Reverence and Awe

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Good Morning RBC Family -

"The Lord our Righteousness."
This morning our devotionalist has brought into our minds the sweet and wonderful thought that we have been counted righteous in Christ.

As Christians we still sin and fall daily. And perhaps if you haven't already this morning we are sure to encounter this sin today. Though we have been called to righteousness the nature of our own hearts is still inclined to sin and that can weigh on the heart, soul, and mind heavily. And if this was truly the end of our condition then we would walk with heads hung low, in response to our inability to do good in the sight of God. But as Christians our condition ends with the righteousness of Christ that covers all our sins.

We are reminded that God does not look at us and see our sin, rather He sees the righteousness of Christ which is perfect. Rejoice this morning christian, be of good cheer, for you have been clothed in robes of righteousness. Do not waste another minute wallowing over your sin in guilt, but rather rejoice in what the Lord has done, for He has made you perfect!

Good Evening!

This evening our devotional sets our minds on the only right response to our morning meditation, that we might faithfully run the race that has been set before us to the glory of God.

1)Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2)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.(Heb 12:1-2)

The world likes to make life about many different races and there can seem to be many different runners all around us who are sure to finish before us. But Christian our race is sure in Christ and a very different race all together. "And by His grace we shall outrun the strongest runner who chooses any other path."

Praise God this evening for the life of good works He has set before you and run joyfully with endurance to the prize of glory that awaits each one of us in heaven. God bless.

-Jeff Paisano

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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MORNING

Rouse yourself! Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man what God has in store for those who love Him! Spurgeon lists a few; you have peculiar power in prayer; the Spirit of God gives you joy and gladness; the Scripture is open to you; the promises are applied; you walk in the light of God's countenance; you have peculiar freedom and liberty in devotion, and more closeness of communion with Christ than before. Such devotion, what a wonderful Savior. He delights in us. In fact the prophet Zephaniah, chapter 3, verse 17 says He will joy over you with singing. Awaken my soul and respond to Him!

EVENING

Romans 8:39 tells us that nothing will separate us from the Love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord! This devotion brings to mind the lyrics of the song we often sing...Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. He gave Himself for us, gave us all the rights and privileges that are His, and continually makes intercession for us. This in spite of the fact that we have no right to any of these blessings. What marvelous Grace! "Reach the bottom of Christ's sea of joy, and then hope to understand the bliss that God has prepared for them that love Him. Overlap the boundaries of Christ's possessions, and then dream of a limit to the fair inheritance of the elect. All are yours, and you are Christ's and Christ is God's" Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine, of what a foretaste of Glory Divine!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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Morning
I remember a saying that goes like this: "Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow is but a vision; every well lived today makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before! "The joys of heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth" and "faith's bright vision will sustain me till life's pilgrimage is past and I can finally say "Thank God Almighty, I am free at last!" Let us press on for the mark...let us run the race...let us fix our eyes on the author and finisher of that faith, Jesus Christ our Lord! He is our blessed hope of eternity!

Evening
It has been another day of mercy for which I am so grateful. Spurgeon earned the title "Prince of Preachers". Reading this devotional you see why. "No satisfaction in earthly things-God alone can give rest to my spirit". Only He can fulfill the desires of our immortal nature. "Jesus the rest of my heart, the home of my spirit". "Blessed Lord Jesus, be with me, reveal Yourself, and abide with me all night, so that when I awake I may be still with you". God make that our prayer! We want to apprehend what we were apprehended for! We want to be transformed! We want to be conformed! We want to be just like You!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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"Let us, then, glorify and praise God for a Savior so precious, and so satisfying." (Spurgeon, p. 57)

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"And of his fulness have all we received." — John 1:16

Come, believer, and get all thy need supplied; ask largely, and thou shalt receive largely, for this "fullness" is inexhaustible, and is treasured up where all the needy may reach it, even in Jesus, Immanuel—God with us.

One of the most freeing thoughts and joyful truths of the Bible is that Christ is ours and He is all we need in every way. As we walk in this life we are guaranteed to be conformed to the image of Christ and that guarantee is based in the perfect righteousness of Christ and His perfect propitiation on the cross.

"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." — Luke 2:19

Meditate upon what you read: stop not at the surface; dive into the depths.

This is such a needed call for us to be men and woman of the word of God. Apathy is something that plagues us all, and is so dishonoring to the Lord. How should we be apathetic to the great character of the Lord. Let us spend time in God's word as to raise our affections to the place they ought to be. As Piper says, it is the kindling for the fire!

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Holy wonder will lead you to grateful worship and heartfelt thanksgiving.

As Spurgeon writes, "We must not cease to wonder at the great marvels of our God." How true this is. I am deeply touched by this devotion as it reminds me of so many beautiful things I have seen in this world that God has given us to enjoy. I was blessed to grow up in such a place as Yosemite, surrounded by such a magnificent valley of granite walls. This past Christmas we were blessed to visit the island of Kauai. How magnificent this place is!!! As we spent many days exploring many parts of the island I just sat in wonder and awe at His glory. My heart was in deep worship. As Pastor Kevin has illustrated frequently, we don't go to Niagra Falls to see the water fountain. It is so, that we don't see our God as helpless or small. Jesus is our King, and greatly to be praised. The greatest gift of all was what He did for us on the cross and because of this we shall be lead to grateful worship and heartfelt thanksgiving.

"Let your soul lose itself in wonder, for wonder is in this way a very practical emotion."

Spurgeon continues, "It will cause within you godly watchfulness; you will be afraid to sin against such a love as this." My prayer is that we will all see what marvelous things Jesus has done on our behalf and that we will bow down to praise Him, and that it will cause us to fall more deeply in love with Him. Oh how I wonder what else he has in store for us. Only He knows. Amen.

All they that heard it wondered at those things.–Luke 2:18

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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Morning:
The root word translated here for lovingkindness is also translated elsewhere as mercy in the KJV and NKJV. But the NASB utilizes the word lovingkindess extensively, 176 times in fact. Here are just a few of the things we can praise the LORD for as a result of His lovingkindness:

• He leads us (Exo 15:13)
• He has forgiven His people (Num 14:19)
• We enter His house (Psa 5:7)
• He remembers us not our sins (Psa 25:6-7)
• He has drawn us to Him (Jer 31:3)
• He has compassion for us in times of trouble (Lam 3:32; Isa 54:8)

In Psalm 136 the word is used 26 times (once per verse) and each time it is to tell us that,

His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Follow this link to see all the instances of lovingkindness (using the NASB). Out of these, as Spurgeon exhorts us, we should easily be able to find something today to mention the lovingkindess of our LORD.

Evening:
Spurgeon speaks of the New Covenant with God through Christ and the necessity to obey His commandment. Jeremiah prophesied of this future covenant:

But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Jeremiah 31:33-34 NKJV)

The power to live in Christ is not of ourselves but by the power of God in us. Praise God that as we grow in this New Covenant, we respond to the law God has newly written in our hearts, not a law written in stone on Mount Sinai. It is our response to God out of love for His work for and within us. Paul tells us that this is through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives:

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. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:1-8 NKJV)

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:1-3 NKJV)

So let us today submit to the Holy Spirit and respond to his urging to draw closer to Christ. The result will be to reverence Him in our thoughts and actions. Before believing, we were slaves to sin, but the Holy Spirit has regenerated us and we are now free to live for Christ and follow Him.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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In the morning devotion, Spurgeon reminds us that not only does God save us from troubles and snares, but he also delivers us out of them. As I read over the devotion, I could think of so many past circumstances where God did both. How many times has my Lord, by His Spirit, simply not allowed me to enter into sin or trouble or pain? And yet I am certainly reminded of times where I have succumb to temptation and been restored by God's merciful, fatherly discipline.

O backslider, be cast down, but do not despair. Wanderer though thou hast been, hear what thy Redeemer saith--"Return, O backsliding children; I will have mercy upon you."(from morning)

There is no mire, no pit so deep that God's mercy and forgiveness and grace will not reach us. As Christians, our fellowship with our Lord will never be broken... no matter what the sin or circumstance. But... we can surely disrupt and strain the sweet communion we enjoy when we walk close to Him.

There is a promise in the book of Romans that puts a smile on my face whenever I think of it. The promise is found in the first verse of chapter eight.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

I am very grateful for that verse and Spurgeon's words this morning!


In the evening devotion, Spurgeon sort of recaps the story of Martha and Mary. Martha who was preoccupied with serving Christ and Mary who was preoccupied with worshiping at His feet.

This devotion really hit home for me. I can relate when Spurgeon says that it is easier to serve than to commune.

The more spiritual the exercise, the sooner we tire in it. The choicest fruits are the hardest to rear: the most heavenly graces are the most difficult to cultivate.

Oh Lord, help us to continually be worshiping at your feet. To never be so preoccupied with service, that we neglect communing with you. As Spurgeon said, "for this we need great grace."

The first thing for our soul's health, the first thing for His glory, and the first thing for our own usefulness, is to keep ourselves in perpetual communion with the Lord Jesus

In His Grace,
Pastor Matt

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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Morning Devotion: "I have exalted one chosen out of the people." - Psalm 89:19

Although the immediate context of Psalm 89:19 is King David, it is typically applied to the Messiah, and much of Psalm 89 is directly concerned with the Messiah (see Hebrews 1:5 for example). Spurgeon poses a question for us: Why was Christ chosen out of the people?

I tried to make my own answer before peeking at Spurgeon's, just like the little kid at the grocery store that pushes his toy plastic shopping cart, selecting an item here or there, while his Mom or Dad does the 'heavy lifting' buying the week's groceries.

My Brother - this one will take lots more meditating - I want to feel it in my heart not just my head. Matthew Henry echoes Spurgeon from Proverbs 18:

Christ is a friend to all believers that sticks closer than a brother; to him therefore let them show themselves friendly.

He is my perfect Brother, and I love Him.

More great encouragement from the master of simple Anglo-Saxon language:

Take courage! Royal feet have left a blood-red track upon the road, and consecrated the thorny path for ever.

The Christ is my anchor of hope, sure and stedfast [Hebrews 6:19], perfectly worthy of my devotion, my love, my worship, my service, my life.

Evening Devotion: "We will remember Thy love more than wine." - Song of Songs 1:4

Here I can meditate not only on the scripture, and not only on Spurgeon's exhortation, but I also started by re-reading Pastor Jim's blog for January 1st, when Spurgeon first tackled this Scripture, focusing a bit earlier in the verse, on 'rejoicing in the Lord'. (Yes, there is a Scripture Index to Spurgeon's devotions on the Blue Letter Bible!)

I'm struggling to find anything to add to Spurgeon's voice - could I ask you humbly to go back and re-read his sweet evening devotion?

I find myself in Spurgeon's company, as he himself described his admiration for Sir Richard Baker's commentaries on the Psalms:

We have often tried to quote from him and have found ourselves so embarrassed with riches that we have been inclined to copy the whole...

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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Good Morning!

This morning's devotion is a humbling meditation. We can so quickly find ourselves priding in our possessions and accomplishments in this life. Even the bringing of an unbeliever to the wonderful saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior can be a stumbling stone for pride. This morning we are reminded that apart from God's goodness we would remain as "fruitless vine wood" as the verse quoted states. Yet because of His goodness and grace Christians have become fruitful, having been planted in a good soil. We are challenged to ponder what we would be without the continual influence of the Spirit bearing fruit in our lives. Which brings us to a place of realizing that all we are and have in this life is a gift of his goodness and grace.

Great believer, thou wouldst have been a great sinner if God had not made thee to differ.

Who are we to boast in anything that we have as if we earned it in our own strength, as if it were not a gift of His amazing grace in our lives.

Thou hadst not once a single thing to call thine own except thy sin and misery.

May we rejoice this morning that God has taken worthless vine wood and made it flourish to bring Him glory.


Good Evening:

In this evenings devotion we are reminded to think eternally. A popular image of Christianity we see peddled on TV and other media is that becoming a christian is a cure all for every hardship in this life. "Give your life to Jesus and all your troubles will flee". This soft peddling of the Christian life is like taking a friend for a skydiving adventure trip but not giving him a parachute. In this Christian life we will experience trials and there will be times of suffering. Spurgeon reminds us here that the promise of the old covenant was prosperity, but the promise of the new covenant is adversity. Remember Christ's words:

Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away, and every branch that beareth fruit He purgeth (prunes-cuts away) it, that it may bring forth more fruit."

When we shift our hope from the things of this world to the things of heaven we seek to rejoice in our sufferings. Or as Paul put it, we find pleasure in our infirmities. Because our treasure is not stored up for us here on this earth but rather our treasure is in heaven.

May we rejoice this evening in our sufferings knowing that the very pains we serve are the very evidence of a loving saviors work in our lives.

-jeff paisano

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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Today's Morning devotional reminds us of the precious doctrine of the perseverance of the saints. All of God's people traveled safely through the walls of water to safety. We know that as Christians, not one of us will perish. He will never leave us or forsake us! He began a good work in us and He will be faithful to complete it. This doctrine is clearly taught in Scripture. Our salvation is based on the assurance of an unchanging God. He is the all-powerful Author, and the faithful Finisher of our faith.

For our Evening devotion, we see that He is faithful to us in our daily lives as well. We are so quick to forget His faithfulness. Like Sampson, we see God do great wonders in our lives, and then we stress out over the little things, as if they are too difficult for Him. Trust the Lord with your eternity, and trust Him with your circumstances at this particular moment. Trust Him for your salvation, and trust Him at this time with your financial, health, relational, or any other needs that may arise. God is honored as we trust Him and praise Him for His constant faithfulness! Have a wonderful day!

Pastor Kevin

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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Morning
Many of us saw Mel Gibson's movie depicting the crucifixion of Christ. Graphic movie but none the less powerful! I remember weeping as I witnessed the agony and suffering and reflected that it was my sin that sent Him to the cross. Without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin. Leviticus 17:10 says "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul."

Interesting how Spurgeon expressed this in his devotional long before movies came into being. "The good Shepherd layeth down His life for the sheep." Let us weep over Him as we view Him slain by the hatred of mankind, staining the horns of His altar with His own blood".

Further he says as a result we have peace with God. "The blood of Jesus hath a mighty tongue, and the import of its prevailing cry is not vengeance but mercy. It is precious beyond all preciousness to stand at the altar of our good Shepherd! To see Him bleeding there as the slaughtered priest, and then to hear His blood speaking peace to all His flock, peace in our conscience, peace between Jew and Gentile, peace between man and his offended Maker, peace all down the ages of eternity for blood-washed men. "

So precious is the flow, that makes me white as snow. No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus. Sins forgiven and peace with God! Amazing Grace!!!

Evening
In this post Christian, humanistic world we are constantly tempted by vanities and were it not for the Holy Spirit the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches would dominate. As Spurgeon says "unless we follow Christ and make our God the great object of life, we only differ in appearance from the most frivolous. It is clear that there is much need of the prayer, Give me life in your ways!"

The flesh can do nothing. I like Spurgeon's description, "dull, heavy, all but dead". "No mere consideration can quicken us to zeal, but God Himself must do it!" "Even our best motives cannot quicken us, apart from the Lord Himself". Jesus says it clearly in John 15:5 - "Without Me you can do nothing"

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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Morning:

Spurgeon is lamenting the situation where we as believer's decide to stray from our Lord. And Spurgeon exhorts us who find ourselves in that situation to turn back to Jesus.

One thing we know from Scripture is that if we are Christ's people ("sheep") and have left Him ("gone astray")—then He is pursuing us. All we have to do to find Christ is to turn towards Him.

So He spoke this parable to them, saying: "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.–Luke 15:3-7 NKJV

Our Shepherd is right beside us. If it is indeed hard as Spurgeon says (and I do somewhat question this) then it is hard only because of the immensity of our fallen human pride. Sin easily leads us astray. Pride and sin keeps us from returning to our Master.

I enjoy much more the imagery of Jesus' parable. The sheep in the parable once found is not required to cling to the shepherd, He wraps the sheep on His shoulders and there it is safe. And if this be the actions of a human shepherd, how much more our Great Shepherd loves us.

And in the text referenced by Spurgeon, Song of Solomon 3:1, the Shulamite did in fact find her Beloved.

[The Shulamite] By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him. "I will rise now," I said, "And go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love." I sought him, but I did not find him. The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, "Have you seen the one I love?" Scarcely had I passed by them, When I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, Until I had brought him to the house of my mother, And into the chamber of her who conceived me.–Song 3:1-4 NKJV (Bold emphasis added)

EVENING:

Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures.–Luke 24:45 KJV

It is wonderful that the LORD does open our eyes. For we really would be lost without His direction. In context the verse is speaking of Christ with the Apostles after the resurrection. They had been traveling with Him for over three years. Such close communion with Jesus. Yet, He still needed to open their eyes as to what was happening in relation to God's revealed plan of salvation.

We cannot rely upon our understanding, even after intense study, if that study is not illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Recall Simon Peter's encounter with Christ recounted in the Scriptures:

He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed [this] to you, but My Father who is in heaven.–Matthew 16:15-17 NKJV

Peter had got it right! But only because God had opened his eyes. Could Peter now rely on his own knowledge and experience with Jesus? Peter thought so. However, his next utterance in Scripture shows otherwise.

Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."–Matthew 16:22-23 NKJV

In one case God revealed things to Peter's spiritual eyes, and just after, Satan is whispering in Peter's ears. Thank the LORD that we have His Word by which to judge our thoughts and actions, and to show us great things!

Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.–Psalm 119:18 NKJV

My Prayer: LORD, may I always be attuned to Your leading. Open Your Word to me today, open my eyes, open my ears, and show me wondrous things!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." — Hebrews 4:9

What a sweet thought this is! There remains for us a perfect rest in Heaven that will be forever and even more than that our rest will be in the presence of our God. It is so refreshing to think upon these things now and let these thoughts sustain us through the toil and fight of this life.

Business and hard labor is something that most of us can at least understand and for the most part have as a regular part of our every day life. As I think upon this I can't help but think what is it that makes us so busy. As Christians our life and toil and fight is to honor and glorify our mighty God and serve His people. I think that there are so many things that fill up our lives that have nothing to do with God's glory or serving His people. I believe this verse is such a great call to us as Christians to let the rest that awaits us compel us to live as hard as we can to glorify God and serve His people.

Spurgeon is calling us to look this rest, enjoy it, live it, trust in God for it and depend upon Him to experience it in this life as we toil. As well as let this future rest be so adored in your hearts that is fuels you into deep passionate worship.

"He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." — Luke 24:27

This verse is such a great class on how to study God's word. It all points to Christ and is for Christ and about Christ and revealed through Christ. What a great calling to remind us to have the right glasses on as we look into God's word. It is not merely given to us to teach us how to be kind to others or give us a five step program to becoming wealthy but to teach us about our God and savior. How refreshing it is to know that the one great subject of the Bible is Christ and Him crucified.

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"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion." - Revelation 14:1

Simply amazing!!! What an indescribable experience and privilege it was for the apostle John to look withing the gates of heaven. How magnificent the day will be when we are all, as followers of Christ, be able to look within the gates of heaven. I shall bow down with reverence and awe to my Savior.

What if we didn't have the descriptions of Revelation? Would we have the faith that such a place as heaven existed? My faith is strengthened by the fact that someone has already seen the gates of heaven and what it has in store for us as illustrated in the book of Revelation. In this case, that person being John. What if you or I were the one who was priveledged to be describing the great choir that sang at the throne of God, or the Three Angels flying through the heavens? How magnificent. Well we know that one day that time will come, and this gives me great comfort.

As good Rutherford says, "Heaven and Christ are the same thing." Spurgeon goes on to say, "to be with Christ is to be in heaven, and to be in heaven is to be with Christ."

I can particularly relate to the part where Spurgeon is describing how to be in hell with thee, is still heaven. Many times in my life I have felt like I was going through Hell, but then I look to Him and realize that my treasure is with Christ and is in heaven. Amen.

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As I write this devotional blog, I am burdened with a prayer request for my sister-in-law who has been in random but chronic pain for much of the past 3 or so months. My brother has come to me petitioning my prayers that God would heal his wife and/or equip and prepare them for drastic news. They need help. Sometimes the help we need is material but right now in their case it is help in the form of alleviation from pain. "I will help you, says the LORD." (Isaiah 41:14 NKJV) How can God help in a situation like my brother and sister-in-law are currently facing? He can completely wipe away whatever is ailing her. He is able. He is the Great Physician. He may not cure her at this time but he can provide the medicine necessary to curb the suffering that the pain has caused. And if it is serious pain that requires treatments, he can turn this situation into an opportunity for his name to be exalted and someone to come to know Christ. He can most definitely help! If you are in need of ministry please reach out to one of the elders in the church or submit your need to the prayer chain so that the church body can be used by God to help. Help, after all, "is the least thing [God] could ever do for [us]." (Spurgeon, p.32)

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In today's devotion Spurgeon encourages us in two areas: 1) calling on and trusting in God's promises to His children & 2) staying fervent in our prayers.

If you're anything like me, you find it hard at times to simply do something because it "should" be done. I find something much easier to "do" when I enjoy that which I'm doing. This can be the case in our work, family and spiritual lives. I've been encouraged over the years by John Piper's take on the battle between duty & delight (his book "The Dangerous Duty of Delight" was helpful) and I'm encouraged today by Charles.

Today's devotion was interesting to me because I believe that one of the best ways to stay fervent in our prayers is to call on and trust in the promises of God. God's promises, not ours, is our motivation to come boldly to His throne. We have been adopted into the Lord's family, no longer illegitimate. He is our God and we are His people, the people of His pasture. The ransom for our sins has been paid by the blood of Christ, He is our propitiation. He now wraps us in His robes of righteousness so that we will never have to come to Him wrapped in our own filthy rags of unrighteousness.

As Spurgeon said, "God's promises were never meant to be thrown aside as waste paper; He intended that they should be used." I pray that we would be "using" our Savior's promises. That we would recognize he "delights to cash His own notes"... then simply kneel in gratitude before Him.

If you are reading this and struggling in your prayer life.... try this.... go through God's Word and read some of His promises. Devote yourself to their remembrance and worship Him, simply worship Him!!

Here are a few of my favorites promises in Scripture:

Ephesians 1:11-12
"In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory."

1 Peter 1:3-5
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

Romans 8:35,37-39
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

He is great and greatly to be praised!!!

For His Glory,
Pastor Matt

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

We find within our devotion today the sovereign grace of God. God is mighty to save. He is all-powerful and willing to bring us to repentance. He has given us new hearts, according to His free grace. God begins the work in us, He carries it on, and we will be perfected in glory for all eternity. We see Him to be the Author and Finisher of our faith.

As a result, we give thanks to Him. We give Him all the glory. And we trust Him.

Since our Lord saves according to His sovereign grace, we can pray for those who we desire to be saved. There are many unbelievers who we are close to and love. Pray that God would change their hearts and bring them to repentance. Pray that they might see Christ to be more precious than anything this world could ever offer. Many of us can think of people who prayed for us when we were far from Christ. We now, as new creations, praise the Lord for being "mighty to save" us!

And we close with our evening devotion by praying to our Almighty, Gracious, Sovereign God. When we feel throughout the day that we are sinking, we can always cry out to Christ who is quick to extend His right hand to uphold us!

Have a blessed day, Pastor Kevin

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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Morning: "Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were broken at Ezion-geber." - 1 Kings 22:48

Here Spurgeon meditates on God's love for Jehoshaphat. He was in error, with his relationship with the unbelieving and sinful family of Ahaziah (see 2 Chron 20:37) and so consequently God would not prosper him. In the very next verse 1 Kings 22:49, we see the fruit of repentance in Jehoshaphat - he resisted further alliance with Ahaziah's family.

The Father's love - an endless outpouring. How good God is to stop us in our tracks!

My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
Nor detest His correction;

For whom the LORD loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights. Pro 3:11-12

Spurgeon further cautions about being unequally yoked with unbelievers.

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 2 Cor 6:14

As important as it is for us to prevent ill-considered alliances in the world in our day-to-day lives, how much more important, with business partnerships, and how critically important it is when considering dating and marriage. There is no 'repenting in the next verse', like Jehoshaphat, when we become unequally yoked in marriage.

Evening: "The iron did swim." - 2 Kings 6:6

How sweet is Spurgeon's exhortation here!

Beloved reader, what is thy desperate case? What heavy matter hast thou in hand this evening? Bring it hither. The God of the prophets lives, and lives to help His saints. He will not suffer thee to lack any good thing. Believe thou in the Lord of hosts! Approach Him pleading the name of Jesus, and the iron shall swim; thou too shalt see the finger of God working marvels for His people. According to thy faith be it unto thee, and yet again the iron shall swim.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Good Morning:

As Christians we belong to Christ. God has adopted us into his family to the point that we have been made Joint Heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17).

Think of someone who is an heir to an estate. To be an heir is a very personal family matter one that an outsider has no natural access to nor benefit from. We are no longer outsiders but rather members of the family of God, we are his children, "...and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ..."(Rom 8:17).

This should effect every part of our being. How amazing is it that we belong to Christ? And as Spurgeon emphasizes here it should effect how we live, and how we respond to temptation.

When we live in response to this great truth we seek to portray His greatness with our lives and not our own. And when tempted by sin we shouldn't give in to the simple pleasures of this world but rather stand in His strength, equipped with the full armor of God(Eph 6:10-20), and fight. Proclaiming that we are not our own to do with haphazardly, but rather, we belong to Jesus.

May the majesty of our great Father in Heaven astound you this morning.

Good Evening:

It is especially easy today in a world of lattes and mochas, top 40 Christian music, and a plethora of bible covers in all shapes and sizes to get comfortable in doing church. Spurgeon, this evening, is exhorting us to leave our comfort zones and plush coffee house sofas and re-familiarize ourselves with the heartbeat of the great commission - to share the gospel as it has been shared to you.

Like newly cracked glow sticks we have been illuminated with the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2Cor 4:6) and placed in a dark world to shine. Yet some of us would prefer to hide that shining light and retreat to the comfortable confines of our own living rooms to enjoy the light all for ourselves.

but the hiding of Christ in us can never be justified, and the keeping back of truth which is precious to ourselves is a sin against others and an offence against God.

We have not all been given the gift or talent of public speaking but that does not excuse us from shining brightly the truth that God has bestowed within us to this dark world.

If thou canst not speak with trumpet tongue, use the still small voice. - M. & E.

He has given each of us a testimony by the amazing grace that transformed our lives. To share the greatness of God is to revel in the personal conversion of our souls by his grace.

May the lords greatness ever be a praise upon our lips and "from the hidden springs within let sweetly flowing rivulets of testimony flow forth, giving drink to every passerby. Hide not thy talents..."! - M. & E.

God bless.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

MORNING:

Those who have read much of Charles Haddon Spurgeon know of his strong belief in the sovereignty of God and the eternal security of the believer. However, we see that balance in Spurgeon that also exhorts us to apply God's Word in our lives. In fact in this morning's devotion he is looking deep into his own life. Not to see whether he possesses salvation, but to see if he is growing within his salvation. As Paul exhorted the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 3:1-3), let us desire to fed on the meat of the Word, no longer to suffice with just milk. And then the Word of God would change our hearts and our actions.

But Spurgeon (as did the Apostle Paul) directs us to the source of our strength, the source of the fruit, and that is God, through the power and working of the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-5).

"let me count the cost of being a follower of Jesus, above all let me feel the energy of His Holy Spirit, and then I shall possess an abiding and enduring seed in my soul." (quote from Morning)

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present [you] faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy...(Jude 24 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)

The grace of God is the source of the planting of the seed and its development. So let us look to the Source of our salvation to assist us in our sanctification.

SIDEBAR:
"If my mind remains as obdurate as it was by nature..."

I don't know about you but I did have to look up the word obdurate at Merriam-Webster's site .

EVENING:

Thank God that the Living Word is our High Priest, our Mediator of the New Covenant with God (Hebrews 8). Even as we read this, He is interceding for us at the right hand of God. Jesus' High Priestly prayer, as recorded in John 17, might gives us a hint of what His intercession prayer would be this day. Might it be, to be one with Him and the Father, that we would be more perfect today, that the world would today see Jesus in us, and that today we would demonstrate the love of God that is within us.

Thankfully, we have the grace of God to draw upon for our needs today.

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)

The LORD is interceding for us even when we do not realize it, and when we do recognize that we need His help, we can go boldly to Him to find grace, mercy and help in our time of need. Truly this is a matter for joy and worship.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Spurgeon in the Morning:

"There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." - 2 Timothy 4:8

In yesterday's devotional, we fed on the awesome words "I will be their God".

And what has our awesome Lord done, and what will He do?

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.

Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah 9:6-7

My awesome God will perform this! This is His gift to me!

Let us meditate on the overwhelmingly wonderful work of the Christ on the cross, through which (by means of our tiny faith, and that a gift), we were made right before the Father. Let us meditate on the opened floodgates of love poured on us by the Father, as He sanctifies us and makes us His own, just as Jesus prayed in John 17:23:

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.

And shall we doubt the Giver? Will He turn away from His gifting to me, and to you? Nay! For:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. James 1:17

Spurgeon in the Evening:

"In my flesh shall I see God." - Job 19:26

Spurgeon liked to tell a story about the great Puritan Richard Baxter (1615-1691), who wrote The Saint's Everlasting Rest:

When Baxter lay a dying, and his friends came to see him, almost the last word he said was in answer to the question, "Dear Mr. Baxter, how are you?" "Almost well," said he, and so it is. Death cures; it is the best medicine, for they who die are not only almost well, but healed for ever.

We shall be healed forever, for we shall see God!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

I have to say that this speaks to my heart so clearly! To ponder the thought that God would be ours has to be one of the most humbling and joyful thoughts we could have. It is not our choice to be God's but His choice, of His own will, to be ours. The implications are unthinkable. Let us look to the Joy of God choosing to belong to us!

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:

"For me to live is Christ."–Philippians 1:21

Is Jesus Christ a means to an end? Is Christ there to simply point us in the right direction?

Spurgeon says "nay":

Paul's words mean more than most men think; they imply that the aim and end of his life was Christ-nay, his life itself was Jesus

Spurgeon exhorts us to not only live for Christ, but to live in Christ. Christ is not just a means to an end...Christ is our end!! There is nothing more precious to a follower of Christ, than the Savior Himself.

So...what should our life look like?

"its source, its sustenance, its fashion, its end, all gathered up in one word—Christ Jesus." (quote from evening)

"For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen."–Romans 11:36

Amen and Amen!


Evening:

You will not find a better truth to ponder on than this as a Christian...I am His!! What sweet words to meditate on just before you lay your head on your pillow and doze off.

"He, the Shepherd, sought the sheep, because they were His sheep; He has gone about 'to seek and to save that which was lost,' because that which was lost was His long before it was lost to itself or lost to Him. The church is the exclusive portion of her Lord; none else may claim a partnership, or pretend to share her love...let every believing soul drink solace out of these wells." (quote from Evening)

In times of doubt, despair or uncertainty...may the Lord cause my soul to "drink solace out of these wells."

I'm reminded of a hymn we sing at church written by William Gadsby:

The Love of Christ is Rich and Free

The love of Christ is rich and free;
Fixed on His own eternally;
Nor earth, nor hell, can it remove;
Long as He lives, His own He'll love.

His loving heart engaged to be
Their everlasting Surety;
'Twas love that took their cause in hand,
And love maintains it to the end.

Chorus
Love cannot from its post withdraw;
Nor death, nor hell, nor sin, nor law,
Can turn the Surety's heart away;
He'll love His own to endless day.

Love has redeemed His sheep with blood;
And love will bring them safe to God;
Love calls them all from death to life;
And love will finish all their strife.

He loves through every changing scene,
Nor aught from Him can Zion wean;
Not all the wanderings of her heart
Can make His love for her depart.

For His Glory,
Pastor Matt

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

In the Heidelberg Catechism, the question is asked:

What dost thou mean by the providence of God?

The following answer is given:

The almighty and everywhere present power of God; whereby, as it were by his hand, he upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures; so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all things come, not by chance, but be his fatherly hand.

There is nothing in our lives that comes to us by chance—it is all from His fatherly hand. We can place all of our care into His sovereign, loving, gracious and fatherly hands. Amazing!

Spurgeon brings us through today's Morning and Evening to want more than anything to find ourselves in the all powerful hands of God. I hope this encourages all of us on this day. There used to be the slogan for AllState Insurance,

You're in good hands with AllState.

We as Christians are found in the most powerful, loving, and faithful hands imaginable...now that is the kind of insurance...rather assurance...that each of us needs today.

God Bless,

Pastor Kevin

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

Good Morning!

This morning Charles has brought us to ponder one of the great contrasts found in scripture, the contrast of darkness and light. Throughout scripture we see this contrast used as a metaphor for good and evil, for righteousness and sin. This is displayed not only through physical light we see with our eyes but also, and more importantly, by the spiritual light we receive from the Holy Spirit.

As roaches and rats scurry at the flick of a light switch so too am I able to see clearly the filth of my own sin and pride under the penetrating light of His word, or as Spurgeon says "...we behold sin in its true colours...". This revealing is a practice my own soul needs daily.

All the while knowing that if it were not for the Holy Spirit illuminating God's words to my eyes I would look upon them as gibberish unable to decipher His truths, unable to be led. What a gift He gives us in the knowledge of His truths.

May His words ever be a lamp unto our feet and a light onto our path (Ps 119:105) and may we not forget that we were once lost in darkness but have now been brought out of that darkness and into His wonderful light and are now called to walk in that light. (1Pet 2:9; Eph 5:8-14)


Good Evening!

In keeping with a "light" theme C. H. Spurgeon closes our day with some meditations about the light that God has put into believers.

Like a seal of ownership God "...sees "light" in your heart, for He has put it there, and all the cloudiness and gloom of your soul cannot conceal your light from His gracious eye."

This makes me have great thoughts about how Christ is the author and the finisher of my faith. (Heb 12:2) And though I may have times of despair and times of feeling far from God or a dryness in my spirit, He preserves the light that He had originally placed within me. Oh what great comfort that comes from knowing and trusting in an almighty God who is sovereignly in control of my salvation.

In closing I love the thought that Spurgeon ends with that "the light within is the dawn of the eternal day." This really causes me to think eternally. Knowing that there will be a day when we will see His glory and there will be no need for a sun or a moon to shine for the glory of God will illuminate the city, and the lamb will be our light. (Rev 21:23)

May the Lord bless your evening and give you rest. God bless!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Reverence, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Mysterium tremendum! "Having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" - Romans 5:1-2. May God grant us the grace to grasp the grace He has for us this year.

Simon Peter stumbled in his walk of faith but he never stopped walking. He came to know the faithfulness of God like none of the other disciples. Following the resurrection, Christ appeared to Peter and asked him, "Peter, do you love me?" Peter certainly knew the Lord loved him, He witnessed His death, burial, resurrection and restoration but did Peter love the Lord? As I read through these devotionals I can't help thinking He is asking us the same question. Do you love me? Do you want to grow in the knowledge of Me as your Lord and Savior?

The two devotionals represent the two parties to this glorious relationship. In the evening portion Spurgeon points out that Christ, our Royal Brother knows us far better than we know Him. He never mistook His chosen but always beheld them as objects of His infinite affection. We like Joseph's brothers, until the Holy Spirit removed the veil from our eyes, withheld our hearts from Him and allowed Him no entrance to our love. Read 2 Peter 1:3-11, reflect on the eight qualities listed, ask the Lord to make them increasingly real in our lives. The final quality in the list is love.

God's love provided this wonderful grace that gives us what we don't deserve; gives us what Christ deserves and let's us go free. Paul said "I have been crucified with Christ! It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life that I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me!" Personalize that, "the Son of God loves me, the Son of God died for me!"

We love Him because He first loved us. May the Holy Spirit fan that flame of love so we eagerly accept the challenge to grow in the grace and knowledge of our wonderful Savior, surrender to His will, and find our peace with God. Spurgeon says,

"He who grows not in the knowledge of Jesus, refuses to be blessed. An increase of love to Jesus and a more perfect apprehension of His love to us is one of the best tests of growth in grace."

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning:

I will give thee for a covenant of the people. - Isaiah 49:8

Spurgeon asks us to contemplate the gift of Christ, Who is 'sum and substance of the covenant.' Could I summarize Spurgeon, who himself summarizes major points of the revelation of God about our Messiah? Extolling the manifest virtue of the Christ is a worthy task - but one that will take an eternity to even begin!

John 21:25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Could I encourage our body to read Jesus' prayer in John 17, especially verses 21-23? It shows the heart of Jesus, toward the Father, and toward us.

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.

Evening:

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. - Luke 3:4

Spurgeon writes a thoughtful devotional for us here, finding spiritual application: our hearts must be prepared for the Lord as well, by the grace of God.

Luke records the exhortation of John the Baptist, as he was preaching the baptism of repentance in the country about the Jordan river. John uses the words of Isaiah the prophet from Isaiah 40:3-4. The Hebrew is worthy of careful study.

It is important to note that Spurgeon is writing to believers in Christ. He writes

The rough places shall be made smooth. Stumbling-blocks of sin must be removed.

The work of 'smoothing the rough places' is the refining work of Christ in a life (ours!) devoted to Him. Let no person read these words and say "I'm not good enough to come to Christ - I must rid my life of sin first, and then I will come to Him". For

Psalm 34:18. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

I could wish that Spurgeon had extended his commentary to include the next verse from Luke 3:6 (which is also in Isaiah 40:5):


One of the most joyful verses in the Bible!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

The Word and Prayer

The Morning and Evening devotion for today exhorts us to read the Word and pray. Not for a ritualistic endeavor or a means of salvation, but for our daily sustenance. The Gospels tell of our Lord's continual practice of prayer (Luk 5:16; Luk 6:12-16; Luk 9:18-27; Mat 14:23-33; Mat 19:13-15; Mrk 14:32-41).

Many commentators have likened the reading of the Word to the manna in the wilderness. The Jews had to accumulate their manna for the day and only for that day (except for the day prior to Sabbath on which they could acquire two days worth). The model being that we must go to the Word to feed our soul for this day. You cannot accumulate a week's worth in one day.

My observation is that many people in the Church think of prayer as primarily a means to make requests of God. And Jesus does allow for that in His model prayer for the disciples. But I believe prayer is a two way communication. It is also a method for God to speak to our hearts through the Holy Spirit, to lead us, to guide us and to comfort us among other things. I think this is most often done in conjunction with His Word. Spurgeon has combined these two aspects of Christian living in today's reading, and exhorts us to their practice.

Many people ask, "What is the will of God for me?" Often they are asking it in relation to some specific decision, hope or expectation in their life. A friend of mine would almost always answer this question with the following:

This is the will of God for you:

• Read (the Word of the LORD)
• Pray (to the LORD)
• Commune (with the saints of the LORD)

And really that is a basic answer that really seems to cover it all. I think that is what Spurgeon is trying to say here as well.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon