W.B. Crumpton and Associates
January 22
KEPT IN THE WORLD.-I pray not thou shouldest take them out of the
world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not
of the world even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the
truth: thy word is truth. John 17: 15-17
MEDITATION.-The reasons why God takes some of us away prematurely, or
apparently so, may not always appear to us, and the undue pursuit of
them may land us in unhelpful speculation. But we can easily divine
the reasons why our Lord should wish his disciples retained on earth,
even though this is a world of sin and sorrow and care. Note
unpreparedness to go. Note opportunity for development in grace and
for working for rewards. Note the needs of the cause. Note the good of
the world. The life of the Christian continued on earth beyond the
bright hour of his conversion is a golden dispensation to be handled
with the most intelligent and scrupulous care of which one is capable.
Suppose Elijah had been taken away at the time when under the juniper
tree he prayed for death; much of his mighty mission would have gone
unfulfilled. Suppose the apostle Paul had been taken away at the time
when he was in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, we
would be lacking for the record of his further ministry, for a number
of the most helpful books of the Bible and for that heroic stand which
he was yet to make before the infuriated Nero. How good is God for
keeping his servants here!
SUGGESTION FOR PRAYER-While in the will of our Lord we sojourn here on
earth, help us, O God, to use our time aright. May thy blessed will be
perfected in us. May thy whole design in us be met. Help us to grow
out of our imperfections into grace and the knowledge of our Lord.
Help us to serve the world for its salvation and in all things to seek
thy glory. In the name of Christ.
HYMN.-- Children of the heav'nly king,
As ye journey, sweetly sing;
Sing your Saviour's worthy praise
Glorious in His works and ways.
SCRIPTURE READING.-Philippians 1: 12-26
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These daily devotions come from an old book by Rev. Washington Bryan
Crumpton, 1842-1926. The book is called DAILY DEVOTION and was first
published in 1923 by the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist
Convention.
This book is now extremely rare. These daily meditations are copied
exactly from a precious copy the Lord led me to. There is but one copy
now known to be available in an in depth search of the Internet,
although Rev. Crumpton wrote other books, one of which, ADVENTURES OF
TWO ALABAMA BOYS, can still be obtained for hundreds of dollars, or
can be downloaded free from the internet.
More information on W.B. Crumpton, including a picture of himself and
his brother, can be found at this URL:
http://docsouth.unc.edu/crumpton/illustr2.html
A search of google.com will also glean tidbits about the role of Rev.
Crumpton in the history of the Southern Baptist church.
May you find as much joy, comfort, and love in these old fashioned
devotions as I have. God bless you all.
Love,
Anonymous.
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