Ithaca Devotions

Saturday January 31, 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

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. John 15:9

What a wonderful thought this is, that our Master has toward us the same kind of love that the Father has toward Him! Could our faith always grasp this thought and maintain this hold, we should indeed have nothing to wish or to fear – our summer would last all the year. The next thought suggested is that having reached, having attained this high position in the Lord's favor, if we are His disciples and truly appreciate what He has done for us in this respect, we will desire to continue in His love. Next in order come the terms and conditions upon which we may continue in that love, namely, that we keep His commandments. By way of showing us that this is not an unreasonable proposition, our Lord declared that these are the same terms on which the Father deals with Him, namely, "Even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in His love." We cannot expect to abide in the Lord's love and be careless of His injunctions. R3546,c2,p4,5

Daily Heavenly Manna (January 31)

The meek will He guide in judgment; and the meek will He teach His way. Psalm 25:9

SUCH a disposition is essential to those who would receive the wisdom which cometh from above. They must have a humble appreciation of their own deficiencies and lack of wisdom, else they cannot receive freely, heartily, the wisdom which God is pleased to grant in the present time only to those who are in the attitude of heart to receive it. And it will be seen also that this humility of mind is essential as a basis for the spirit of a sound mind – for who is in a proper condition to think justly, reasonably, impartially, except first of all he have a humble disposition? Hence we must agree that humility is a primary element in the disposition or mind of Christ. Z.'00-68 R2585:5

Weekly Manna (January 29)

The fear [reverence] of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Psalm 111:10

THIS is the only proper attitude of the creature toward the Creator, the Author of our being, and the Creator, Preserver and Lord of the whole universe. When He speaks, therefore, our ears should be reverently attentive to His voice, and every power alert to do His bidding. Our safety, our happiness, and that nobility of character which prompts to love and gratitude, and which promptly and wisely heeds instruction and advances in knowledge and wisdom, all depend primarily upon our supreme reverence for the Lord. And therefore the Lord would foster and cultivate in us that becoming, filial reverence that is due to His name. Z.'96-155 R2002:3