Ithaca Devotions

Friday January 2, 2026

[1] And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him: [2] and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

[3] Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

[4] Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

[5] Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

[6] Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

[7] Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

[8] Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

[9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.

[10] Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. [12] Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.

[13] Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. [14] Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. [15] Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. [16] Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Exceeding Great & Precious Promise

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Matt. 5:5

The Century Dictionary defines meek as "self controlled and gentle; not easily provoked or irritated; forbearing under injury or annoyance." Webster defines meekness as "submissive to the Divine will; patience and gentleness from moral and religious motives." R3734,c2,p2
The reward of this grace...like the others, is future; ...these shall be heirs of God, joint-heirs with Jesus Christ; and the earth is part of that great inheritance, which in turn, by Divine arrangement, they shall bestow at the close of the Millennial age, upon the world of mankind. R2586,c1,p5

Daily Heavenly Manna (January 2)

Ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:19,20

AT the opening of the new year, what lesson could be more important to us than this one, that we are not our own, but belong to another; that we are not therefore, to seek to please ourselves, but to please Him; nor to seek to serve self, but to serve Him; nor to seek to obey self-will, but on the contrary His will? This means holiness in the most absolute and comprehensive sense of the word (not only separation from sin to righteousness, but separation from self to the will of God in Christ). Z.'97-35 R2099:4

Weekly Manna (January 1)

O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of His praise to be heard: which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved. Psalm 66:8,9

THANKS be to God that His grace has preserved us, "kept us from falling," through another year: – that so many of us are still of one heart and of one mind in respect to His Word and its service! When we remember that the Adversary is to be permitted to bring "strong delusions" upon the Lord's people for the very purpose of sifting out all not truly His (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12), it should surely call forth our thanks to God that the opening of another year finds us still standing fast, – appreciating the Truth, and in full accord with all the divine appointments by which He has kept us from falling. Z.'03-3