Reverence and Awe

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

As we enjoy the company of our family and friends this morning; opening gifts and drinking lots of coffee (if you're like me) or lots of Diet Coke (if you're like Pastor Jim) may we not lose sight of who is at the center of our joyous celebration. Christ our Savior, the Word become flesh, Emanuel, the perfect Lamb of God, our propitiation and our righteousness.
May we heed Spurgeon's timely exhortation this morning...

Let us reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores to manhood its ancient glory; and let us pray that He may be formed in us, the hope of glory.

Let us listen to the wisdom of Spurgeon and end our Christmas day by washing anew in the cleansing fountain of the blood of Christ. May it be the beginning of a habitual meditation on the glory of our Redeemer.

The precious blood of the Lamb slain removes the guilt, and purges away the defilement of our sins of ignorance and carelessness. This is the best ending of a Christmas-day—to wash anew in the cleansing fountain. Believer, come to this sacrifice continually; if it be so good to-night, it is good every night. To live at the altar is the privilege of the royal priesthood; to them sin, great as it is, is nevertheless no cause for despair, since they draw near yet again to the sin-atoning victim, and their conscience is purged from dead works.

One of my favorite Christmas songs is "The Son of God Came Down". I love it because it magnifies the perfection found in God's redemptive plan. That God would send His own Son not simply to be born of a miraculous virgin birth (though He was)... but to die, on a cross, to reconcile God to man, received freely by grace! If that isn't good news, then there's no such thing!

The Son of God came down and laid aside His crown
Born without great renown, this Sovereign One
All holiness and might, all glory shining bright
Have come to earth this night in Mary's son
O come, let us adore

O Christ the Lord, our hope and Savior
Son of God yet made like us
O Christ the Lord, our King adored
Born a child, our Lord Jesus

Messiah born so small, asleep in cattle stall
Come to redeem our fall, nailed to a tree
This tiny, helpless child
Through death would reconcile
The holy God and vile, His grace so free
O come, let us adore

Merry Christmas RBC!! May the Lord bless you and keep you!!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning: "Come unto me." - Matthew 11:28

Evening: "Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened." - Isaiah 48:8

Wow, God really blessed me today! I've been studying this Scripture, Matthew 11:28-30, for a month or so now. Studying it, because the Lord has been ministering it to my heart, urging me on to rest in His wonderful yoke.

And now I get to share my musings on it - what a treat!

May I be bold for a second, and disagree a bit with Mr. Spurgeon? I don't agree that the law was a dispensation of terror. The law, and our inability to follow it to perfection, points us with an inerrant finger to Christ, the mediator of a better convenant, and so it is wonderfully good! As good as the honest friend that witnessed to you your need for Christ.

The new convenant with Christ is better because it is based on God's promises - He says in Jeremiah 31:31-34, talking about the coming new convenant, "I will", whereas the old covenant was based on our performance, where God says in Exodus 19:5 "If you will". [Guzik]

We fail, if we try to follow the law, because of our sin nature. God is so good to bring a new covenant by the death of His only Son Jesus, our Messiah! But blaming the old covenant would be like going skydiving, and forgetting to pack a parachute, and blaming the Law of Gravity for your demise on the way down. And on the way down, that failed parachutist will quickly learn to pray, if he didn't know how already. The Law of Gravity (as used by God) drew him toward the Lord as inexorably as it drew him to the ground. [I have heard the testimony of a Christian who gave his life to the Lord, as He drew this young man to Him, on his way falling off a cliff!]

But I'll be the first to agree with Mr. Spurgeon that we all, none more than I, needed a new convenant desperately! I needed to rest from my own hopeless labors, and enter into the glorious rest of my Redeemer. He says "Come!" "Take My yoke upon you!".

Jesus is my Governor! Let me explain what I mean. In Isaiah 9, we read:

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. - [Isa 9:6 NKJV]

The government will be on His shoulder. This is both a prophecy of His future kingdom, but also the nature of His lordship over His church, the body of Christ. 'Shoulder' in Hebrew, is 'shekem'. This the the part of the body that bears the burden, that carries the yoke. We are invited by Christ to be guided by His yoke, to wear His yoke and follow Him. And the Lord draws us to Him by reminding us of the glorious rest that comes by surrendering our lives to Christ!

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke [is] easy and My burden is light." - [Mat 11:29-30 NKJV]

He is the good Governor, who tends His yoke-bearers! He took off of us the yoke of the Law, and gave us His gentle yoke! He says, in Hosea 11:

I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped [and] fed them. - [Hsa 11:4 NKJV]

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

I am often blown away at Spurgeon's use of imagery in his writing. This morning is one of those times. I'm not sure I could encourage other believers to rejoice in God's infinite grace.... from Ezra 7:22. It's masterful how he reads about King Artaxerxes giving prescribed limits on different ingredients to Ezra but telling Ezra that there is no limit to the amount of salt that can be used... and then proceeds to discuss the glories of God's limitless divine grace. Well, I am encouraged this morning. May you also be encouraged to meditate this morning on Christ's limitless grace.

Believer, go to the throne for a large supply of heavenly salt. It will season thine afflictions, which are unsavoury without salt; it will preserve thy heart which corrupts if salt be absent, and it will kill thy sins even as salt kills reptiles. Thou needest much; seek much, and have much.

I don't know about you... but this evening's devotion makes me long for my heavenly home. I no longer want to see dimly, I long for the day I'm bowing before my crucified and risen Savior and beholding all of His glory. Without my sin and shame and fear and pride and many other things getting in the way. We can persevere in this race because He is our great reward! We can look around at the sin and despair in this fallen world and smile because we know our Redeemer lives and reigns from on high!
As Spurgeon said, "We thank God for what we have, and long for more."

Our Lord and our God... may You cause us to live today as citizens of heaven. May You continue to sanctify us so that we see "the altogether lovely One" clearer and clearer. May we grow in our love and adoration of You... grateful for what we have, yet longing for our eternal home. Not by might, nor by power but by Your Holy Spirit... Amen.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

So it took me a little while to get past the fact that apparently the jails in Spurgeon's time were filled with guys like me... what's wrong with running into a guy at night with "heavy over-hanging brows"? Seriously though... my heart was filled with praise as I was reminded this morning of God's election and grace in the life of the believer. I was reminded that my redemption, paid for by the blood of Christ, was no small thing. His blood is precious and my sin is horrendous! Christ did not simply die for some bad "choices" we've made in our lives. He did not hang on a cross and bear the weight of our sin because we were "down" and needed a little boost. No... the death and resurrection of the perfect Lamb of God has and continues to save sinners from eternal judgement and to eternal glory!!

Redeeming love has set apart many of the worst of mankind to be the reward of the Saviour's passion. Effectual grace calls forth many of the vilest of the vile to sit at the table of mercy, and therefore let none despair.

I am encouraged this morning that I have a reservation, guaranteed by the Holy Spirit, at His table of mercy!


I was challenged as I read this evening's devotion. Challenged to evaluate the priority I place on the Gospel and it's power to save sinners. Encouraged by the example Paul left as a Christian saturated with an "undying zeal for the souls of men".

Paul's great object was not merely to instruct and to improve, but to save. Anything short of this would have disappointed him; he would have men renewed in heart, forgiven, sanctified, in fact, saved. Have our Christian labours been aimed at anything below this great point? Then let us amend our ways, for of what avail will it be at the last great day to have taught and moralized men if they appear before God unsaved?

May this be what we at RBC are about collectively and individually.

Have a blessed day as you worship the Savior!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

A reflection based upon this morning's reading:

The one prayer of sinners that we know the LORD will answer, is the repentant prayer for salvation, based upon saving faith in Jesus Christ. That seems to be the context of the text for this morning's reading (Mat 7:7). The Lord uses this promise in the context of talking about the narrow gate to eternal life and the broad path to destruction.

As well, whatever the believer needs along the path of eternal life, is promised by Jesus. We can ask in faith that He will provide for our needs. Of course, the issue is what do we really need versus what we want. He promises to give us the desires of our heart, when our heart is fully devoted to Him.

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. (Psa 37:4-5 NKJV)

Let us today ask the LORD what might be blocking us from delighting ourselves in Him, and to help us change whatever is necessary in our lives, so that we might be able to find our delight in Him.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

This evening's reading is such an exhortation to us to be looking forward to the return of our Lord Jesus. Looking forward to that point where our adoption process is culminated, by seeing our Adopter face to face!! I can remember as a kid just after Thanksgiving looking forward to Christmas. Seems time appropriate to today's post! Sometimes it seemed agonizingly slow, for those few weeks until my parents gave those those Christmas gifts. In most cases, the gifts were already purchased, hidden in the house for awhile, then ultimately under the tree. Our adoption is not in question, we are just waiting for Him to come take us home.

As Christians we long for our ultimate Christmas gift, to see our Lord, our Savior, our Redeemer. Sometimes the process can seem slow, especially for believers who are going through persecution, or troubling times. But our exhortation today... the second "Christmas" is coming! Our Lord is coming for us. He is coming to receive His people, His adopted, His bride, His redeemed...us!

We love You Jesus...Maranatha!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning: "The Lord is my portion, saith my soul." - Lamentations 3:24

A sweet devotional. I really like the hymn that Spurgeon uses:

"Lov'd of my God for Him again
With love intense I burn;
Chosen of Him ere time began,
I choose Him in return."

Spurgeon quotes from Psalm 16, my favorite Psalm, where David also describes the Lord as his portion.

5 O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You maintain my lot.
6 The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance.
7 I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.

And hence Spurgeon's exhortation to us:

Let us rejoice in the Lord always; let us show to the world that we are a happy and a blessed people, and thus induce them to exclaim, "We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."

Lord God, please help us walk with You, and delight in You, and witness You to a world that needs You. Please use us to drawn near to You all that You have chosen.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible


"... the branch cannot bear fruit of itself..." John 15:4

How did you begin to bear fruit? It was when you came to Jesus and cast yourselves on His great atonement, and rested on His finished righteousness.

These words feed my soul more than I think I understand. I cannot hear them enough... this morning in particular. These past couple of months have been unusually difficult in ways not altogether familiar to me. It's not that I can't identify the causes of these trials... they're actually quite common in my life. My struggles rest more in understanding the motivations of my heart as Christ, by His Spirit, leads me through them. It's a funny thing being a sinful human being... it's seems all to easy to confuse understanding truth with practicing truth. Perceiving what is right and good and true... and at times, deceiving myself into believing that my actions replicate my knowledge. This is why God's Word and Spurgeon's devotion this morning feeds my soul. Is there anyone reading this post that has a better solution to their sin and lack of fruitfulness than casting themselves "on His great atonement"?! Anyone want to rest in their own determination and hard work... rather than resting "on His finished righteousness"?!

As I type this post... I am becoming increasingly grateful for my redemption. And I am confident in His Word when he says "you did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain..." John 15:16
Our God keeps his promises... so I will strive to live today for His glory knowing that whatever fruit He produces and I bear... will remain!

... the more simply we depend upon the grace of God in Christ, and wait upon the Holy Spirit, the more we shall bring forth fruit unto God. Oh! to trust Jesus for fruit as well as for life.

Soli Deo Gloria!!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

The text for this Morning's Reading, comes again from Deuteronomy 33:27. A different phrase from Deuteronomy 33:27 was used for the text for yesterday's Morning Reading as well.

Let's take a look at the verse in a greater Scriptural context.

There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, And in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, 'Destroy!' Then Israel shall dwell in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine; His heavens shall also drop dew. Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, The shield of your help And the sword of your majesty! Your enemies shall submit to you, And you shall tread down their high places.—(Deu 33:26-29 NKJV)

We are in the everlasting arms of the LORD. He is our Security! He is our Refuge! He is our Protector! He is our Avenger! He is our Strength! He is our Fountain of Living Water! He is our Savior! He is our Shield! He is our Help! Praise God for all the He is!

And then let us consider this section of Scripture from Romans 8:35-39:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Whatever we are going through today, whatever the circumstances of our life today, the above promise is true and alive. Nothing can separate us from the love of our Savior!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

I really enjoyed the imagery that Spurgeon gave us with respect to the word refuge in this Morning's reading. That provoked me to go to the BLB and look up the root word for refuge in Gesenius's Lexicon. And the result made me chuckle. Gesenius also, specifically for Deuteronomy 33:27, uses the word asylum. Now Asylum has many meanings, one of them flew into my head. But, I thought I should take this a step further.

So I looked at Merriam-Webster for the definition of the word asylum. Here was their definition:

1 : an inviolable place of refuge and protection giving shelter to criminals and debtors: sanctuary
...
4 : an institution for the care of the destitute or sick and especially the insane

Now this I knew related to me. "For all have sinned..." (Romans 3:23). Prior to justification by faith, I was a debtor, a criminal according to God's Law. But now, after justification, He is my refuge. He has paid my debt. He has imputed His righteousness to me! Jesus is not a refuge for the perfect...He's a refuge for sinners, who come to Him by faith.

And apart from Christ I am destitute. Apart from Christ, I am nothing (maybe less than nothing), and can do nothing of eternal good.

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."—John 15:5 NKJV

Thank You Jesus for being my refuge! Thank you for Your everlasting arms that shield me, protect me and keep me.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Reading this day's morning and evening devotions, I came to realize that in my own personal life I tend to "thank the LORD" far more often than "praising the LORD." I do thank Him for all that He has provided for us in the way of salvation, indwelling our spirit, making us one with the Father, making the way for us to be adopted as 'sons of God', and of course the temporal things He provides.

But I find myself at a lower rate of frequency praising God for just the pure worship of praise. Praising Him for the essence of His being in all of His attributes. Sunday morning and Wednesday I can get into it, along with the rest of you. So I felt I needed a way to encompass both aspect of these things into my praise life. And the LORD led me to some Scripture to assist me. Here are two verses of Psalms that show me that I can easily combine both my thanksgiving and my praise together. And in the process "Magnify Him!"

I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving. (Psalm 69:30 NKJV)

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (Psalm 100:4 NKJV)

My Prayer: LORD, the disciple's prayed to you to help their faith. I ask you to help my praise. Please infuse into me a discernment to give praise for the magnificent Being that You are and to give thanksgiving for the merciful, compassionate and gracious things You do for us! I thank You for Who You are, the LORD Creator of the Universe. I thank you that as the LORD Creator of the Universe, you decided to humble Yourself and die on a cross for me. Thanks and Praise to You, my LORD and Savior. I pray that this has magnified and blessed Your Name. Amen.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning: "Will ye also go away?" - John 6:67

I had a tough time laying hold of Spurgeon's thoughts this morning - Spurgeon is asking us to reason, as believers, remembering Christ's friendship, comfort, and love, and conclude that there is no good reason to leave Him.

I can think of plenty of reasons to leave Jesus - all bad reasons, and all because of my sin nature: hardness of heart, rebellion, selfishness, etc.

But when I am in sin, those are exactly the times when I am least likely to use reason to stay with the Lord. If my walk depended on my own reasoning ability, I, and all of you dear readers, would fail miserably, and fail often.

What then shall we do? Rejoice! Our walk depends not on confidence in our reasoning, but on the goodness of God, who redeems us and causes us to walk in newness of life as we surrender our lives to Him, with faith only in His merits!

Paul says "walk worthy" in Ephesians 4:1, not by virtue of our reasoning ability, but by virtue of the power of the resurrection of Christ, which put all things under His feet, giving Him to us, His church, to be head over all things. Paul calls this the hope of His calling, in Ephesians 1, and He calls it our inheritance as adopted sons of God.

Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:21 that it is Christ who will transform us, conforming us to Him, by His resurrection power, by which He subdues all things to Himself.

He sudues all things! Hey, I'm one of those "all things". You are one of those "all things". Christ is subduing you, and me. We are being gifted by the Father with obedience to follow Christ, because of His great love for us. It is the love of Christ which compels us. And He, and His love, are faithful, even when I am not! It is not my love of Christ, but His love!

This is my great hope! I've been sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13), who guarantees my inheritance!

I rejoice in this, and I want to follow Christ and walk worthy, with all my confidence in Him!

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. - [1Jo 3:2-3 NKJV]

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

This Evening's Reading deals with one of those subjects that is often misunderstood, in two extremes. I am speaking of obedience under the New Covenant. Some take the commands to obey to the point that your salvation is dependent upon your obedience (we would call this legalism). Others take it to the other extreme that emphasizes that we are under grace not the Law, and therefore we don't need to worry about it (we call this anti-nomianism-from the Greek meaning lawless).

Neither extreme has it right, in my opinion. It it true that we are commanded over and over again in the New Testament to obey the commands of God. For example:

But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?—Luke 6:46 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.—Matthew 28:19-20 NKJV

But clearly Scripture also tells us that salvation is by faith and not by works.

...knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.—Galatians 2:16 NKJV

So the LORD does call us as a matter of daily Christian living to follow Him. That includes obeying Him. But the beautiful thing about the New Covenant is that Christ gives to the regenerate believer the Holy Spirit to indwell us, to empower us to live that Christian walk.

Desire to obey God, yes! Choose to obey God, yes! But always call upon the gift of the power of God (through the Holy Spirit) to accomplish these things. How do we do that? Well I think the Morning Reading gives us a good start. Prayer to the LORD and communion with Him! Let our paths be dropping with the fatness of prayer and communion with our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.—2Thessalonians 2:16-17 NKJV

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

Today's devotion is a very practical one that we all need to review and live by. I know in my own life, I don't always look at the small sins, as much as I do the big ones. The big ones seem to be easier to see and shy away from, but it is the little sins that nip at us every second, and we may just look them over as if they are not important. Spurgeon writes, "we shall shun it—shun it in everything—not in great things only, but in little things, as men shun little vipers as well as great snakes."

"Godly sorrow worketh repentance." — 2 Corinthians 7:10

It is important to know that no repentance is sustainable without the working of the Holy Spirit. We can not do this by our own power. Have you ever tried to fight some sort of sin on your own? The result for me is always failure. When we fix our eyes upon our Savior who died for all of our sins, it should bring us to a point of great reverence and love for Him for what he has done. His love for us should cause us to not want to disappoint Him and to fall more in love with Him, thus causing us to run from our sins.

I am deeply comforted by knowing what Spurgeon writes that, "Sincere repentance is continual. Believers repent until their dying day." We see this as believers, and find comfort that though we are not perfect, God is. We all fall short of the glory of God, but He sent His son for us, to die for all of our sins and transgressions, past, present and future. My prayer for all of us today is that we continually come to the throne of God to ask for forgiveness and for the strength to overcome our perils. Have a blessed day. Amen.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning: "Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens." - Lamentations 3:41

Evening: "Whom He did predestinate, them He also called." - Romans 8:30

The act of prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is a very salutary lesson for such proud beings as we are.

The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus

Lots of food for thought in Spurgeon today. And yes, prayer can be very humbling. I put the word "can" in italics because it highlights one of my (many) prideful problems. Prayer can be, but often isn't. Sometimes my prayers are humble - I feel unworthy to approach the throne of God, when I'm feeling most miserable about my sinful nature. Yet, where else can I turn, as a miserable sinner, than to the throne of God? This reminds me of Peter's cry to the Lord:

But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. [John 6:68]

In the midst of my sorrow over my sin, I can cry to the Lord - 'to whom shall I go?', and I know there is no where else - only the Lord has the words of eternal life!

And He is good to hear my prayers, because I come to Him, not in my own righteousness, but wrapped in the righteousness of Christ, wearing the banner of Jehovah Nissi over my tattered rags.

And those other times - how often do I approach of throne of God complacent about my walk, comfortable with myself, ready to inquire of the Lord, seemingly satisfied to come to the throne of grace with my own merits, my own cheap wares on display? Sad but true, I sometimes do.

I am so thankful for those humble times, when I feel so unworthy to approach the Lord in prayer, because that is the way I should always come to God in prayer.

It is "an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace."

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

I don't know about you when you read this Morning's Reading, but I said "Wow!" This is a perfect example of why they called Spurgeon the "Prince of Preachers." What a beautiful representation of the Spirit-filled, Spirit-led life in Christ. Spurgeon really tests us and causes us to ask, "Am I all-sufficiently filled and fulfilled in Christ. Is Jesus my all-in-all? This was my favorite line in the reading

The true saint is so completely satisfied with the all-sufficiency of Jesus that he thirsts no more—except it be for deeper draughts of the living fountain.

The section of Scripture from which this morning's text is drawn, (John 4) serves to remind us that Jesus is the Refreshment of Life. I am also reminded of the Scripture in Revelation describing the future Heavenly City and the river of water flowing from the throne of Christ.

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. (Rev 22:1-4 NKJV)

Let us be fully satisfied and refreshed today by the person of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I long for the day I will see you face-to-face!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

As I read the Morning's Reading about trusting in the Lord for our needs, I was reminded of the verse in Hebrews:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.—Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

That is a pretty strong statement! It is IMPOSSIBLE to please God without faith. Each and every day we are to seek Him and recognize that He is the One Who rewards us, even I believe with the parts of life that we take for granted. Even if King Artaxerxes had assigned a large army to accompany the people of Israel back to their land, if their faith had been in the army and not in the LORD, He would have been displeased with them. Whether there was or was not any army was not the issue. What their faith was resting in, was the issue.

The only battle that Joshua lost in taking Canaan, was when Joshua did not inquire of the LORD as to what to do. Joshua attempted to act upon his own wisdom rather than inquire of God and rely upon Him. Let us not make that mistake today. Let us walk in the power of the Spirit and seek Him diligently.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.—Romans 8:1 (NKJV)

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

"The liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." — Galatians 5: 1

In this chapter the Apostle Paul presents the doctrine of Christian liberty in a final effort to persuade the Galatians to give up the nefarious doctrine of the false apostles. To accomplish his purpose he adduces threats and promises, trying in every way possible to keep them in the liberty which Christ purchased for them. -commentary on the Epistle to the Galations by Martin Luther http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/luther/gal/web/gal5-01.html

What a great passage that we can find so much comfort in. Christ is our Messiah, our redeemer and yes he has really set us free. It is because of Him we are no longer in bondage to the legalistic rituals of the past. Our works do not set us free. Christ is our saviour and we are justified by Him alone. More importantly we are saved by the wrath of God. Christ's liberty is given to us not by the Law, and certainly not by our rightousness, but freely by Christ's sake.

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
-John 8:36

Indeed this is a liberty worth falling down on our knees and worshiping Him for. The Lord our God is our Friend and He is merciful and He has welcomed us as a "guest at the table of promises."

We should find comfort that no matter what, God will not depart from us. Whether our lives are falling apart, or we are having struggles with our wives, our children, our jobs, or falling into sin, we can look to the promises that God has bestowed upon us. Spurgeon writes, "Come in faith and you are welcome to all covenant blessings. There is not a promise in the Word which shall be withheld." It is not a superficial freedom, but a freedom that we can count on. We are free to access it at all times, through scripture, through prayer, whenever, wherever. Praise God.

How awesome is it that we are free to call upon our God for anything and I could quote the whole last part of Spurgeon's writing, but in sum, I will finish with this quote from our devotion.

"It matters not what thy need is, for there is fulness of supply in Christ, and it is there for thee. O what a "freedom" is thine! freedom from condemnation, freedom to the promises, freedom to the throne of grace, and at last freedom to enter heaven!" Amen

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Our readings for today give us two distinct views of God (among many others in Scripture) First, God is jealous (Nahum 1:2) and second, God is merciful (Psalm 116:5). In my life I have given God many opportunities to be jealous. The times I have put other things above God is too numerous to dwell upon. But thankfully, I can easily dwell on the fact that God is also full of mercy, compassion and grace. As with the Psalmists, let us declare the mercy of the Lord forever. I pray for you and for myself, that this day we would give God His rightful due!

He is glorious.

He is gracious.

He is loving.

He is sitting at the right hand of the Father, interceding for you and me this very moment.

He is jealous even of our own salvation. We cannot save ourselves, it is a gift that He provides to us.

C.S. Lewis wrote in his book Mere Christianity,

[Salvation] is the change from being confident about our own efforts to the state in which we despair of doing anything for ourselves and leave it to God.

I know the words "leave it to God" can be misunderstood, but they must stay for the moment. The sense in which a Christian leaves it to God is that he puts all his trust in Christ; trusts that Christ will somehow share with him the perfect human obedience which He carried out from His birth to His crucifixion: that Christ will make the man more like Himself and, in a sense, make good his deficiencies. In Christian language, He will share His "sonship" with us..."

Let us give praise to the Lord that we have been saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9).

Let us give praise to the Lord that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:35-39).

AMEN!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning:"Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar." - Psalm 120:5

Well, its early in the morning, and I'm a bit late starting my blog-day, and it seems like I've never seen these Scriptures before! Kind of scary. But then I realized - Hey! If I'm clueless as to what these mean, then I'll have to pray to God, and He will get the glory, and I'll learn something and be blessed! So here goes! Pray...pray...pray...pray!!

I really love this:

Let your goodness be the only fault they can discover in you. Like Daniel, compel them to say of you, "We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God."

I don't think people can say this about me, for two reasons:

1) I have plenty of faults! Today I was screaming at other drivers so much, that my sweet wife wanted to go home on the way to breakfast! She was willing to give up Bacon and French Toast because my whining was so bad! Then this evening, one of my daughters fined me $20 for my impatient outbursts at other drivers ($5 per infraction is the going rate in my household).

2) I tend to hang out around (only) other Christians, so it is hard to find people around me that don't like "the law of my God".

Fortunately, both faults can be remedied throught the grace of God! I have repented (again!) of my bad whiny/impatient character, and I am asking the Lord to help me overcome this!

Secondly, this exhortation from Spurgeon is making me realize how insulated my life has become, and I praise Him that He will help bring me into contact with unbelievers that I may witness to, with my NEW non-whiny personality!

Evening:"Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea?" - Job 38:16

When I was five years old I told my Dad that I knew most everything, and was ready to figure out everything else on my own. I've been unlearning everything I thought I knew ever since. The older I get, the less I seem to know, and that's a very good thing. I'm finally figuring out how unreliable my tired old brain is. It is good to be humbled!

Our world is being humbled as well. The more Science learns, the less it knows. The number of stars in the universe varies year-by-year (by so-called scientific knowledge) up and down, a thousand-fold, or a billion-fold, and Science doesn't even blink an eye and say "pardon me".

The same is true in the Social Sciences. If man can so easily obtain World Peace, on his own, as many claim, then why are there so many dozens of Organizations For World Peace? I mean, if they can't even agree amongst themselves as to how to organize and strive, what hope do they have for the rest of us?

Paul Krugman, a recent Nobel Prize winner in Economics, stated a few days ago in the New York Times that the field of Economics is in a state of complete disarray, having mistaken beautiful theories for Truth, full of schisms between Universities, where the various sides on theoretical issues disrespect each other completely. And now both sides have been proven wrong by the recent economic decline.

Spurgeon hits the nail on the head:

Let me not strive to understand the infinite, but spend my strength in love. What I cannot gain by intellect I can possess by affection, and let that suffice me.

Spurgeon was a brilliant man, and he never left his brains at the door of any building he entered. Yet he labored not in vain, in Christ (1 Cor 15:18).

May we, like Spurgeon, possess by affection, by the grace of God, that which HE wishes to edify us with - growing in knowledge of Him!

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him [be] the glory both now and forever. Amen. - [2 Peter 3:18 NKJV]

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning: "On mine arm shall they trust." - Isaiah 51:5

Evening: "If we walk in the light, as He is in the light." - 1 John 1:7

Spurgeon makes the point that we should praise any trials or circumstances that cause us to lean on the Lord, and trust in Him. When there is nothing else left to trust, in the midst of dispair, we can still trust in God - only in God.

Dishonour not thy Lord and Master by unworthy doubts and fears; but be strong in faith, giving glory to God.

Spurgeon, in the above quote, sees correctly the problem in doubting God. I agree that this is a problem. I've got a bigger problem than doubting God! My bigger problem is trusting in myself!

When we trust in ourselves, we are our own worst enemy, and no friend to God. We are like that blacksmith in Isaiah 44,

The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals, Fashions it with hammers, And works it with the strength of his arms. Even so, he is hungry, and his strength fails; He drinks no water and is faint. - [Isaiah 44:12 NKJV]

Earlier, Isaiah points to the Holy Spirit as the Living Water:

For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; - [Isaiah 44:3 NKJV]

Isaiah sees those that trust in the Lord, and rely on Him, as being Spirit-filled, and who give glory to God by being witnesses of Christ's work in their lives:

One will say, 'I am the LORD's'; Another will call himself by the name of Jacob; Another will write with his hand, 'The LORD's,' And name himself by the name of Israel. - [Isaiah 44:5 NKJV]

Wherease that poor blacksmith, trying vainly in his own strength to do all the work himself - well, his strength fails, and his testimony is only of himself, not the Lord!

... their precious things shall not profit; They are their own witnesses; ... - [Isaiah 44:9a NKJV]

Let us trust in the righteous right hand of the Lord! Let us walk in His marvellous light, and may He get all the glory due His name!

Fear not, for I [am] with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' - [Isaiah 41:10 NKJV]

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Some thoughts from this Morning's Reading of Spurgeon:

We being finite beings cannot know the glory of God. However, we can get glimpses of it from creation and from God's revelation of Himself. In His revelation we have the glory of God revealed in His names, His majesty, His power, His works, His Holiness. However, I think the most important revelation of His glory is of course, His express image, Jesus Christ.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (Col 1:15 NKJV)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 NKJV)

So I was wondering what are a few glimpses of God's glory that I can see in/through/from Christ?

• He is God, yet a servant (Phil 2:5-8)


• He has contol over sickness (Mark 8:22-29)


• He has control over creation and nature (see a list of His miracles)


• Every knee will bow to Him as Lord (Phil 2:9-11)

Those are just a few, because...well the list is as infinite as is His glory! If you have never had the opportunity to take a detailed class in Christology, I strongly suggest it. To learn about Jesus Christ, is to learn of His glory. Here's a free class on Christology. It is the most popular class on the Blue Letter Bible Institute, over 20,000 students have enrolled in the course.

Also, Happy Birthday Connor! I cannot believe you are 7 years old already! I pray that God will have His hand on you not only this next year, but your entire life!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

I don't really know a lot about spiders' webs, so I just leave the Morning's Reading untouched. But the text for the Evening's Reading is one that should give us hope.

Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things [are] possible to him who believes." (Mark 9:23)

I believe that Mark 9:23 has been misinterpreted by the "word of faith" movement. They say this text shows that we can have whatever we want if we have enough faith. And stripped out of its surrounding context, it might be possible to read it that way. But within context (reading both before and after the verse) we see differently. We can see from Mark 9:28-29, that the disciples were having trouble casting this demon out of the boy. And the boy's father was likely having some doubt about these disciples' abilities. Then Jesus comes along and the father in essence says to Him, "They cannot do it, can You?"

Jesus responds (in the JIMv paraphrased version), "Yes, I can. All things are possible, under the condition that you believe." You see I think Jesus is saying it is My will to heal this boy, but I am going to use you as an example. If you believe, I will do the humanly impossible thing, and heal the boy. Sometimes Jesus healed people and faith was NOT a condition. He just did it...because He wanted to do it that way. Other times, He asked people to exhibit some exercise of faith. But always, the power to heal came from the person of Christ, based upon His will.

I believe this is an example of Jesus showing His will in a person's life and asking that person to call upon Him for the power to follow His will. Jesus ask us to pick up our cross and follow Him.

Then He said to [them] all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (Luke 9:23)

We cannot due that in our own strength and power. We need God's empowerment to do it. This episode, with the father and boy, was as much about the father as it was about the boy. What I am encouraged by is the father's response,

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24)

I believe Jesus...but please help my unbelief. There is a kernel of faith, a mustard seed. But there is also unbelief, please dear God, help me in removing my unbelief. Clearly, it wasn't this man's great show of faith, for simultaneously, he declared his faith to be small. It was his small faith in our GREAT LORD. The miracle...the power is in our LORD and in His willingness to help us when we call upon Him.

He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. (Psa 91:15)

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

Morning:

FLEE! Clearly this is one piece of advice that I wish I had always listened to and acted upon faithfully. Paul uses the word exclusively to tell us to flee from immorality.

1 Cor 6:18 NKJV - Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

1 Cor 10:14 NKJV - Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

1Ti 6:11 NKJV - But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

2Ti 2:22 NKJV - Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Is there anything today that you should be fleeing from? I would pray that the LORD would give you and I the strength and wisdom to do such. Clearly it isn't always easy. And sometimes it still has consequences,as it did in Joseph's life. But clearly, it is always God's will in our life, as He has told us to do so, over and over again!

EVENING:

Jesus indicated that the good shepherd will leave the flock to go and get the one lost sheep. I fully believe that the overall teaching of Scripture tells us that if we are His sheep, He will bring us back to the flock. In the case of Paul, God pursued Him to the point of knocking him off a horse and temporarily blinding him, on the road to Damascus. The context of Hosea 5:15, the text for this Evening's reading, is that the LORD will also remove the perception of His presence. In this case it is referring to Israel. And by doing so, it will cause them to seek the LORD and return to Him.

I thank our gracious God for the fact that He continues to work out in our lives what is necessary for us to turn to Him. Of course, if I consistently applied Spurgeon's lesson from the morning reading, i.e., flee from the lust of the flesh, I am sure that I wouldn't have to go the the painful experiences that are necessary to bring me back to Him. If I would only learn!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning: "Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord." — Exodus 14:13

In this era of high speed life we sometimes seem to think “it must have been much easier in the past. The people of forgotten generations must have not had to deal with the everyday trials that we 21st century Christians have to face”. But we can see that this is not the case. Spurgeon clearly calls out that the enemy has in time past and always is constantly trying to pull us away from intimate communion with Christ using things as Despair and Cowardice. When we are stressed at work and cannot get finances off our minds, we must look upward to Christ. When we feel that things are not going our way it is God who we must hand it over to. When we are faced with trials that test our faith we are to pray for the Holy Spirit for divine wisdom and strength. He will never steer us in the wrong direction and if we take the time to listen and stand still we will see His perfect providence each of our lives. It is in the quite times that we come near to God.

Friends, do not let the busyness of our days get in the way of our time with Christ. Stand still is His command for it is there we listen to His guidance, we can ponder His wonderful creation, think upon His perfect sacrifice and can gather our daily strength to go forward as children of light.

Evening: "His camp is very great." — Joel 2:11

Complete and perfect providence is what first came to my mind.

"Space is His camping ground, light is His banner, and flame is His sword."

Every star that shines is in His control and every wave that crashes upon the shore is within His plan. He is the overseer of all and His power is endless and incomparable to anything else on this earth. We are so blessed to know that we serve a God who is in control of everything at all times.

I think of what Os Hillman wrote when speaking about Gideon and how his army originally consisted of 10,000 men but was dwindled away to 300 against the enemies 100,000. “He would not allow Gideon to fight with this many soldiers, because the temptation would still remain to believe that it was the strength of his army that won the victory. God told Gideon to pare down his army to a mere 300. This would ensure that God would receive total credit for the victory. This is a law in the Kingdom of God. All glory must go to Him.”

It is a frightful thing to not be on the Lord’s side and to not be a solider of grace and truth. We children of God can be confident that His is the larger and greater camp and He will and always has been victorious.

"for to war against Him is madness, and to serve Him is glory."

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

Even thou wast as one of them- Obadiah 1:11

How often can we say this of ourselves? This is a battle daily that I fight in my own life, oh how sweet it is to be delivered from my sins. When we sin as Christians, Spurgeon points out that "we sin with an emphasis; ours is a crying offence, because we are so peculiarly indulged." Peculiarly indeed. We should know better, right? "Much forgiven, much delivered, much blessed, much instructed, much enriched, much blessed," by our Savior Jesus Christ, so then, "shall we dare to put forth our hand unto evil? God Forbid!"

Ah yes, easier said than done, isn't it? Praise Him for his mercy upon our souls. Just because we are Christians doesn't make us exempt from these peculiar indulgences. But if we strive to love Him with all of our souls and all of our might and lean upon His strength and not upon ours, this indulgence will certainly become less and less, or at least we will become more conscious of our behavior, through our understanding of how Great our God is.

"Be honest with thine own soul, and make sure that thou art a new creature in Christ Jesus..." We don't want anyone to say that we are as one of them. We are saved by His grace and are destined to spend eternity with Him. We don't want to share in the unbelievers fate, so why do we act like them here, in this life? My prayer for all of us today is that we side with eachother and lift one another up and not fall on the side of the world. Have a blessed day!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning:

The first thing that I thought of after reading this morning’s devotion was this quote from George Whitefield: "We are immortal until our work on earth is done." That means that until God calls us home we aren't going anywhere, and that when He does call us home it won’t matter because we will be in eternal bliss. If God has work for us to do on earth then He will not call us home prematurely, for we were created in Christ Jesus to do those good works. We need not fear, nor have anxiety about what the next step should bring, because we have God, a mighty, and eternal King who loves us and cares for us.

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" - Rom. 8:31


Evening:

As I read this evenings devotion I couldn't help but imagine how many times these truths have helped those going through the rough seasons of life. I'm almost brought to tears imagining how beautiful these words are to the mother who has lost a child, to the child who has lost a parent, to those whose loved ones are sick, and to those experiencing various kinds of depression and despair. Take heart this evening child of God, for you have all spiritual blessings through your Lord Jesus Christ, and will experience infinite ecstasies as you gaze into His face forevermore. This is our hope, this is our joy, and this is our God.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

I like the corollary aspects of this Morning's and Evening's Readings. Spurgeon calls us to consider our election by God, our belief in God, and our sanctification by the power of God. All the glory goes to God (as it should), because He is the initiator and power behind our salvation.

In one of Spurgeon's sermons, he spoke the following that is related to today's readings:

Examine yourselves, dear friends, then, by this. I do not ask you whether your hearts are perfect-they are not; I do not ask you whether your hearts never go astray, for they are prone to wander; but I do ask you: Is your heart resting upon Jesus Christ? Is it a believing heart? Does your heart meditate upon divine things? Does it find its best solace there? Is your heart a humble heart? Are you constrained to ascribe all to sovereign grace? Is your heart a holy heart? Do you desire holiness? Do you find your pleasure in it? Is your heart bold for God? Does your heart ascribe praises to God? Is it a grateful heart? and is it a heart that is wholly fixed upon God, desiring never to go astray? If it be, then you have marks of election. (Sermon 638, July 9, 1865)

The question Spurgeon asked 144 years ago are still valid questions today. Let's give the LORD thanks for His election of us, for the gift of faith to believe in Him and for the power of the Holy Spirit to walk day-by-day in His power.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

I really enjoyed this excerpt from the Evening Reading:

But notice how Christ revealed Himself to this sorrowing one—by a word, "Mary." It needed but one word in His voice, and at once she knew Him, and her heart owned allegiance by another word, her heart was too full to say more. That one word would naturally be the most fitting for the occasion. It implies obedience. She said, "Master."

Imagine, Jesus saying my name. The manner in which a name is said can speak volumes. When my mother spoke "James Patrick," well I knew what was coming was generally NOT going to be good. When her voice said "Jimmy" (don't get any ideas), well that was totally different, since it was an invitation for communication—not rebuke.

I can only imagine what it will be like when my Master speaks my name. Not of condemnation, nor rebuke, for He already paid the price for my sins. But rather a name spoken to a loved servant from a loving Master, to a friend from the Friend, and to an adopted brother from the only Begotten One.

Not only will He call me by name, but He promises to confess my name before the Father.

He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Rev 3:5 NKJV)

Not only will He confess my name before the Father, but He promises to give me my own special new name, that only the LORD and myself will know.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives [it]. (Rev 2:17 NKJV)

What's in a name? So very much!

And all of this should lead me to the private effectual prayer of a worshipping heart that Spurgeon speaks of in the Morning Reading. As I continually realize, that all of salvation, all that salvation will provide in the future (which is still unimaginable), all of that is mine solely based upon the grace of God.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible


Morning:"If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it." - Exodus 20:25

The Lord alone must be exalted in the work of atonement, and not a single mark of man's chisel or hammer will be endured.

This is Spurgeon's exhortation to us this morning, asking that we not add to the finished work of Christ on the cross, in the same way that the Father exhorts us not to try to chisel, or dress, the stones on the alter to the Lord.

Would we try to take Christ, the chief cornerstone, and chisel Him to our own designs? We, the clay, would we try to fashion the potter into some concept of our own making?

you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." Therefore, to you who believe, [He is] precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. - [1 Peter 2:5-8 NKJV]

Christ was scourged already for us during His earthly life - Let us not attempt to scourge Him again to make an easier or more convenient doctrine.

This is the saddest of strivings, when we attempt to fashion our own little gods.

Isaiah warns us against this in Isaiah 44:

Who would form a god or mold an image that profits him nothing? - [Isaiah 44:10 NKJV]

This section of Isaiah tells the story of a blacksmith that strives to make a god of his own imagining.

The blacksmith with the tongs works one in the coals, Fashions it with hammers, And works it with the strength of his arms. Even so, he is hungry, and his strength fails; He drinks no water and is faint. - [Isaiah 44:12 NKJV]

When we strive in our own vain labors, we are striving against God's Holy Spirit. Even if our strivings produce some fruit, it is not the fruit that comes from abiding in Christ:

Those who make an image, all of them [are] useless, And their precious things shall not profit; They [are] their own witnesses; They neither see nor know, that they may be ashamed. - [Isaiah 44:9 NKJV]

Our only witness is of ourselves! How terrible to be successful in this endeavor! Far better for us to fail at any enterprise in which we are striving in our own strength.

This is in direct contrast to the encouraging exhortation at the beginning of Isaiah 44:

For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring; ... One will say, 'I [am] the LORD's'; Another will call [himself] by the name of Jacob; Another will write [with] his hand, 'The LORD's,' And name [himself] by the name of Israel. - [Isaiah 44:3-5 NKJV]

Let all our fruit be fashioned through abiding in Christ, and none of our own making.

We labor not in vain in the Lord!

Evening:"As it began to dawn, came Magdalene, to see the sepulchre." - Matthew 28:1

A good exhortation from the life of Mary Magdalene: seek Him patiently, eagerly, hungrily, boldly, faithfully, earnestly. And seek Him only!

Mary Magdalene sought thus because she loved much. Let us arouse ourselves to the same intensity of affection; let our heart, like Mary's, be full of Christ, and our love, like hers, will be satisfied with nothing short of Himself. O Lord, reveal Thyself to us this evening!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

And God divided the light from the darkness. - Genesis 1:4

While reading this devotion, I think of my struggles daily as sinner, and I praise Him for letting the light into my heart. Spurgeon writes that a believer must contend with two principles. Before God let the light in, we were only filled with darkness. Because of the light coming in it is now in disagreement with the darkness of our hearts. It doesn't mix. It is that battle between good and evil that is tugging at our hearts, at our minds and rips at us any chance it gets.

Paul writes in Romans 7:21 and 22, "I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."

So then, we are all wretched sinners and who then will deliver us from our sins? Praise God- Jesus Christ will deliver us and has delivered us from our sins.

I look at oil and water, two liquids that do not mix very well. If you start with a glass of water and take some oil and pour it in, the water around it will want to push the oil to the surface. God is the water, the light. Our sins are the oil, the darkness, that try and mix into the light. Without God and Jesus as our savior, the sin would just sit there and continue to take us into the depths of darkness.

Spurgeon writes that if there be a division within the individual Christian, there is certain to be division without. Let us pray that we will desire the things above and that God will continue to separate the light from the dark within us. May we separate ourselves from the things of this world and be satisfied in the gospel of Christ.

"He was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners; and, as He was, so we are to be nonconformists to the world, dissenting from all sin, and distinguished from the rest of mankind by our likeness to our Master."

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning:"Whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." - Proverbs 1:33

Spurgeon's exhortation to us this morning is to dwell on the character of God, rather than on our circumstances. And His character is of love.

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. - [1 John 4:16 NKJV]

We see His character exhibited in so many ways, none more so than Christ dying on the cross for us. We see His love demonstrated as well, in the way He desires fellowship with us, and draws us to Him. A few examples from scripture - cherish your own favorites:

'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.' - [Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV]

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find [Me], when you search for Me with all your heart. - [Jeremiah 29:12-13 NKJV]

But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find [Him] if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul...(for the LORD your God [is] a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them. - [Deuteronomy 4:29,31 NKJV]

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." - [Psalms 50:15 NKJV]

The LORD [is] near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. - [Psalms 145:18 NKJV]

Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. - [Isaiah 55:6 NKJV]

"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. - [Luke 11:9-10 NKJV]

Can we doubt the character of God, His love for us, when we see how He desires us to come to Him? Be comforted!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

The text for this Morning's Reading is both wonderful and perplexing. The wonderful part is that Jesus declares He has given us the same glory that God the Father gave to Jesus. However, that is also the text that is perplexing to me. For as I look at myself in the mirror (physically and spiritually), I do not see that glory.

It is only something that the LORD must be able to see, since I know that the words of Christ are true. I believe it is only because He sees us in Christ. It a wonderful thing to know that, in Christ, God sees us differently than we are in the flesh. The LORD sees our natural self buried in that tomb with Christ, 2000 years ago. He sees a new creation riased with Christ (Rom 6:4). Following are just a few snippets of who I am in Christ (as you are, if you are a believer in Christ):

• I have been delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed into the kingdom of the Jesus Christ. (Col 1:13)


• I currently possess redemption, the forgiveness of sin, through the blood of Jesus. (Col 1:14)


• I have died, and my life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:3)


• I was purchased by God at a price. (1 Cor 6:20)


• I now belong to Christ and therefore belong to God. (1 Cor 3:23)


• I was chosen in Christ before the creation of the world, to be reckoned as holy and blameless before Him. (Eph. 1:4)


• I have been made alive with Christ and sit with Him in the heavenly places. (Eph. 2:5-6)


• I am God's child. (John 1:12)


• I am Christ's friend. (John 15:15)


• I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms. (Eph 2:6)


• I am a citizen of heaven. (Phil 3:20)


• I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me. (1 John 5:18)


• I am free from the power of sin, and am now a slave to righteousness. (Rom 6:7-8, 11, 14, 18)


• I have been redeemed from the curse of the Law. (Gal. 3:13)


• I am free from condemnation. (Rom 8:1-2)


• I am saved by the grace of God through faith. (Eph 2:8-9)


• I am able to find God's grace and mercy in time of need. (Heb 4:16)


• I am in Christ, and am therefore complete in Him, because He is the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form. (Col. 2:9-10)


• I have access to the mind of Christ so that He may instruct me. (1 Cor 2:16)


• Through Christ, I have overcome the world. (1 John 4:4)


• I am safe for He will never abandon me. (Heb 13:5)


• I am confident that the good work that the Lord has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil 1:6)

Wow! That really is amazing! How can God do all of that for me and to me? Well the answer is contained in the text for the Evening Reading.

Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.—Jeremiah 32:17

It is too hard for us, but not for God. Let us thank Him for His bountiful grace and mercy towards us, this day and forevermore.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning:...Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." - Luke 11:27, 28

This morning we have a nice exhortation to greet our devotion time:

But He said, "More than that, blessed [are] those who hear the word of God and keep it!" - [Luke 11:28 NKJV]

It would be easy to stray from our place at the feet of our Lord, and start imagining, as did the disciples, which one was in some measure the most blessed, or greatest.

Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. - [Luke 22:24 NKJV]

How vain can be our ambition! And how quickly Spurgeon strikes at the heart of the matter: our merits are Christ's merits, as our loving Father in heaven bestows on us the merits of Christ, as we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise [Ephesians 1:13], and are being transformed into the image of Christ by the Spirit of Christ [2 Cor 3:18].

Spurgeon strikes home this point with two cogent illustrations:

Psa 25:14 NKJV - The secret of the LORD [is] with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.

As Spurgeon says, all that Mary knew we may also discover.

For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good [thing] will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. - [Psalms 84:11 NKJV]

Spurgeon's second related point is Jesus's promise that positionally, we are now His friends, not His servants:

[Jhn 15:15 NKJV] - No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Can we not be greatly comforted by this? And in our joy, will we still brag of our own merits? I think not!

Evening:"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said . . . Be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods." - Daniel 3:16, 18

With our hope in Christ, we are encouragd to emulate the boldness of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah before the fiery furnace.

Be not guided by the will-o'-the-wisp of policy, but by the pole-star of divine authority. Follow the right at all hazards. When you see no present advantage, walk by faith and not by sight. Do God the honour to trust Him when it comes to matters of loss for the sake of principle. See whether He will be your debtor! See if He doth not even in this life prove His word that "Godliness, with contentment, is great gain," and that they who "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, shall have all these things added unto them."

John says it best:

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. - [1 John 3:2-3 NKJV]

Do you have this hope of Christ in you? Do you have the hope of seeing Him one day in glory? If not, do you know where to seek this hope?

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. - [Romans 15:4 NKJV]

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

When studying the Evening Reading I was struck by the chosen text of Mark 1:18. It brought to mind a corollary set of verses from John. Let's take a look and see the similarity and distinction.

(Mark 1:16-18 NKJV) And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, 'Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.' They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

(John 6:64-69 NKJV) 'But there are some of you who do not believe.' For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He said, 'Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.' From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, 'Do you also want to go away?' But Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'

In the passage from the Gospel of John, we see Jesus indicating that there are disciples who did not believe. Even though they were following Jesus, they were not "followers of Jesus." When He said things that were hard to take, they left! Now in contrast, the Mark passage shows the response of true followers of Christ. Jesus came and told them a hard saying. He told them to leave everything they have worked for in their life and to follow Him—Who at best they barely knew. What was their response? They dropped everything and followed Him. That was the difference between the two groups of disciples. The false followers—they left, the true followers—they followed at all cost. The true followers answered the Master's call.

We see also in the John passage that Jesus asked the Twelve if they too wanted to leave. Peter's response should also be our response, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." Let us all truly follow Jesus as we are led by the Spirit of the Lord. As Spurgeon wrote in the Evening Reading:

We are very concerned that our little book of Evening Readings should not be fruitless, and therefore we pray that readers may not be readers only, but doers, of the word. The practice of truth is the most profitable reading of it.

Prayer:
Lord, help us to follow You! Guide us with the Holy Spirit. Let us practice what we read in Your Word, as a testimony of your regenerative work in our lives; as a testimony of the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Amen.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well: sing ye unto it." Numbers 21:17

This brought back some great memories of sunday school singing this song. It has been some time since I have heard the song Spring Up, O Well, so I had to find the lyrics on the internet. What great truth in this song, and maybe you can remember the tune and sing along with me this morning.

I've got a river of life flowing out of me
Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see,
Opens prison doors, sets the captive free.
I've got a river of life flowing out of me.

Chorus:
Spring up, O well, within my soul.
Spring up, O well, and make me whole
Spring up, O well, and give to me
That life abundantly

In the wilderness, God spoke to Moses and told him to gather up the people and I will give them water. And of course God provided. Abundantly. I am blessed by this verse, as we all need spiritual water, heavenly grace, to fill our souls. Is your soul thirsty this morning. Call out to God and he will make you whole. I think a lot of times we go through our days and wait a little too long to pray for our souls to be renewed. I like what Spurgeon says, "Let us not murmur, but sing." Lift our praises to Him, and if you don't know what to say, sing the song up above.

Spurgeon continues, "the well was the object of effort. The Lord would have us active in obtaining grace." Basically, we can't just sit here and expect our souls to be filled. We must be actively seeking His grace through prayer, devotion, fellowship and worship. "The Lord will give us His peace most plenteously, but not in a way of idleness." The Lord is our Provider of all our fresh springs. Spring up, O well.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning:"Delight thyself also in the Lord." — Psalm 37:4

Spurgeons exhortation is a good one. I'm glad to think today, after a full Sunday (I was preparing for Monday's blog, but OOPS, I'm supposed to be doing Sunday, so I'm sorry this is so late!): do I delight in the Lord? I delight in church, I delight in fellowship, I delight in worship. I have joy tonight in my salvation. It is a great thing to ponder! I delight to know that God drew me to Him, that I didn't choose God. And since He drew me to Him, I also know that He will continue to work on me, changing me as I learn to surrender myself to Him. There is delight in that! I am so blessed and grateful to Him for His grace to me.

And when we can delight in Him, then we can trust him gladly, and surrender to Him our lives, even the high places in our lives. That's why Psalm 37:4 talks about the Lord putting His desires into our heart when we delight in Him: we are ready to surrender ourselves to Him and seek His will in our lives, not our own, when we delight in Him.

Thank you Lord!

Evening:"O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face . . . because we have sinned against Thee." — Daniel 9:8

Admire the grace which saves thee—the mercy which spares thee—the love which pardons thee!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Today's devotional really engaged me and started me thinking about heaven. I hope it did for you as well. After all, we will be spending all eternity in heaven, whatever form it may take and wherever it may be. I too sometimes wondered why Jesus just did not take us to be with Him upon conversion. Of course, the reason is that we are the primary means that God has ordained to spread His Gospel. I can confidently say that all of us reading this post would have to attribute our coming to Christ in some way to the preaching of the Gospel by a believer. Whether it be a preacher at an event, a parent(s) within our house, or some other manner, a person was involved in telling us the Good News.

But I still like to think about our ultimate destination. John Edwards had this to say about Heaven.

God, considered with respect to His essence, is everywhere—He fills both heaven and earth. But yet He is said, in some respects, to be more especially in some places than in others. He was said of old to dwell in the land of Israel, above all other lands; and in Jerusalem, above all other cities of that land; and in the temple, above all other buildings in the city; and in the holy of holies, above all other apartments of the temple; and on the mercy seat, over the ark of the covenant, above all other places in the holy of holies. But heaven is His dwelling-place above all other places in the universe; and all those places in which He was said to dwell of old, were but types of this. Heaven is a part of creation that God has built for this end, to be the place of His glorious presence, and it is His abode forever; and here will He dwell, and gloriously manifest Himself to all eternity.

I know it is a common comfort to think about heaven when we are hurting, and understandably so. The Irish poet, Thomas Moore, said,

Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.

But when our life circumstances are fantastic, we should still long for heaven. For the best this current world has to offer cannot begin to compare with what our LORD is preparing for us right now.

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:1-3 NKJV)

Then we will see our Lord Jesus face-to-face. We will see Him in the glory that was His before His incarnation and since His ascension.

According to Scripture the heavens are filled, loudly (see examples), with words like: "holy, holy holy," "Lord God Almighty," and "the Lamb."

I long for heaven not because I am dissatisfied with life here, but because I long to be face-to-face with my Savior; not because I am moribund, but because I have eternal life.

As the Apostle Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to say,

I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, (Phil 1:21-25 NKJV)

AMEN!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

One of the things that has blessed me throughout the years is how Spurgeon can take a familiar doctrine or biblical truth and freshly remind of its significance and wonder. He does it again this morning... by reminding us of our eternal security.
I like the visual created in the story of the Ark and how Noah was "shut in". This morning we are reminded that in Christ there is perfect safety. I am praising Him as I type this... that "eternal faithfulness has shut them in"! I have a busy day today... but I pray that it will be restful!

Noah was so shut in that no evil could reach him. Floods did but lift him heavenward, and winds did but waft him on his way. Outside of the ark all was ruin, but inside all was rest and peace. Without Christ we perish, but in Christ Jesus there is perfect safety. Noah was so shut in that he could not even desire to come out, and those who are in Christ Jesus are in Him for ever. They shall go no more out for ever, for eternal faithfulness has shut them in, and infernal malice cannot drag them out.

In the evening devotion, Spurgeon gives a clear exhortation from 1 John 4:8. The man is gifted in saying much with few words. I love what he says about the "distinguishing mark of a Christian" in his first sentence.

The distinguishing mark of a Christian is his confidence in the love of Christ, and the yielding of his affections to Christ in return. First, faith sets her seal upon the man by enabling the soul to say with the apostle, "Christ loved me and gave Himself for me." Then love gives the countersign, and stamps upon the heart gratitude and love to Jesus in return.

Truly, the love of Christ is what compels us to love Him and others. It's what causes us to do all that we do. I would encourage all of us to meditate on this devotion tonight. May we read it in wonder of the great love in which Christ loved us. May we be freshly amazed by His love and grace... may it cause us to lean and trust in his perfect love that cannot be improved upon.

Zeal for the glory of King Jesus was the seal and mark of all genuine Christians. Because of their dependence upon Christ's love they dared much, and because of their love to Christ they did much, and it is the same now. The children of God are ruled in their inmost powers by love—the love of Christ constraineth them; they rejoice that divine love is set upon them, they feel it shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto them, and then by force of gratitude they love the Saviour with a pure heart, fervently.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at BLB

Morning: "But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared" - Titus 3:4

I've always been a collector. When I was a youth, I would buy old 1940's and 1950's paperback books from certain publishers, and research their publishing history, their relation to each other, and stuff like that, and organize them on shelves in my bedroom. OK, I was a weird kid. And yes, I know that “from a tiny acorn, grows a mighty oak.”

Now that the Lord has drawn me to Him, I collect other things. My favorite is to collect Scriptures. You can collect Scriptures on God's promises, or places in the Bible concerning "three days", or the Banner of the Lord Jehovah Nissi, or really, all manner of things, as God's word is as deep as His love for us.

One of my favorite Scripture collections concerns today's morning devotion. It is a collection of places in the Bible where the Holy Spirit tells us "But God". A few examples:

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - [Romans 5:8 NKJV]

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), - [Ephesians 2:4-5 NKJV]

There's a lot of love and kindness and grace crammed into those two words "But God", and that is the exhortation in Spurgeon's devotion. What a distinction between our miserable, fallen state, and God's loving response to us! One of my favorite examples of this is in Hosea. In Chapter 2:13, God speaks about Israel forgetting the Lord

She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, And went after her lovers; But Me she forgot," says the LORD.

And what is God's response in the next verse? It is something amazing!

"Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Will bring her into the wilderness, And speak comfort to her. - [Hosea 2:14 NKJV]

In the midst of our idolatry, our darkest sin, our selfishness, and our pride, the Lord gently and firmly woos us to Him, and makes us His own!

Oh, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus!

Evening:"Received up into glory." - 1 Timothy 3:16

Spurgeon exhorts us this evening to contemplate the Lord's glory, but also to contemplate how the Lord was arrayed:

- He wore the sackcloth of sorrow as His daily dress
- shame was His mantle
- reproach was His vesture

and yet,

- He will be robed in the splendor of victory
- He wears the glory which He had with Father God from everlasting

Spurgeon asks:

Reader, if you would joy in Christ's glory hereafter, He must be glorious in your sight now. Is He so?

This reminds me of the fashion statements in our lives. In Spurgeon's time, a well-dressed man might wear an Albert Chain on his watch, because Queen Victoria's husband, Albert, started that fashion. Albert also wore a new style of frock coat on his visit to the USA in 1876, and so - you guessed it - Prince Albert Frock Coats came into vogue. Two Hundred years earlier, we men would have been wearing Cromwell shoes and Knickerbocker leggings. And in our time, we have only accelerated the pace of modeling our fashion statements after the latest athletes, actors, or rock stars.

One of the ways in which we can follow Spurgeon's exhortation to glorify Christ is in our raiment - how we clothe ourselves. We have a choice before us: do we model our clothing and fashion after the most popular stars of today, or do we adorn ourselves with Christ as our model? What does Scripture say?

Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel-- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. - [1 Peter 3:3-4 NKJV]

Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, - [Proverbs 3:3 NKJV]

In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ, who created this new nature within you. Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. - [Colossians 3:10,12,14 NLT]

for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. - [Galatians 3:27 NIV]

Let us clothe ourselves with Christ today, looking forward to the day we will wear His robe of righteousness!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning:

My first thoughts as I read Spurgeon’s morning devotional are that potters, who work with clay, which is nothing more that dust and water from the earth, are in service to an earthly king. We are frequently reminded throughout scripture that God is the potter and we are the clay (Jeremiah 18: 6, Isaiah 45: 9, Romans 9: 21…etc) yet I find it interesting that Spurgeon uses the analogy of the potter and the clay to speak to us of our service to our King.

No matter how menial we may view our labor on this earth it is important to remember that God can do amazing things with the seemingly mundane tasks that we perform on a daily basis. When the potter begins his work we see only a dripping wet slab of mud that does not appear to be capable of anything other than making a mess. Working with these materials at this stage is anything but glamorous. As the potter diligently performs his duty the mass of muck begins to take shape and ultimately becomes a useful tool or a beautiful work of art.

At the onset of the process the potter may have little or no idea of what the finished product may be but diligently performs his calling, one turn of the wheel at a time. It is only upon completion of the task that the fruit of that labor is revealed.

Let this be an encouragement to us as we perform our daily duties trusting that God has a plan to make great the faithful execution of our calling. Thanks be to God.
___________________________________________________________________________________

Evening:

This really speaks for itself and I find myself at somewhat of a loss for words. It is difficult in this present day to live in accordance with biblical humility as society tells us that pride and self esteem are avenues to success. Reading Spurgeon’s evening devotion seems to place a magnifying glass over my prideful self and causes me to ask: How do I dare possess even one small grain of pride? I ask this in light of Spurgeon pointing out who Jesus was, what He did for us, and how He humbled Himself.

Consider that Jesus is God who created the universe because He willed it! If a man ever walked the earth that had a just claim on pride it was He. Yet He lived a life of humility before allowing Himself be scorned, tortured and crucified to death.

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8)

May God help us to meditate on these things through His Word and through His Holy Spirit that we may live a life of humility.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

In this morning's devotional as we read of the affliction of David by his son, a few things struck me. David is often characterized as reaping what he sowed in relation to his discipline of his son, Absalom. But what struck me most was that there were many who also were afflicted because of King David. Ittai the Gittite chose to go with the rightful king (David). And because of his loyalty to the king, Ittai shared in David's affliction.

We too are called to share in Christ's affliction. Because we are His people, because we follow Him, because we are His Body, we are afflicted with Christ.

...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death...—Philippians 3:10 NKJV

For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. [6] Now if we are afflicted, [it is] for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, [it is] for your consolation and salvation. [7] And our hope for you [is] steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also [you will partake] of the consolation. [8] For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.—2 Cor 1:5-8 NKJV

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God...—2 Timothy 1:8 NKJV

A disciple is not above [his] teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more [will they call] those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.—Matthew 10:24-28 NKJV

So let us rejoice that our lives are in the hands of the MASTER. Nothing will happen to us that is outside of His control.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

"Whom He justified, them He also glorified." — Romans 8:30

Its is finished Christians! The whole progression is Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,* for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. This is the heart of the Gospel right here. If we are those that believe in Christ and trust in Him alone for our salvation then we can say that we have been called, we have been foreknown or for-loved by God, we have predestined to be his children and be found in Christ, we have been given the promise to be conformed to the images of Christ, and last but not least we will be glorified with Christ for all eternity. This is comfort for the soul.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected [it] in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." — Romans 8:18-21

Earlier Paul speaks of this groaning and suffering that we all deal with as Christians and even that God has subjected us to this, but the comfort is the guarantee of our future to be glorified with Christ. Take hope and think on these things now! Find your glory and Joy in Christ.

"This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope." — Lamentations 3:21

I believe these all have to do with finding comfort and joy in Christ! David often speaks of remembering the great works of God so that in times of trouble or times of uncertainty he could recall all of God's amazing works and find comfort and joy and stamina for his soul to go on. God even says to the children of Israel to remind and recall all of his great works to their children so that they would have such a big view of God that when trials came they could recall his works and find joy in who He is. Think of all the times that God has worked wondrous things in each of our lives and let that be the place from where we find joy in Him today!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning:"Forsake me not, O Lord." - Psalm 38:21

I pray for my kids, a lot. They are amazing teenagers, each as different as could be, each loving, thoughtful, full of life. They need our prayers at all times, for health, school work, safety, God's calling on their lives, God's comfort and blessing, and perseverence in the Lord.

My prayers for my self are quite a bit different. I thank the Lord for His blessings, and I pray often that He would make me hungrier for His word, so that my life would be full of it, and Him. But there is also a lot of complacency in my prayers to Him, and I think that is Spurgeon's point: we need God's constant upholding, in good times, and in times of struggle.

My prayers are most fervent when I am in a struggle - most all of my own doing, I might add. I'm thankful for the morning devotion today, to exhort me to be fervent in prayer before the struggles start!

I am more thankful to Jesus, who makes intercession for us. I am covered in His prayers - He is always faithful!

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; - [John 17:20 NKJV]

Evening:"And they rose up the same hour, and returned Jerusalem . . . and they told what things were done in the way, and how He was known of them." — Luke 24:33,35

This is such a sweet devotional, and so encouraging. Each of us has a small part to play in sharing the testimony of Christ, and the picture is not complete unless we are all bold to share. Spurgeon is a kind pastor! - a man who preached over 3,500 sermons, to perhaps 10,000,000 souls, and yet he claims not for himself a larger part than any of his listeners, in telling "what great things God has shown to your soul".

And yet, should we be surprised? For Spurgeon certainly knew:

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. - [2 Corinthians 4:5-7 NKJV]

Are you an earthen vessel? Share what the Lord is doing in your life, and build up the body of Christ, to His glory!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

MORNING:

"Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer."—Psalm 66:20

Here again we see that we are corrupt even unto our prayers. I love Spurgeon for the fact that he cuts quickly to the chase and reminds us of who we really are. Answered prayer is as anything else we receive from God; it is a tremendous act of grace in spite of the fallen state we find ourselves in.

“There may be some who think their prayers worthy of acceptance—as the Pharisee did; but the true Christian, in a more enlightened retrospect, weeps over his prayers, and if he could retrace his steps he would desire to pray more earnestly.”

Let this serve as a reminder for us so that we approach God in our prayers with the proper attitude of humility so that we do not take on the role of the Pharisee.

Spurgeon does not mince words here when he refers to our sessions of prayer as “Intermittent spasms of importunity which come and go with our necessities.”

I don’t know why but I find a certain amount of solace when I see a man of Spurgeon’s caliber being honest and baring his soul to the point where it’s apparent that he struggles with the same issues as I.

Once again Spurgeon seems to have a window into my soul but in fact, the truth of the matter is, that he is a man with a deep understanding of the heart of man and how we stand only by God’s Grace.

“What a God is He thus to hear the prayers of those who come to Him when they have pressing wants, but neglect Him when they have received a mercy; who approach Him when they are forced to come, but who almost forget to address Him when mercies are plentiful and sorrows are few.”

As I consider the above paragraph I once again find myself in a place of awe. As a result I will resign myself to being more fervent in my prayer life knowing all the while that it is only by God’s grace that they are heard and answered. Thanks be to God!

_______________________________________________________________________

Evening:

"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ."—Philippians 1:27

“The word "conversation" does not merely mean our talk and converse with one another, but the whole course of our life and behavior in the world. The Greek word signifies the actions and the privileges of citizenship: and thus we are commanded to let our actions, as citizens of the New Jerusalem, be such as becometh the Gospel of Christ.”

Spurgeon is pointing out the reality that we need to do more than “talk the talk” but we must “walk the walk” as well. And did he point out that the Greek word indicates that our actions become the Gospel of Christ? Yes, I believe that he did! That thought of our actions becoming the Gospel is a sobering one to say the least.

Spurgeon sums it up quickly by pointing out the Gospel is simple, loving and gentle, yet fearless. He exhorts us to share the Gospel, not only through word, but through our entire life. Will we fall short? Of course, but God will fill in those gaps with His grace.

“Some professors are sharper than a thorn-hedge; such men are not like Jesus.” Ouch; Spurgeon really got my attention with that one. Not much room for debate there. “Not like Jesus?”

Once again I find myself in a position of having to rely on God’s grace and pray that He will assist me with walking in a way that is representative of the Gospel. We are changed through His Word…as we understand more of who we are and who He is, our lives will become a more accurate representation of the Gospel.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

A guest posting from Trevor Wright.

MORNING: Divine Confidence

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.–Psalm 138:8

For this morning’s devotional I found it profitable to meditate on the examples that Spurgeon gave as to what the psalmist did NOT say, and then think about WHY he did not say such things. Here are my thoughts and I pray that they would be edifying to you as you start your day.

Spurgeon: He did not say, “I have grace enough to perfect that which concerneth me”

He did not say this, because he knew that the work of sanctification, God constantly bringing us to become more and more like Christ, is entirely the work of the Lord. He knew that all of our life is grace. We haven’t been given a push start by the grace of God, the grace of God is pulling us along every sanctifying step of the way—sometimes kicking and screaming. So this morning I thank God for His constant love and concern for me.

Spurgeon: He did not say, "My faith is so steady that it will not stagger."

He did not say this, because he knew well how prone we are, as frail human beings, to be carried away by our flesh into utter ruin. Without the Lord our faith is not steady it is non-existent, and we would not only stagger without the constant grace of our Lord, we would be rendered immobilized by our sin. So this morning I thank God for the gift of faith, and ask Him to increase the faith that He has given.

Spurgeon: He did not say, "My love is so warm that it will never grow cold."

He did not say this, because he knew that the Lord is the only true source of love, and that if we are ever to have a warm love then we shall need to depend on the only true source of heat—the Lord. This morning I thank my God for His example of true love, so that I may know how, and be enabled, to love properly.

Spurgeon: He did not say, "My resolution is so firm that nothing can move it."

He did not say this, because he knew that if he didn’t have the immovable rock of ages, that is our Lord who is our salvation, then we would be left with no sure footing at all, and our resolution wouldn’t even find ground to stand on. I thank God this morning that he has caused me, a shakable sinner, to find rest on an immovable rock of salvation.

Something that Spurgeon said in this morning’s devotional made me think about a math problem. If you don’t take all the right steps to solve it you’ll end up with the wrong answer, it has to be perfect—close isn’t good enough. So too, if we ever think that we are the one’s progressing ourselves, or that we are something special, then we’ve missed something big time. We need something perfect and we aren’t it. Have full assurance of faith in the God of your salvation, he began a good work and He will finish it!

EVENING: "Of thine own have we given thee."

Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money.—Isaiah 43:24

In one of my favorite songs Keith Green says this in regards to giving to God: "there is nothing new I could give to you." That’s so true! Everything belongs to God, there is nothing I could possibly give to Him that would add to who He is or what belongs to him. Often times we are deceived into thinking that since we worked hard for something it is rightfully ours and when we give it’s often a bitter sweet experience. A part of us wants to hang on to what is being given, but I think that Spurgeon has given us the answer to that thought in this evenings devotion. First we have to overcome the barrier to giving: entitlement. "I’m entitled to keep this or that for myself, I’ve worked for it!" We are entitled to nothing before our God, and all we have is a gift. We may have worked, but we were enabled to work—it is by God’s grace that we could work at all. But even though the very gain is given God allows us to keep a portion of what is given—something that He is in no way obligated to do. Out of this grace God breeds love into the heart of the believer and that believer is made happy to give back what is already rightfully Gods. And God looks down on that believer with a heart full of joy. May our love for God increase! And with it may our hearts be brought to count the entire world as nothing compared to the glorious grace we have in our heavenly Father.

We are His, and all that we have, for He has purchased us unto Himself—can we act as if we were our own? O for more consecration! And to this end, O for more love! Blessed Jesus, how good it is of Thee to accept our sweet cane bought with money! Nothing is too costly as a tribute to Thine unrivalled love, and yet Thou dost receive with favour the smallest sincere token of affection!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

The Lord can use this morning's devotion to encourage anybody who is in the midst of trials and tribulations. Yesterday, you may have been ready to climb a mountain, but today, you are fighting for joy and for explanations for your difficulties. We are encouraged this morning to trust in our God who is sovereign over every detail of our lives. Spurgeon says that even our sorrows are a part of His plan. When we mediate on God's power over all things and God's unending love for His people, we are encouraged and the weight of our fear is lightened. May God help us to trust Him and depend upon Him as we find ourselves in the midst of the fire.

In this evening's devotion, we are encouraged to look upon Christ, meditate upon His perfections, and find ourselves in a state of worship and awe.
Spurgeon says,

"Is it not unspeakably delightful to view the Saviour in all His offices, and to perceive Him matchless in each?—to shift the kaleidoscope, as it were, and to find fresh combinations of peerless graces?"

May God help us today to look upon all of the offices, attributes, or perfections of Christ and find unspeakable delight. As I think on the character of God at this moment...there is unspeakable joy in that I know Him and have been made His beloved. I pray that we all might have several moments throughout this day to find ourselves in a place of unspeakable delight!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

MORNING:

If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.—1 Peter 2:3

Spurgeon's exhortation in this morning's devotion calls believers to know their assurance for salvation, in Christ. Not in their works, but by tasting that the Lord is gracious. In knowing that it is by grace that we are saved.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.—Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV

But the Apostle Peter takes this even a step further in his second epistle, where he writes,

...but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.—2 Peter 3:18 NKJV

Peter wrote this to believers. He is exhorting us to grow in God's grace. God's grace is more than the initial pardon of sin, otherwise this statement would make no sense, since the readers are already believers. God's grace is immeasureable. Contextually, this statement is linked with growing in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. It is also right after telling the readers to consider Paul's letter to them, as Peter categorizes Paul's letters as Scripture. So from this I think we can safely deduce that one method of growing in the grace of God is through the reading and application of the Holy Scriptures to our daily lives.

So let us both be assured of our relationship with Christ through His grace, and continue to grow in that grace each day to live as He would have us do.

EVENING:

There is corn in Egypt.—Genesis 42:2

The story of Joseph has been on of my favorite stories since I first started reading the Bible. I first read it before I was saved, and I was 17 or 18 years old. What struck me then was the love of God for Joseph. Over the years as I re-read the story many times, I have come far more to appreciate the sovereignty of God in this entire story. From start to finish, God is in control of the situation.

Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, "Behold, we are your servants." Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.—Gen 50:18-21 NKJV

Joseph here is speaking directly about the context of Spurgeon's evening devotional. God sovereignly arranged all the events in Joseph's life from his brothers' betrayal to their bowing before him, in part to provide food for their family in the great famine. His brothers' motives were evil, but God's motives were of course pure and good. I wish I could look into Joseph's heart in those intervening years. Did he doubt God, as I do when I am going through hard times. Was he angry with God, as many people are when things don't go right. Did the words "Why me!" ever come from his mouth (in Hebrew of course)!

We don't know for sure, but we do know that the Holy Spirit has recounted to us these events in Joseph's life as an exhortation to trust in God, even in the most dire circumstances. Knowing that whatever we face, it is ultimately in His hands.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.—Romans 8:28 NKJV

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible
MORNING
"Steadfast Love", how can it be that God would go to such great lengths to demonstrate His Love for us? Our Lord and Master lavishes us with gifts! Listen to the prose of the Prince of Preachers: "The golden coins of His grace"; "with smiles He speaks"; "what embraces of affection"; "He gives generally without holding back"; "no hint that we are bothersome to Him"; "He rejoices in His mercy"; "He is pouring out His life for us". "Taste and know the blessedness of it all".

In a fallen world it is easy to fall prey to the whiles of the devil, the corruptness of this fallen world, or the selfishness of the flesh and feel guilty and condemned. It doesn't matter how we feel, He still loves us! Is it possible to understand the height, depth, width, breadth and magnitude of this love? It melts a stony heart and sets the captive free. I need more and more of this blessed assurance! I'm hungry for it and incredibly thankful for it!

EVENING
This evening's devotion continues the themes expressed in the morning devotion. God's Love "leads us to exercise a more simple faith but we have not learned to trust like Abraham". Abraham simply believed God! Why is it so hard for us?

The beauty of this relationship is that God isn't fickle like us, He persists in His purpose to conform us to His Son. His purposes will never be disappointed! We choose moment by moment how we will respond to His Love and as a consequence enjoy the sweet communion of fellowship with the Almighty or His loving correction if we choose to resist His amazing grace. Reflecting on this reality I see the futility of resisting grace. God is Sovereign and His Will be done on earth as it is in heaven! Surrender is the only logical choice. I wonder if the songwriter who wrote the lyrics "I surrender all, I surrender all, all to Jesus I surrender, I surrender all" came to the same conclusion? May we look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith and trust Him to complete in us the work He began the hour we first believed! Thank you Jesus!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

I hope and pray that everyone had a great weekend. Cindy and I missed all of you yesterday at the All Church Meeting. We pray that it went well and can't wait to hear about the fruit that God has blessed all of us with.

I am encouraged by our devotion today, especially this evening's devotion. A very short and simple word, "Afterward"- Hebrews 12:11. Simple, but to Christians we can rejoice in it, for God has given us so much to look forward to after our life here on Earth.

I think it is important to look at this passage during all trying times, whether it is a great challenge, or we are struggling with our sins, or we are suffering alongside one of our Christian family members. No matter what it may be, there is something that God has prepared for us Afterward. After the pain, the tears, the sweat, the battle, God has given us victory in the end.

Think of the last time you went through something so difficult that you thought nothing good would come out of it, or you couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel, or wondered why God was putting you through this. And after it was over, what did you think? Did you rejoice in what God did through it all? Was the end result Afterward victorious?

Spurgeon puts it well in the last part of this devotion. Who would not bear the present cross for the crown which cometh afterward? Who would not be a Christian if they only knew the joys that it would bring? We can rest in these promises of our King, and the best has yet to come.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning:"All that believe are justified." - Acts 13:39

Charles Spurgeon encourages us with a joyful message today: that not only have we been justified before the throne of God - made right - as it were, through faith in the Christ, but we have been justified today - this very day!

We are now—even now pardoned; even now are our sins put away; even now we stand in the sight of God accepted, as though we had never been guilty. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." [Romans 8:1]

It is a sweet thought, that though I have experienced much sin and many failings, and can observe their impact on my friends and family, I am not condemned by the living God.

He loves and accepts me!

having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. - [Ephesians 1:5-6 NKJV]

What do we 'do' with this wonderful knowledge, this joy of joys? Spurgeon exhorts us:

Let present privilege awaken us to present duty, and now, while life lasts, let us spend and be spent for our sweet Lord Jesus.

In the full text of this morning's verse, we read:

and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. - [Acts 13:39 NKJV]

A Jewish man or woman walking under the law of Moses, seeking with a humble heart to follow all of the Law, would testify to an observer that they took the Law seriously, that they revered it, that they knew it came from Father God, and that they knew they were the representative to the Gentile nations of God's love and provision to His people through His perfect Law. They would know that though they might, and would fail, that there was no fault in the Law.

How much more should we represent our loving God, who have been made free of the law of sin and death through faith in Jesus?

Let us declare Him in our lives, let us revere Him, and represent Him well! Not under any burden of the law, but let the love of Christ compel us!


Evening:"Made perfect." - Hebrews 12:23

Spurgeon's writings always seem to me sweeter in the evenings. My experience with the Morning and Evening devotional is that it is harder for me to add anything, or even comment on Spurgeon's Evening devotional. I just want to quote it, because it is so good and sweet! I just want to exhort us to read it once more!

He exhorts us to consider the ongoing sanctification process, either with the Evening text, or perhaps we could quote another good one too (always good to add more Bible text!)

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. - [2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV]

Spurgeon exhorts us to not be content with our current imperfection, not to rest on the thought that we are going to be made perfect when God finishes the work He has begun in us.

This is consistant with what we are told in Scripture:

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. - [1 John 3:2-3 NKJV]

The Lord gives us plenty of 'action verbs' in talking about our daily walk with Him:

"Be Holy!" "Walk worthy!" "purifies himself". Try searching for these phrases, one at a time, in the Blue Letter Bible.

The Christian walk is not a complacent walk. Nor is it a walk 'on our own'. It is a daily walk spending time in prayer, asking for the Lord's help, and praising Him that He supplies all our needs, and that He is able to subdue all things to Himself, even ourselves!

who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. - [Philippians 3:21 NKJV]

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

The Scripture text for the morning's devotional is one that should be very encouraging to us. A promise from our LORD and Savior,

I am with you alway.—Matthew 28:20

The LORD spoke similar words to Joshua before the conquest of the Promised Land.

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.—Joshua 1:5

The LORD was the One who was with the Israelites during their conquest. The battles were won not because of their superior numbers nor their superior skill. Rather, because the LORD God had chosen them as His nation. The morning and evening devotions and their respective portions of Scripture, show us about the LORD's love for His people and that our lives should be immersed in Him, loving Him, trusting Him and casting all our cares upon Him.

Let us come to the place where our joy is fulfilled in Him, knowing that we were the joy set before Him. When our joy is in Him, then if our circumstances are hard, they will seem less so. For this is truly a fleeting moment. We will be with Him in fulness.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning: "He that was healed wist not who it was." - John 5:13

There is life in this chapter of the Book of John. Eternal life, at that, for we learn from scripture what is eternal life:

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. - [John 17:3 NKJV]

And I marvel at this eternal life, from the living God Who died for my sins, was buried, and rose on the third day.

The living God Who is much loved by the Father, Who gives newness of life to all who believe, Who could judge me, but instead gives me everlasting life, Who promises to those who believe in Him that they will not come into judgment, and have passed from death into life.

There is great rest in these promises, and much contentedness, and much joy, and we respond in love to the One who loved, and loves us, first.

I have read this story many times, but tonight as I prepared my blog entry it was as if I read it for the first time, seeing a God Who loves me and forgives me and gives me eternal life. I want to praise Him and worship Him.

This chapter also tells a story, of the lame man, who was first healed, and yet knew not that the only Son of God had healed him. He met Him not through this great miracle, and could not even testify of Him, when asked who it was. Instead, he met the Lord through conviction of sin. In the next verse, this man who knew not the Lord, under conviction of sin, knew Jesus, or Jehoshuah in the Hebrew, "God is Salvation".

And this is Spurgeon's point: that as we seek to know Him, He gifts us with this knowledge, that we may testify of Him Who saved us.

Let us join Spurgeon in prayer, as he asks

Lord, if Thou hast saved me, show me Thyself, that I may declare Thee to the sons of men.

Evening: "Acquaint now thyself with Him." - Job 22:21

And please add the next verse in Job 22:

Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart.

Could I ask you not to read my ruminations on the "Trinity in Unity", but just to reread Spurgeon's evening devotional? I could better exhort you by copying out Spurgeon's thoughts, as they minister to me so much.

Let us know Him, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and testify of Him in our lives and thoughts and words.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

I will be their God, and they shall be my people." - 2 Corinthians 6:16

We shall rejoice in this promise that God has given us. For it is only reserved for those who believe in Him and those He has chosen. It is all His as Spurgeon points out, everything. All the children of men He reigns over, but it is only those who He has purchased to Himself, He does not say this of the others. My People, this is so special to us because of all He has done for us. We belong to Him. Spurgeon writes, the He has done more for us than the others.

He has bought us with His blood.

He has set His great heart upon us.

He has loved us with an everlasting love.

Spurgeon's prayer for us is that we see ourselves in that number. Do you? Can you call on Him and love Him with all of your heart, mind and soul? Of course we fall short of that daily. Our relationship with our Lord should be greater than any other. Just as His is greater with us, as he has called us to be His children. Oh what a blessing to be called a child of God, not because I wanted it, but because he sought me out, He found me at the depths of this world and pulled me out of the mess, and He clenched me in His arms. Oh I praise Him for that and call Him my Father. Thank you dear Lord for saving me. Amen.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning:

Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods." — Jeremiah 16:20

How does Spurgeon know me so well that he is able to write about what plagues me in such detail? The man has never met me! This morning he forces me to confront my own hypocrisy as he points out that, "I pity the poor heathen who adore a god of stone, and yet (I) worship a god of gold. Where is the vast superiority between a god of flesh and one of wood? The principle, the sin, the folly is the same in either case, only that in mine the crime is more aggravated because I have more light."

Thankfully Spurgeon also gives us the answer as to how this issue of covetousness and pride can be overcome.

"May the Lord purge us all from this grievous iniquity!"

Our lives are not pure gold by any means. God's desire is that we be holy as He is holy. That means there are things that need to be removed from our lives. God's intent is not to destroy us but to purify us. Sometimes His method is akin to the intense heat of the refiner's fire.

The good news is that the Lord will do the work within us.

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.—Romans 7:24-25

Let us be honest enough with ourselves to recognize these things in our hearts. Any attempt to conquer these issues in our own strength will surely fail. We need only look to the Lord and trust that He will purge us from all this grievous iniquity.

___________________________________________________________________

Evening:


"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible."—1 Peter 1:2

This evening Spurgeon is calling us to live a life of holiness. He exhorts us to live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God and glorifies Him. Spurgeon does so by reminding us what we have as Christians.

"What is a Christian? If you compare him with a king, he adds priestly sanctity to royal dignity. The king's royalty often lieth only in his crown, but with a Christian it is infused into his inmost nature. He is as much above his fellows through his new birth, as a man is above the beast that perisheth. Surely he ought to carry himself, in all his dealings, as one who is not of the multitude, but chosen out of the world, distinguished by sovereign grace, written among "the peculiar people" and who therefore cannot grovel in the dust as others, nor live after the manner of the world's citizens."

What does it mean to be holy? This may seem to be a daunting goal to aspire to but read J.C. Ryles definition of holiness and you will find that you may very well be in the zone.

http://www.gracegems.org/Ryle/h03.htm)

A). Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture.

B). A holy man will endeavor to shun every known sin and to keep every known commandment.

C). A holy man will strive to be like our Lord Jesus Christ. He will not only live the life of faith in Him and draw from Him all his daily peace and strength, but he will also labor to have the mind that was in Him and to be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29).

Are these the desires of your heart? Notice that in his definition holiness is not perfection as it relates to these goals. Each indicates a desire on the part of the individual, "strive to be like," and "endeavor to shun." It is painful when we miss the mark but rest easy in that Christ fills the gap until that day that we escape these burdensome bodies.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Well I am not sure why I keep getting the Song of Solomon devotions in Morning and Evening. The reason it makes me a little wary is that I have often heard a lot of commentary on the book that I am not quite so comfortable with. I leave some of the more controversial ones for maybe a later discussion. But today's devotional brings up one that is also interesting.

The Rose of Sharon is a name given by the "church" to Jesus. Song of Solomon 2:1 is the ONLY place in the Bible where this phrase is used. And what is really interesting to me is that in the context of Song of Solomon, the name is referring to the woman, not the man. So how does it get applied to Jesus? I would understand that it was applied to the Church, the Bride of Christ (Revelation 21:9).

I have read commentaries that say it was a beautiful flower and therefore it represents the beauty of Christ. I feel that's a forced representation. There are many beautiful things in the world that we do not apply the name to our LORD.

Note that nowhere in Scripture is the Rose of Sharon referring to Christ. So does anyone have any thoughts on this?

But I am thankful that we do have a LORD that is magnificent. He is majestic. He is compassionate. Otherwise, how could sinful humans be made into the virgin Bride of Christ. Only by His work, only by His grace, only for His purposes.

For this I am thankful!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

What a wonderful devotion this morning. How is your walk with God this morning or at this time in your life? I am deeply encouraged by this morning's devotion as it speaks to my heart. The great Promiser has given us these great words in Psalm 119. No matter what is going on in your life right now the bible tells us so many promises that God has made to us and we must remember these words that give us hope, as stated in verse 49.

Psalm 119 is full of prayers that I hope we will all remember and call on our Lord to help us with daily.

V. 11- Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against You.

V. 15- I will meditate on your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.

V. 18- Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from your law.

V. 27- Make me understand the way of Your precepts so shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.

V. 29- Remove from me the way of lying, and grant me Your law graciously.

V. 37- Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things and revive me in Your way.

V. 98- You, through your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies... V. 104 Through your precepts I get understanding.

May we remember constantly the promises that God has given us and continually take them to the throne. Spurgeon writes, do not plead anything else, but go to God over and over again with this - "Lord, thou hast said it, do as Thou hast said."

It is not on our merit, but it is God who will remove our iniquities and transgressions. All we can do is to ask God to pardon us and He will. He has already forgiven us and sent His son Jesus to pay the ultimate price. There are days I'm sure that we feel apart from God, when we feel we have not followed Him or loved Him with everything that is within us. We may feel that we can not come to Him because of a sin that is too dark that all we want to do is run away from Him in the opposite direction. The good news, we are all sinners and it is not a matter of if, but when these times may happen. My prayer today is that we remember these promises, "Return unto Me, and I will return unto you;" "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee." Amen

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning

"Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away." — Song 2:10

"Fair weather is smiling upon the face of the earth, and He would not have me spiritually asleep while nature is all around me awaking from her winter's rest. He bids me "Rise up," and well He may, for I have long enough been lying among the pots of worldliness. He is risen; I am risen in Him, why then should I cleave unto the dust?"

Spurgeon is exhorting us to wake up. He seems to be likening our focus on the things of this world to be sleeping amongst the pots of worldliness and clinging to dust. He asks the question: "He is risen, I am risen in Him, why should I cleave unto the dust?" Our propensity to continue to return to the dust of the world and wallow in its filth is confounding. Note that Spurgeon qualifies his question with the statement that God has given us the power to overcome (He is risen, I am risen in Him).

The theme set forth in Spurgeon’s eloquent narrative is that God is calling us away from the world: "'Come away' has no harsh sound in it to my ear, for what is there to hold me in this wilderness of vanity and sin?" God is calling us to get away, as one may call a child away from the flames of a campfire. He does it out of love and concern because He knows the pain and scars that will be sure to follow.

It is this final question and prayer set forth in Spurgeon’s morning devotion that allows us to be both confident and to rest. "But Lord, how can a stone rise, how can a lump of clay come away from the horrible pit? O raise me, draw me. Thy grace can do it. Send forth Thy Holy Spirit to kindle sacred flames of love in my heart, and I will continue to rise until I leave life and time behind me, and indeed come away."

Only by God’s Grace, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can we rise above the world until we leave it behind.


Evening

"If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him." — Revelation 3:20

Spurgeon starts by inquiring as to where our priorities lie. For me this is a reminder that some of us strive to the point of exhaustion trying to attain what God has already provided for us. He exhorts us to draw near to Jesus to a point where we have a proper perspective of who He is. The "Great Master Key of all the chambers of God: There is no treasure-house of God which will not open and yield up all its wealth to the soul that lives near to Jesus."

All the riches the world has to offer cannot compare to the satisfaction that the contents of the chambers of God have to offer.

Jesus desires to come in and sup with us. Spurgeon goes on to point out that He brings the provision for this encounter and we are reminded that our cupboards are bare; we have nothing to offer. A humbling thought that reminds me of bringing a meal to a sick friend. If it were not for the display of practical love, they would not get the sustenance that they need and would surely perish. There is nothing that the recipient can do except allow the provider in, enjoy the fellowship and receive what is freely given to them.

Thanks be to God, He will always be at the door for us with all the goods necessary to fill our bare cupboards; let’s make sure we let Him in.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

I was struck in the morning devotional by how Spurgeon described the Church, as both a queen and as kings.

…on His right hand there must be His queen, arrayed in 'gold of Ophir'…for He has 'made us kings and priests unto God…'

I liked the analogy to the queen, since the queen is one by marriage. For a queen by marriage should boast of nothing other than her husband, the true King. For without her King, she would:

• Have no crown other than the crown He has given to her. (Jam 1:12)


• Have no royal wealth other than the wealth He has provided to her. (1Sa 2:8)


• Have no throne other than the one next to His royal throne. (Rev 4:4)


• Have no heavenly mansion other than the one He shares with her. (Jhn 14:2)


• Have no place in the King's city, other than the price He paid for her. (Rev 21:27 )


• Have no holiness unless He sets her apart. (2 Cor 5:21)


• Have no life other than the life He gives to her. (Jhn 10:10)

Surely this list is not exhaustive! Please share others that come to your mind.

Praise Him for all He has given to us, and will give to us in the eternal future.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

"Behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom." - Matthew 27:51

This has come right after Jesus was on the cross crying out to God "Why have you forsaken me." God tore the veil of the temple in two, and the earth quaked. This fits right in with our Resurrection message of last week in our study on Romans 8. Jesus finished it on the cross. Spurgeon explains that the mercy-seat can now be seen, the annual ceremony of atonement was abolished and life and immortality are now brought to light. We will no longer be seen under the old law where lambs had to be slain, Jesus, our final lamb, has given us that everlasting life. He is our pass to the great High Priest. Through Him it was all made possible and is finished.

We may come with boldness to the throne of the heavenly grace.

No man can undo or shut the door that Jesus has opened for us. I know in my life sometimes it is hard to remember that it is all finished. When we sin we may feel that we have to make it up some way. Maybe we do good thinking that it will earn us points with God. The good news is that there is nothing that we can do that will change what He has already done. Praise God, my righteousness is not, but His righteousness that was placed upon me, is everything.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

MORNING:
Spurgeon is exhorting us to look at the fulness of our LORD Jesus Christ to minister to our every need as a believer in Him. He is our full sufficiency.

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." - 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NKJV)

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." - 2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV)

Let us look today to how God can fulfill our every need, even the ones we think we can handle ourselves.

EVENING:

The Great Exchange is how some have described this act of transferring our guilt and punishment to Jesus in return for us getting His imputed righteousness. The fact that it is GREAT for us is quite clearly evident. But to also realize that God feels it is GREAT as well.

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." - Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV

"looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." - Hebrews 12:2 NKJV

Let us give thanks to the LORD for taking our pathetic life (in eternal terms) and giving us new life, while at the same time taking our death upon Himself.

PRAYER: Thank you LORD for making full provision for our daily living and our eternal living. Please work within us by the power of the Holy Spirit to live a life fully pleasing to you.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning: "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint." - Psalm 22:14

Evening: "Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins." - Psalm 25:18


When I think of water poured out on dry ground, (like our Lord, in a far greater sense, was poured out like water for us), I remember the story of David and his mighty men:

And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!" So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD. And he said, "Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men. - [2 Samuel 23:15-17 NKJV]

It is a story worthy of our study. It is one that often encourages the body of Christ serving on the mission field. Sometimes our services to the Lord are like that cup of water poured out on dry ground, and our efforts - even sometimes our lives - seem, in the world's eyes, like failure. And yet our fruit that comes while abiding in Christ is precious to the Lord, just as it was He that convicted David that the water was too precious to drink.

How much more precious is the life of our Lord poured out for us on Calvary's hill!

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!" - [Revelation 5:11-12 NKJV]

Our risen Lamb is worthy! But are we? David felt unworthy, in the history above, to drink that cup of water, that in a spiritual sense, was the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives. How could we ever be worthy to drink the communion cup in remembrance of our Lord on Calvary? Paul warns us in 1 Corinthians 11:28-29:

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. NKJV]

Isaiah reminds us that we (of ourselves) are very unworthy:

But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. - [Isaiah 64:6 NKJV]

But praise be to God that He has made us worthy!

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; - [Romans 3:21-22 NKJV]

When we partake of communion, let us remember that it is not the bread and wine that has been transformed, but ourselves, through the resurrection power of God to those who believe! We have no worthiness but for Christ, Whose worth is beyond all things!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning: "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." - 2 Corinthians 5:21

Paul, in the verse prior this key Bible verse exhorts us that we are ambassadors:

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore [you] on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.

Can you imagine an ambassador for some vacation resort, moping about with downcast expression - no one would want to go to his/her 'little spot of heaven'. Instead, we see the Super Bowl heroes glowing about their anticipated trip to Disney World, and, by golly, we want to go there too!

What kind of ambassadors for Christ are we? Do we realize that we have been reconciled to God, through Christ? Do we have a desire to share this good news? Paul, in verse 19, states that the Lord has committed to us the word of reconciliation. It is precious good news, bought with the blood of the Lamb of God!

Spurgeon exhorts us this morning to revel in this good news:

O, I beseech thee, lay hold on this precious thought, perfection in Christ! For thou art "complete in Him." With thy Saviour's garment on, thou art holy as the Holy one. "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." Christian, let thy heart rejoice, for thou art "accepted in the beloved"--what hast thou to fear? Let thy face ever wear a smile; live near thy Master;

Let us have great joy today, as ambassadors for Christ! I pray that we would all be bursting at the seams with the new wine of Christ's new convenant.

Jesus prayed for us in John 17 (excerpts below):

But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.

I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.

As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

Let us meditate on our Lord's great prayer to the Father, and know, with joy, that the Father heard His prayer and is answering it even today in our lives!

Evening:"Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord." - Isaiah 2:3

The Lord wants us to ride on the high hills with Him!

Isaiah 58:14 Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken."

Habakkuk 3:19 The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's [feet], And He will make me walk on my high hills.

And what, might we ask, is stopping us from this joyful encounter? Spurgeon suggests that the cares of this world, the thorns and briers, can choke off our joy, but that the Lord provides the sickle with which to cut the brambles down - communion with God and the things of His kingdom. And, Spurgeon asks, do we begin to love the chains that hold us down? He exhorts us even to leave our body, our worldly comforts and fleshly desires, that we might spiritually ascend to the mountain top for communion with God.

How can we attain this? How can we respond to this exhortation? Isaiah 58 has the answer, and that answer is Christ. Verse 14 starts with "Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD...". Let's back up a verse, and look at the "If" that comes before the "Then":

Isaiah 58:13"If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, [From] doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy [day] of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking [your own] words,

The Christ, our beloved Messiah, is our Sabbath, and our rest can only be in Him. Only through Him can we cut down the briers and brambles. Only through Him can we have victory over our own weak flesh.

Paul, in Philippians 3:21 reminds us of the power of the resurrection:

who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Is Christ, and His resurrection power, able to subdue you who believe? Are you one of His "all things"? You better believe it!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

I love Biblical models or types. We are exhorted to learn from these models.

I have also spoken by the prophets, And have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.—Hosea 12:10 NKJV

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.—1 Corinthians 10:11 NKJV

But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar—for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.—Galatians 4:23-26 NKJV

The models in today's devotional (the two goats) are extremely important. The guilt of the sin of God's people is symbolically placed upon one goat, and is sent out of the camp away from His people. Praise God for the anti-type, i.e., Jesus Christ. The guilt of our sin placed upon Him.

In addition, we have the fulfillment of the other model, where the second goat was killed as a sin offering. Here we see Jesus fulfilling the type by dying on the cross, as our sin offering.

Where would we be without the anti-type, Jesus? Far better to dwell on where we will be because of Him! Let us give Him all praise and glory for becoming our sacrifice.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

MORNING
Jesus answered Pilate's question in Matthew 27:11, "Are you the King of the Jews?", with "You have said so!" But when the priests and elders accused Him, He gave no answer. He answered the Gentile but refused to respond to the Jews! This fulfilled the prophesy of Isaiah 53:7 "He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth."

Humility is power under control. Pilate declared Him by his own statement, the King of the Jews. What more needed to be said? "By His silence He declared Himself to be the King and true Lamb of God". Self sacrificing, defenseless, yet totally in control of His words and deeds in total submission to the Will of His Father! The Alpha and the Omega knew the end from the beginning and for the "joy" that was set before Him endured this shame.

That joy brought you and I into the family of God. That's why our heart sings and spontaneous words of praise flow from our lips. "Be with us Jesus and in the silence of our heart let us hear the voice of Your love."

EVENING
"Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush Him; He has put Him to grief, when His soul makes an offering for guilt, He shall see His offspring; He shall prolong His days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in His hand", Isaiah 53:7.

Spurgeon in this devotion really challenged me about prayer: "Do not let your prayers be all about your own sins, your own desires, your own imperfections, your own trials, but let them climb the starry ladder and get up to Christ Himself, and then as you draw near to the blood-sprinkled mercy seat, offer this prayer continually "Lord, extend the kingdom of your dear Son."

I pray the Lord will extend His kingdom in my heart and mind; extend His kingdom in my family; extend His kingdom in our body; extend His kingdom in my community; extend His kingdom in this nation; extend His kingdom in this world! Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus! Thy Will be done on earth as it is in heaven!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

I am overjoyed as I read this morning's devotion and my prayer that you are as well. We have read this story many times before and our hearts know it well. Jesus paid the ultimate price for our salvation and for that I am greatful, but will never truly know the depths of what He has done for me.

Spurgeon describes the Roman scourge as the most dreadful instrument of torture. "It was made of the sinews of oxen, and sharp bones were inter-twisted every here and there among the sinews; so that every time the lash came down these pieces of bone inflicted fearful laceration, and tore off the flesh from the bone." My soul too, weeps at the thoughts of my savior being beaten to the ground, but rejoices in what He has done to save me from the depths of my depravity. Halleluiah!!!

If ever we have loved our Lord Jesus, surely we must feel that affection glowing now within our bosoms.

"See how the patient Jesus stands, insulted in His lowest case!Sinners have bound the Almighty's hands, and spit in their Creators face."

"With thorns His temples gor'd and gash'd send streams of blood from every part; His back's with knotted scourges lash'd. But sharper scourges tear His heart."

I am deeply touched by this poem. How often to we look at our sins as spitting in our Creators face, or scourges tearing His heart. I don't know if we do. I don't think I look at it like that. But we should, He has done everything for us, yet we often carry on with our lives or sinful nature not realizing that we are sinning against our Creator. God has given us the gift of His son Jesus and thankfully as Christians we can call upon Him for His forgiveness of all of our sins, past, present and future. Let us remember the price that He has paid, so that we may rejoice in Him and pray that we not fall into the temptations of sinful behavior. Amen.

"With His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

If one part [of the body] suffers, every part suffers with it.

1 Corinthians 12:26 NIV

My comfort in my suffering is this: your promise preserves my life.

Psalm 119:50a NIV

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning: "The love of Christ which passeth knowledge." - Ephesians 3:19
Evening:"I will accept you with your sweet savour." - Ezekiel 20:41

I think we have all been in that 'difficult place'. What to do when knowledge fails -when we come to the end of our resources, when we get to that point that we have no answers for the place we are in. We are in over our heads. We are 'in deep'. Yet even there, the Lord abides.

He owns the depths of the earth, and even the mightiest mountains are his. Psalm 95:4

And from there, we may call on Him.

From the depths of despair, O LORD, I call for your help. Psalm 130:1

Consider Jonah's cry in Jonah 2:3-7:

For You cast me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the floods surrounded me;
All Your billows and Your waves passed over me.

Then I said, 'I have been cast out of Your sight;
Yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.'

The waters surrounded me, even to my soul;
The deep closed around me;
Weeds were wrapped around my head.

I went down to the moorings of the mountains;
The earth with its bars closed behind me forever;
Yet You have brought up my life from the pit,
O LORD, my God.

"When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the LORD;
And my prayer went up to You,
Into Your holy temple.

There is no place where we can go, no amount of suffering, confusion, hurt, but where our precious Lord as been there before us!

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hbr 6:19-20

And when we find ourselves there, at the end of self, at the end of knowledge, at the end of our strength, we meet something far greater, far more wonderful - the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. It is the great answer to our faint cry!

"O love, thou fathomless abyss!"

This is sweet savor indeed!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

It's interesting the seemingly contradictory emotions that are presented in the Morning and Evening as they are attributed to our Lord. Deep sorrow as He suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane. We often (and rightly so) focus on the suffering of the cross. But, the suffering that He endured in the Garden of Gethsemane was tremendous.

And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. (Luke 22:44 NKJV)

To sweat drops of blood, tells us the huge stress that He was going through. And when He asked His closest human friends to pray for Him during this time…they slept.

While the evening devotional refers to a time of joy and rejoicing before Gethsemane, I am still reminded of the verse that refers to the cross as being a joy to Him.

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV)

Thank you Jesus for Your mercy and grace that would find joy in dying for sinners, like me! Amen.

P.S. I highly recommend this sermon on Gethsemane by Charles Spurgeon, from a perspective that I had never thought about until then. Since the time, I first read this about 15 years ago, I remember it each year around the time of Passion Week.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

MORNING

Can we fathom how intense the wrestling must have been through which our Lord passed in the garden as He contemplated what He must do to fulfill His mission? Luke, a physician, records the result of His intense contemplation of the events to come. Hematidrosis (sweating blood) though rare, occurs in humans. The excretion of blood or blood pigment from tiny capillaries that rupture occurs at times of great emotional stress. Acute fear and intense mental contemplation are thought to bring it about. The skin, as a result becomes more fragile which would make the Lord's subsequent physical punishment even more painful.

We can't imagine the intensity of His agony. He would be separated from His Father; bear the weight of sin, past, present and future and endure the physical agony of scourging and crucifixion.

Why? Because He loved us from the foundations of the world. This brings to mind the song we often sing with the lyrics, "I can't comprehend this fathomless love for me!" For the joy that was set before Him, He endured! Thank God He prevailed! You and I have never gone through anything of this magnitude. As I think about it, I am humbled and so grateful that like Mary Magdalene, I want to wash His feet with my tears.

EVENING

Spurgeon is such a great writer! Consider the metaphors in tonight's devotion. May we break forth in sacred song and bless the majesty of the Most High, our maker, our breaker, our builder who has put us in our place in the temple of the living God. "The broken stones of the law cry out against us, but Christ Himself, who rolled away the stone of the tomb, speaks for us." The stone that the builders rejected is the cornerstone of an everlasting temple. As Kevin taught Sunday morning our sole purpose is to glorify and enjoy Him forever. Let us worship and adore the Shepherd and Stone of Israel with reverence and awe!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

And He went a little farther, and fell on His face, and prayed. — Matthew 26:39

Dependance on God is the only place for us sinners. I think this is such an amazing picture of Christ's relationship with his Father and such a perfect model for us. When I think of times when my own prayer life is really strong it is usually when I am in great need or struggling with something that I am compelled to go to Him often and wait for Him. I pray that God will cause us to be in that place spiritually, see our need for grace at all times and depend on Him for all things.

Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am. — John 17:24

As, I read this verse I am not only thinking physically but more so spiritually. As sinners there are often times of not "feeling" like we are close to God or that we have somehow moved ourselves away from his tender mercies. When those thoughts come I quickly remind myself of where I stand in grace and realize that Jesus prayer for me is that I am where He is. Knowing that Jesus is committed to growth and relationship to God and it is His prayer that is prevailing to sanctify me and transform me. Christians, we are as close as we can be to God at all times and will never move from that position of grace. Be joyful and praise God.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Job 38:31

This is one of the many questions that Job is asked of God. What a great chapter to read when you are feeling so Big and boastful, as we cannot answer any of these questions. Our knowledge is that of a newborn child. But how wonderful this book is to remind us at how magnificent He is that we should ponder His supremecy and grace.

"Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me." Job 38:2

Reading the text for this evening's devotion I was uncertain about what the Pleiades were. For those who don't know, the Pleiades are an open star cluster located in the constellation of Taurus. It is considered to among one of the nearest clusters to earth and is most obvious to the naked eye. Wow! We also see reference to these stars in the book of Amos.

"He made the Pleiades and Orion; He turns the shadow of death into morning and makes the day dark as night; He calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth; The Lord (is) His name" Amos 5:8

Spurgeon puts this into perspective in our devotional this evening. He says,

"If inclined to boast of our abilities, the grandeur of nature may soon show us how puny we are."

How true is this. I am reminded of my youth, living in the mountains of Yosemite, laying in the backyard just gazing into the night and getting lost looking at the millions of stars in the sky. How many of us have done this? How small do we feel? And yet we so often forget this and boast in our abilities, none of which we would have, without the power of our almighty God.

"We cannot move the least of all the twinkling stars, or quench so much as one of the beams of the morning. We speak of power, but the heavens laugh us to scorn."

I chuckle to myself when I think of today's political agenda of Global Warming when Spurgeon writes,

"The seasons revolve according to the divine appointment, neither can the whole race of men effect a change therein. Lord, what is man?"

Ah, yes, if only Gore could read this.

More importantly are our spiritual seasons; our power is limited. He is sovereign and looks over all. He wills everything in our life and so it must be. We all live our lives in different seasons, some as dead as winter and some alive as spring. How I pray that we all, brothers and sisters, be alive in Him. If our soul is dead, who is it that can make us alive, Spurgeon writes,

"I cannot with all my longings raise my soul out or her death and dullness, but all things are possible with Thee."

Are you going through some trials or tribulations? During these trying times in our economy I pray that we remember who can deliver us from our spiritual winter. May we remember who is in control and know that Jesus is our saviour. Amen.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning: "Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:26

I have been Spurgeon's Little-faith, at times, when I take a man-centered (read: me-centered) view of my life, and my walk in Christ. When I'm leaning on my own understanding, walking in my own strength, or even shamefully doing what's right in my own eyes, my faith is a tiny, puny thing. There is no rest in that kind of place. It reminds me of a recent dinner in Nairobi: I had stood up from the table to distribute some food around a large group of about a dozen people, and when I found my seat again, it felt strangely cramped and uncomfortable - one of my travelling companions had replaced my chair with a high-chair. That's not the kind of rest that Christ asks us to enter into, and neither does He desire for us the kind of rest which we get when relying on ourselves, our own expectations, our own discernment.

But God in His awesome goodness doesn't leave us in that uncomfortable place - He draws us with His word, bringing comfort and rest, while He is changing us from glory to glory by the might of His resurrection power, by His Holy Spirit [Phil 3:21, 2Cor 3:18, Eph 1:19-20].

I begin to realize with joy: it is not my faith in God, but rather, it is my faith in GOD!

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 2Ti 2:13

If we limit our relation with God to be that which comes by our own strivings for faith, fettered by our intellect, and confounded by our doubts, we will have very little rest in deed.

Let us take His yoke upon us joyfully, and enter into the rest of the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, surrendering our intellect, our volition, our wills to Him, and taste of His glorious rest.


Evening: "As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you." - John 15:9

As if the promise of His glorious rest were not enough, He woos us to enter in. He woos us with His love:

His is a love which passeth knowledge. Ah! we have indeed an immutable Saviour, a precious Saviour, one who loves without measure, without change, without beginning, and without end, even as the Father loves Him!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

The study of God's grace is as infinite as is the limits of His grace. And God through His Word exhorts us to be strong in it (2 Timothy 2:1) and to grow in it (2 Peter 3:18). By His grace we are partakers of the New Covenant. A covenant where Jesus Christ is the Provider and the Mediator...a covenant of better promises.

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. (Hebrews 8:6)

by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. (Hebrews 7:22)

The New Covenant of Grace is a better covenant since it is based upon His sacrifice of Himself. A sacrifice once and for all that actually removes our sins through faith in Him.

And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. (Hebrews 10:11)

Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:12)

Here are some of those better promises:

• We are partakers of the divine nature. (2 Peter 1:4)


• We are receivers of the promise of the Spirit. (Galatians 3:13-14)


• We will find rest for our souls. (Matthew 11:28-30)


• We will have all our needs supplied by God. (Philippians 4:19)


• We will be established and we will be guarded from the evil one. (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

If this subject interest you, I strongly recommmend the short 6-part course, Grow in the Grace of God, at the Blue Letter Bible Institute.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

MORNING
"Take heed lest you fall" is a sober admonition and we are prone to consider what we must "do" to keep from falling. We are likely to consider whatever our conscience brings to mind that could lead to a fall and we can be flooded with guilt and even despair that it's impossible!

That is until we read the verse that follows, 1 Cor 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you but such is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it." I am so thankful that in spite of my attempts at righteousness which is as filthy rags, God loves me and will keep me from falling by His Grace through Jesus Christ, my Lord! "He alone is able "to keep me from stumbling and to present me blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy."

EVENING
Reading this devotional reminds me of the many challenges faced by Christian in John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. "Dirty world; staying alert; there is a robber at every turn of the road; temptation in every mercy; a snare in every joy; and if you ever reach heaven it will be a miracle of divine grace to be ascribed entirely to the Father's power." Christian and his companions faced each and every one of these obstacles and only after many trials and tribulations did they reach the celestial city. My wife's life verse from the book of John, spoken by Jesus says "In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Like Christian, every day we are to put on the full armor of God that we can stand against the assaults of Satan. We are to be on our guard, pray without ceasing, fix our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith and press on until we too arrive at the celestial city. "May the Holy Spirit guide us in all our ways, so they shall always please the Lord."

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

"Why sit we here until we die?" — 2 Kings 7:3

First, praise God for our salvation!!!!! And praise God that he was the one that got us off of the couch of depravity and brought us into his light. This should also cause our hearts to yearn for those who still sit until they die and never care. We would be the same had not some one come to us and tell us of God's great mercy and grace. Let us be a people in love with telling others about the grace that we have received and how they too can receive it.

"Then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark." — Genesis 8:9

What an awesome picture of the salvation of God. If God had not pulled us into the ark of His love we would be lost forever. I am so excited when I think of the way that God's saves us. We are deserving of nothing and yet He loves us so that He pulls us into the ark of His grace and saves us from the pit of Hell. Take joy this day that God saves the lost and pray that He will give you and I the hearts to preach for those that have yet to see His goodness and grace!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Good Morning

This morning's devotion is a challenge to each of our hearts. Sure we are all usually quick to say "love thy neighbor" but do we actually believe it, or more importantly do we actually live it. Especially when we live in a society that thrives on the gossip of detail of those around us to the point at which there are whole TV sitcoms with this as their centered theme.

I was especially challenged when Spurgeon takes the point to the next step and applies the text to my covetous desires. This becomes especially convicting in a time when most would find themselves in a state of economic difficulty or even crisis and are confronted with those temptations to covet most. I pray that God would quicken my heart to rely on His word and promise that He provides for my every need in the goodness of His timing not in mine. May we say with Paul:

"...for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Phil 4:11-13

May we cherish our neighbors and pray for them. Know them as the very fellowship or mission field that the Lord has provided for each of us to go therefore and make disciples.


Good Evening

Spurgeon closes our day with a great thought for each of us to ponder with every action and breath we take. To whom do we belong? As Christians we belong to Christ. We have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ His son. This being very contrary to what we are told daily by TV and the popular culture of our world who exhort us to be individuals and be our own people. Rather, God has adopted us into His family.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as he chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved." - Eph 1:3-6

We are His. He has adopted us as His own. May our lives be a reflection of his glory and grace in all that we do.

-jeff paisano

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

This morning Spurgeon contemplates whether Christians should concern themselves with little sin or only the large matters in life. He makes it very clear that even the littlest sin is enough to eternally separate us from the holiness of God. 

"Will not continual droppings [of rain] wear away stones?" (Spurgeon, p. 142)

I'm pretty sure I can't break too many rocks in half with my hands but it's amazing to think that a constant rain could. You can barely feel them when raindrops land on you as it begins to rain, but the same water can destroy hard surfaces. How similar it is to get unfazed by what seems to be insignificant sins. Before we know it we can be destroyed by the small things we overlooked early on.

Enjoy reading the evening session as Spurgeon discusses being sought out by God. We did not seek him, he came after us who were lost. Why did God do it? Spurgeon provides the only sufficient answer,

"That any should be sought out is matchless grace, but that we should be sought out is grace beyond degree! We can find no reason for it but God's own sovereign love..." (Spurgeon, p. 143; emphasis added)

Praise God who searched for us, purchased our redemption through Christ Jesus our Lord then transfered us from a prison of darkness to a life of brilliant light.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

I think that this morning and evening's devotion is very timely. With the state of our economy and so many people either in jeopardy of losing their jobs or already have... I believe we need the reminder laid out in these devotions.

How often do we equate our spiritual health with our physical health? Or with our financial health? We must remember that growing in our relationship with Christ often comes during affliction and adversity. Praise Him for these times... this is Spurgeon's point. We bless God for whatever state we're in... we bless Him because we know that it comes from His fatherly hand.

We bless God, then, for our afflictions; we thank Him for our changes; we extol His name for losses of property; for we feel that had He not chastened us thus, we might have become too secure. Continued worldly prosperity is a fiery trial.

Lord Jesus, may we never trust or hope in our wealth or our health. May we continually bless Your name for whatever state we may be in... whether we lack or have plenty. May our only security be in your finished work on the cross. Lord, bind our wandering hearts to You... In Christ's name, Amen.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Spurgeon's devotional writings today are about faith and trust in the LORD. Spurgeon calls us to place our trust in Him for all things in our lives. As believers we know that we must place our trust in Him for our salvation. But we must learn to put our trust in Him for all things.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. - Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

To please God in any area of our life, it must be based solidly in our faith in Him. Here are two additional quotes from Spurgeon that I believe are insightful relating to faith. They are both from his sermon entitled, Trust (Volume 33, Sermon 1978).

Trust in Christ brings to God greater glory than anything else we can produce.

If Christ were standing on this platform, and you saw His pierced hands and the wound in His side, you would be ready to fall down and worship Him. You can worship Him better still by trusting Him in His absence.

Let us take heed to Spurgeon's exhortations in today's readings to place our full faith and trust in the LORD.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

MORNING
Christian and Hopeful learned their lessons earlier on their journey when they wandered from "The Way" and allowed their drowsiness to overcome them and they fell into the hands of the Giant of Despair in the Castle of Doubt.

We must take seriously the admonition of Spurgeon to avoid isolation and speak often of the Lord. We need each other and in these last days we must draw close for we are warned that in the last days seducing spirits would arise and lead astray the very elect. "Live near the cross and you will not sleep!" Focus on the celestial city and don't look back. Christian, Faithful, and Hopeful all faced many perils in Pilgrim's Progress before they reached their destination. Why would we think it would be otherwise with us? Let us watch and pray that we enter not into temptation.

EVENING
What an encouragement to hear that David and Spurgeon, great men of God who went before us doubted. I am greatly comforted to know that I am not alone. I will from time to time pound my breast and say "God be merciful to me a sinner, help my doubts, lack of faith and unbelief!"

I love the Lord. I know His Spirit lives in me and I know that I am heir to the promises. I also know that in me, that is in my flesh dwells no good thing for to will is ever present and the good that I would do, I don't do. Oh wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death! Speak salvation to my soul! Only Jesus Christ can restore the peace to my soul when I'm caught in the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. Only He can provide the "present, personal, infallible, indisputable sense that I am His and He is mine!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

"My grace is sufficient for thee." — 2 Corinthians 12:9

I love reading these words on a daily basis. As sinners, we are in need of one thing and one thing only, God's grace. It is the grace of God that is our hope and joy in all things. This verse speaks of the scope of God's grace. It is perfect for all things and all situations. No matter what we are going through or what sins we have committed, God tells us that His grace is able to cover it all and get us through any situation.

This verse implies depending on God. There are many times in out life when we are not living like His grace is enough. We look defeated and feel forgotten. It is not that His grace has failed, but that we have stopped looking to Him and the grace that He promises. and even still His grace is holding us up. Trust this verse and depending on Christ for all things and in all situations. He will provide grace as you need that will be more than sufficient.


"They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house." — Psalm 36:8

Abundant satisfaction is my experience with the grace of God! When I look to His word and come for grace and the goodness of God to satisfy my soul, I have never been wanting! As christians, we just need to go and feed and fill as often as we can. He will never run out and we will never leave unsatisfied.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Well may we court trial or even death itself if we shall thereby be aided to make glad Immanuel's heart. O that our heart were crushed to atoms if only by such bruising our sweet Lord Jesus could be glorified.

Spurgeon write's with such imagery and I like what he said above. What a mystery... that fallen man, regenerated by His grace, can actually do anything that brings glory to His name. The thought that I, in thought or deed, can actually bless the Almighty is overwhelming and joyous at the same time. But, before we get too overwhelmed with the idea of striving to bring glory to Him... he reminds us that He will glorify Himself.

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Rom. 11:36)

In this doxology, the Lord reminds us that He is Sovereign and in control of using His children to bring glory to Himself. I am truly thankful for that!!


Our God is infinitely more precious than anyone or anything. As we read through the evening devotion, I'd like us to follow Spurgeon's encouragement in the last line...

let the thought of what life would be without Him enhance His preciousness.

This should also humble us! As I think about what life would be like without Christ... He increases and I decrease.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning:"My expectation is from Him." - Psalm 62:5

Evening:"The barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which He spake by Elijah." - 1 Kings 17:16

From Colorado: My head is pounding - high altitude? My sweet wife is asleep, and I'm not long behind her! Yet I am so grateful that it is my turn to write in the Morning and Evening Blog. It's been a long travel day, and it's the first moment I've spent in the word.

God is so good to woo me to His word tonight, and remind me of His goodness, and His provision. Lately I've been reflecting on His kindness in my life. It is always there, but of late I've really been feeling it in an overwhelming way. I see His loving hand in my life, both in easy times, and while in the winepress or on the threshing floor. Most of all in my every-good-gift-is-from-above wife Karen, as we are about to celebrate seven years that have raced past.

My expectation is from Him.

It is a delight to be at rest in Him. I'm not always there, but by His grace I always return to His rest. When our hope is in Him, we can rest in Him, confident not in the outcome, but in the Provider, El Shaddai. We can meditate on His promises, and let them nurse us to health. And He who promises is faithful.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

Good Morning

What a great promise we have in our unchanging God. That he is the same from eternity past to eternity future. We have nothing to compare this to for our minds eye as everything we have in life will change and wither over time. But not is so with our God. Though our busy, ever changing, Kaleidoscope lives leave us in times of distress and in times of delight our God is constant and never moved from His foundation of righteousness and justice. Like Spurgeons example of the Israelites in the desert,

"Yet, though we are always changing, Lord, thou has been our dwelling-place throughout all generations."

This great truth is applied to all aspects of our relationship with our God. His love for us, His grace, His mercy, His salvation. Though we are a wavering and unfaithful people we have a covenant with an unchangeable ever faithful God. Rather I should say He has made a covenant with us his fallible people.

In pondering His changeless love, I love how Spurgeon closes the day with these great thoughts about our eternal security in Him:

"...has He been so long about thy salvation, and will not He accomplish it? Has he from everlasting been going forth to save me, and will He lose me now? What! has He carried me in His hand , as His precious jewel, and will He now let me slip from between His fingers? Did He choose me before the mountains were brought forth, or the channels of the deep were digged, and will He reject me now?"

Let us rejoice this day knowing that we are His everlasting, and may everlasting love be the pillow for our heads this night.

-jeff paisano

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

I have enjoyed this day's devotion more than all others in Morning and Evening. This is what it is to be Christ-Centered. I pray that we would learn to talk like this...to even pray like this! My entire salvation is of the Lord. From beginning to end...He is the Cause...He is the Source...He is the Initiator...He is the Sustainer...He is our Redeemer...He is our Preserver...He is our Finisher! He makes me want to pray...He makes me know grace...He makes me desire His Word...He is the source of all my goodness...He weans me from the world...He enables me to fight the enemy! The God-Centered man views His salvation and gives all the glory to God. The God-Centered man trusts God for every aspect of life. And the God-Centered man depends fully upon God for every detail of Christian living. May we be God-Centered!

It is impossible for us to be truly God-Centered, if we fail to understand our own inability. May we recognize that we have no righteousness of our own...that we may plead to be clothed with the robes of righteousness that Christ has freely given to us. A true understanding of my own inability, my own depravity (an understanding that comes from God alone), this is the source of passionate praises for God's grace! As I think of my utter inability to have a righteousness of my own, it is for that reason, that I love resting in a God-Centered life and salvation! I am thankful for today's devotion! Pastor Kevin

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

MORNING
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God!" To think that "God's tempest is gathering its dread artillery. So far the water-floods are dammed up by mercy, but the floodgates will soon be opened: The thunderbolts of God are still in His storehouse, the tempest is coming, and how awful will that moment be when God robed in vengeance, shall march forth in fury!"

Sounds a bit like Jonathan Edwards', Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. May the commentaries of Spurgeon and Edwards encourage us to share the gospel with our unsaved loved ones and friends, to encourage them to flee from the wrath of an angry God into the arms of a loving God who gave His only begotten Son to save us from the wrath to come.

EVENING
During the Sunday call to worship we read from Psalm 37 that we are to trust, delight, commit, and rest in the Lord. This evening we see what happens when we choose to follow our flesh and disobey God. We lose the presence and comfortable enjoyment of God's love. We lose our peace of mind and sin destroys our comfort. We lose everything upon which we might draw comfort. We can't plead the promise of divine protection because we are out of the will of God. We reap what we sow. Spurgeon gives us a stern warning, "Christian, do not play the Jonah unless you wish to have all the waves and billows rolling over your head. You will find in the long run that it is far harder to shun the work and will of God than to at once yield yourself to it!"

Just as Joshua had to choose, so do we. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!"

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

As I pondered on the morning reading I looked for similar places in Scripture where God's mercy was said to be showered upon us. The Hebrew word, geshem which is translated in Ezekiel 34:26 as shower is translated as rain in this wonderful corollary passage in Psalm 68:8-10.

The earth shook; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, Whereby You confirmed Your inheritance, When it was weary. Your congregation dwelt in it; You, O God, provided from Your goodness for the poor.

This passage displays to us God's abundant providence, mercy and grace. Three things blessed me from this corollary passage.

1. God's rain was plentiful, because He provides bountifully.


2. The reference to God's inheritance is a reference in context to Israel, in the wilderness. But we are grafted in to this inheritance as well (Romans 11:13-19). We are God's inheritance (Ephesians 1:18; Deuteronomy 32:8-9).


3. It says God's congregation dwelt in it. O' that we would dwell daily and fully in God's grace and mercy. He offers His grace to His people freely.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.—Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

As the writer of Hebrews exhorts us, let us all come to God's glorious throne of grace to find the power to live for His glory this day!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

"I will never leave thee." — Hebrews 13:5

The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever, and yet that is not what we find in our experience all the time. To enjoy God and thereby glorify Him He must be adored in our minds and felt with our hearts. The reason I bring this up is because it is verses like this and thoughts like this that make my heart sing for joy. To know that almighty God, perfect and loving is with me for all time and will never leave me causes me to be full of joy. It is from this place of joy that I glorify God. As christians we need to come to verses like these and specifically this verse here often to remind our souls of the graces that we have been given. How good is it to know, in all our sin and future sin, that God will never leave us but instead cause all things to be for our good. It is this joyful knowledge that leads us as Christians through the darkness of nights and coldest of seasons.

"Take up the cross, and follow Me." — Mark 10:21

What a high calling we have been called to. This verse almost immediately causes fear and trepidation in my mind. I think on the good things Jesus did and also the horrible things he endured all the while never sinning or even having a cross thought. This is what I am to do? I am so far from that and so incapable of following Jesus. It is only when I start to think upon the verse before us that God will never leave me nor forsake me that I find any hope. I must depend upon Christ at all times to follow Him in any sense of the calling. It must be a moment by moment and step by step depending upon and looking unto Him that gives power and grace. I am convinced that this is given to us so that we can see our inefficiency and fall upon His mercy every second of the day. Lord help us do so!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Please forgive the tardiness of this entry as God is showing me patience with my sweet daughter Sienna. The night was long as she was up every hour, or so it seems, as my mind drifted back to sleep she would be calling again. Oh there are so many to whom I write that have the same experiences. Please pray for Cindy and me that we shall have some sleepful nights before us. And if we don't I am encouraged, by you who have gone before us, that will someday end.

What an encouraging devotion this evening reading from the Book of Nahum, a book I personally don't think I have ever read, but what a powerful verse:

The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.

I love the description here as the writer describes the clouds are the dust of His feet. Indeed they are, the thought is mind blowing to say the least. He is so magnificent. Spurgeon writes, "The Lord is slow to anger, because He is GREAT IN POWER. He is truly great in power who hath power over himself." What a blessing because if He were less divine, Spurgeon continues, "he would long ere this have sent forth the whole of His thunders, and emptied the magazines of heaven; He would long ere ths have blasted the earth with the wondrous fires of its lower regions and man would have been utterly destroyed." We deserve this wrath that God has for us, but praise him brothers, Jesus is our saving Grace. I am so thankful that God is slow to anger and that he has given us mercy that we do not deserve.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Reverence, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning: "He hath said." - Hebrews 13:5

"I will never leave you nor forsake you".     I would imagine that many of us have been comforted by these words of scripture in Hebrews 13:5. What trial would we want to face without God? And what trial need we fear with God?

Let us have compassion of those that are going through trials without the knowledge of scripture, and without knowledge of the loving Lord who wants to comfort us and them with the goodness of their salvation in Christ.

This is Spurgeon's point - to exhort us to a knowledge of scripture, that we might be able to bring comfort and encouragement to those in need.

And remember Paul's exhortation to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:6

The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.

Or, as Paul exhorts in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.

If we are to comfort others in God's word, we must as well dig deep at the fount of living water.

Evening: "Understandest thou what thou readest?" - Acts 8:30

Spurgeon continues along the lines of the morning devotion, exhorting that the understanding of God's word is opened by prayer - supplication to our teacher, the Holy Spirit, to bring comfort and understanding of His word.

But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26

I'm reminded of Lilias Trotter's pamphlet, entitled Vibrations, written in the early 1900s in Algiers, where Ms Trotter had been serving as a missionary since 1888.

A bang and a crash, and a cloud of dust that when it cleared showed a picture of ruin. One of the pillars that support the gallery of our old Arab house had fallen down into the court and lay shattered on the pavement, carrying with it a block of masonry and a shower of bricks and blue and white tiles from the arch above it.

Down below, alongside of us, a native baker had installed himself six or seven years ago. This means that for hours every night two men had swung on the huge see-saw which in some mysterious way kneads their bread, and every blow backwards and forwards had vibrated through our house, and now at last the result was seen in the shattering of masonry that had looked as if it would last as long as the world.

But God had meanwhile given an object lesson concerning a truth which had glimmered out before in thinking of the strange power of vibrations--once more "the invisible things being understood by the things that are made."

For there is a vibrating power going on down in the darkness and dust of this world that can make itself visible in starting results in the upper air and sunlight of the invisible world, "mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God." Each prayer-beat down here vibrates up to the very throne of God, and does its work through that throne on the principalities and powers around us, just as each one of the repeated throbs from below told on the structure of our house, though it was only the last one that produced the visible effect. We can never tell which prayer will liberate the answer, but we can tell that each one will do its work: we know that "if we ask anything according to His will He heareth us, and if we know that He hear us we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him."

Let us pray to the loving Lord, that He would use the 'vibrations' from our prayers to break down any walls keeping us from understanding His goodness, love, and calling on our lives.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon