeview OPC in Rockport, Maine. Less biographical information is available about his wife, but it is known that they served as parents of seven children. After retiring from the ministry, Charles Ellis went to be with the Lord in 2003, but he and his wife left us with a beautiful legacy in the two books they have given to the world, and we are proud to share the daily Bible readings from Heirs Together of Life here with you.
© 2024 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church
