January 21: Malachi 3:2–3; John 15:2; Romans 5:3–5; Hebrews 12:7–8; Hebrews 12:11–12; Psalm 139:23–24; Proverbs 6:16–17; Proverbs 16:5; Proverbs 16:19; Isaiah 57:15; Malachi 3:15; Matthew 5:3; Matthew 5:5; Philippians 1:2–3 - a podcast by Crossway

“Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away.”

“For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.”

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.—It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons…. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees.

Malachi 3:2–3 (Listen)

2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD.¹

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John 15:2 (Listen)

2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

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Romans 5:3–5 (Listen)

3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

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Hebrews 12:7–8 (Listen)

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

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Hebrews 12:11–12 (Listen)

11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,

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“And now we call the arrogant blessed.”

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.—“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes… —Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.—“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Psalm 139:23–24 (Listen)

23   Search me, O God, and know my heart!
    Try me and know my thoughts!¹
24   And see if there be any grievous way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting!²

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Proverbs 6:16–17 (Listen)

16   There are six things that the LORD hates,
    seven that are an abomination to him:
17   haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
    and hands that shed innocent blood,

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Proverbs 16:5 (Listen)

5   Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD;
    be assured, he will not go unpunished.

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Proverbs 16:19 (Listen)

19   It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to divide the spoil with the proud.

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Isaiah 57:15 (Listen)

15   For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
    who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
  “I dwell in the high and holy place,
    and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
  to revive the spirit of the lowly,
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.

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Malachi 3:15 (Listen)

15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”

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Matthew 5:3 (Listen)

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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Matthew 5:5 (Listen)

5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

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Philippians 1:2–3 (Listen)

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,

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