Christian Photographers Community

Morning Devotional...



Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
John 10:17


For this reason, among others, the Father loves the Son.

Our Lord knew that His voluntary humbling of Himself at Calvary was something that especially endeared Him to the Father. In a sublime display of grace and love, His life was laid down willingly to save unworthy sinners.

And as we sit at the Lord's Supper, redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb, we also exclaim, "Yes, Lord, the Father loves you because you laid down your life, and so do we"!
—Carl Knott







A Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Michigan once related the following incident to a large audience in one of the Rev. E. P. Hammond's meetings in St. Louis. "A young, talented and tenderhearted actress was passing along the street of a large city. Seeing a pale, sick girl lying upon a couch just within the halfopen door of a beautiful dwelling, she entered, with the thought that by her vivacity and pleasant conversation she might cheer the young invalid. The sick girl was a devoted Christian, and her words, her patience, her submission and heavenlit countenance, so demonstrated the spirit of her religion that the actress was led to give some earnest thought to the claims of Christianity, and was thoroughly converted, and became a true follower of Christ. She told her father, the leader of the theater troupe, of her conversion, and of her desire to abandon the stage, stating that she could not live a consistent Christian life and follow the life of an actress. Her father was astonished beyond measure, and told his daughter that their living would be lost to them and their business ruined, if she persisted in her resolution. Loving her father dearly, she was shak­n somewhat in her purpose, and partially consented to fill the published engagement to be met in a few days. She was the star of the troupe, and a general favorite. Every preparation was made for the play in which she was to appear. The evening came and the father rejoiced that he had won back his daughter, and that their living was not to be lost. The hour arrived; a large audience had assembled. The curtain rose, and the young actress stepped forward firmly amid the applause of the multitude. But an unwonted light beamed from her beautiful face. Amid the breathless silence of the audience, she repeated:

'My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.'

This was all. Through Christ she had conquered and, leaving the audience in tears, she retired from the stage, never to appear upon it again. Through her influence her father was converted, and through their united evangelistic labors many were led to God."