Ithaca Devotions

Monday March 16, 2026

Close your eyes for a moment to the scenes of misery and woe, degradation and sorrow that yet prevail on account of sin, and picture before your mental vision the glory of the perfect earth. Not a stain of sin mars the harmony and peace of a perfect society; not a bitter thought, not an unkind look or word; love, welling up from every heart, meets a kindred response in every other heart, and benevolence marks every act. There sickness shall be no more; not an ache nor a pain, nor any evidence of decay – not even the fear of such things. Think of all the pictures of comparative health and beauty of human form and feature that you have ever seen, and know that perfect humanity will be of still surpassing loveliness. The inward purity and mental and moral perfection will stamp and glorify every radiant countenance. Such will earth's society be; and weeping bereaved ones will have their tears all wiped away, when thus they realize the resurrection work complete. Rev. 21:4

Exceeding Great & Precious Promise

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Heb. 10:36

What is the will of God? Stated in concrete form, "This is the will of God (concerning you), even your sanctification" (1 Thes. 4:3)....We are doing the will of God when we fully consecrate ourselves to Him.... But He wills to put us to the test. How much do we love God? How sincere are we?...So we are tested as to our loyalty. What are we willing to endure for Christ's sake? How fully are we submitted? How deep does our submission go? Are we wholly in harmony with the will of the Lord? Is our interest merely superficial, or does it enter fully into our hearts? The question is not merely, Shall we make the consecration? – but after the Christian has taken all these preliminary steps, to what extent will he manifest patient endurance and obedience and loyalty? God puts us to these tests because He has great honors to bestow on those who will be overcomers. They are to be a select company, and these will receive the promise. R5332,c1,p5-7; c2,p3

Daily Heavenly Manna (March 16)

We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren,...and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:14,16

ONE of the final and most searching tests of these "brethren," and the one under which probably the most of those once awakened and armed will fall, will be – love for the brethren. Seemingly many will fail at this point and be therefore accounted unworthy of an abundant entrance into the Kingdom on this score. Should any be specially weak and liable to stumble, the true soldier of the cross will not despise him, nor revile him, even as the elder brother, the Captain, would not do so. On the contrary, he will be the more watchful and helpful toward the weaker even though he most enjoy himself in the company of the stronger. `Z.'99-88` R2453:4,5

Weekly Manna (March 12)

The end of the commandment is love from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and an undissembled faith. 1 Timothy 1:5 (Diaglott)

WE are therefore to have clearly before our minds the fact that the ultimate object of all the divine dealings for us and with us, and the ultimate significance of all the divine promises made to us, is the development of love, which is Godlikeness, for God is love. And to have this love developed in us, in the sense and to the degree intended by the Lord, it is necessary that it shall come from a pure heart, in full accord with the Lord, and His law of love, and wholly antagonistic to the Adversary and his law of selfishness. `Z.'00-360` R2735:1