A Simple, Beautiful Picture - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2026

The assemblies … had peace, being edified and walking in the fear of the Lord, and were increased through the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 9:31 ???

A Simple, Beautiful Picture
Here we have Christian assemblies marked by two things: they walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Opposed and persecuted by the religious world of the day, they were directed and supported by the Lord in glory and guided by the Holy Spirit on earth.

Not many wise after the flesh, nor many mighty or noble were found in these assemblies. For the most part, those who formed these companies were drawn from the foolish, the weak, and the base of this world who, like Peter and John, were unlearned and ignorant men. And yet in the sight of the Lord they were the excellent of the earth in whom He finds His delight and with whom the Holy Spirit is content to dwell. Without worldly wealth, without humanly devised creed or articles of religion, without visible head or guide, with nothing indeed that appealed to sight or which nature could appreciate or in which flesh could boast, they pursued their pilgrim way as the ransomed of the Lord with songs and everlasting joy, for they were on their way to the city which has foundations, in company with the Lord in glory and the Holy Spirit on earth.

Without Christ and the Holy Spirit they had nothing, for earth was closed behind them, but with Christ and the Spirit they had everything, for heaven was opened before them. Little wonder that they enjoyed rest and edification, comfort and multiplication.

How far, alas, has Christendom traveled from this simple and beautiful picture. Yet Christ in the glory remains the same yesterday, today, and forever, and the Holy Spirit abides with us forever. There is no change in Divine Persons.

Hamilton Smith