Reverence and Awe

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


I rejoice this morning in Christ, my Mediator! I'm thankful that Spurgeon has caused me to reflect on the glory of my redemption and at the wonder of imputed righteousness. I'm reminded that Christ does not plead my good works before the Father... but rather points to "His side, His hands, His feet, and challenges Justice to bring anything against the sinners whom He represents".

I'm reminded this morning of the great love of Christ... I'm humbled as I read this verse...

(Eph 3:17-21) so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

I want these truths to pierce my heart each day. I want to be blown away at all that Christ accomplished to redeem His people. I want to bow before Him in humility because He has loved me and allowed me to "know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge"!! Let us be humbled today as we meditate on the glory of Christ, our Mediator and our Savior.

As Spurgeon encourages us to do when our faith is weak... let us run to the cross of Christ and cling! By doing so, may He teach us to rely on His faithfulness and strength and finished work.

Let us clasp that cross, let us look into those languid eyes, let us bathe in that fountain filled with blood--this will bring back to us our first love; this will restore the simplicity of our faith, and the tenderness of our heart.

Today's sermon on Biblical Masculinity and Femininity referenced a number of reference materials on the subject. I thought it might be a good idea to post those sources for you. Please take the time to review them and continue your study in the subject. Note that the links will open in a separate browser window.

Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

The Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

For Guys Only: The Marks of Manhood

True Woman Manifesto

» 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

Morning:

"Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled." — Matthew 26:56.

When we read this our thoughts may be something along the lines of, “I would never have forsaken Him.” An honest assessment of our everyday lives, be it in the workplace or socially, should quickly bring this attitude into a realistic perspective. How often do we forsake Him? The answer is…frequently. Spurgeon rightly points out the frailty of believers and goes on to describe us as sheep, at best, which flee when the wolf comes.

He reminds us that, “They had all been warned of the danger, and had promised to die rather than leave their Master; and yet they were seized with sudden panic, and took to their heels.”

One can assume that they did this as an act of self preservation yet, in their state of confusion, the sheep left their shepherd and, in the process of abandoning their Lord, gave up their cover. In the heat of the moment they lost their tactical edge. They panicked, and in the process, they appeared as cowards and fools. How can one reduce being caught off guard when making decisions under stress? The answer: preparation.

Spurgeon goes on to remind us that these apostles, though once timid as hares, grew to be bold as lions. They did so after the Spirit descended upon them.

Ephesians 6:13 exhorts us. “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

God’s word is the armor that gives us the preparation necessary to stand for Christ and stand against the enemy. Spurgeon himself acknowledges his own recreant spirit and that it is the Holy Spirit that can make him brave to confess his Lord and witness for His truth.

Let us not start off our day without properly preparing ourselves for the potential situations that lie before us. When the situation presents itself, it is too late…either you are prepared or you are not. Prayer and God’s word are the preparation that allows the Holy Spirit to work in us and help us make the decisions and choices in life that glorify Him.

Evening:

Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. — Mark 8:38

As I read this devotion I am challenged by Spurgeon to search my heart in reference to my relationship with Christ. Have I taken up His cross? Have I been a partaker with Jesus in His shame? He reminds us that, if so, we will be with Him “when the cross is exchanged for the crown.” I dare not dwell on all the reasons that exist that justify my being removed from His presence for eternity. Through His sovereign will I was drawn to Him and was made perfect in His eyes, only through Christ’s payment for my sins.

Where one may think that dwelling on Spurgeon’s question may bring on a sense of uneasiness, quite the contrary is true. Spurgeon makes a statement that brings home where we ought to be, “Come my soul, if thou art indeed His beloved, thou cannot be far from Him. If we are His beloved then we will tend to our relationship with Him. It is then we can take comfort in the knowledge that we will not be far from Him and that we are with Him in his shame and will in fact have taken up His Cross.

Christ has secured our immunity! He has made it so that we can be free in Christ...truly setting the captives free. As we realize our previous condition of eternal bondage, we are brought to a place of worship in that we have been set free! We are set free to have peace with God, justice demands no more requirements of us, we are free in that the guilt of our sin can no longer be brought before us. In this we give thanks!

When I think of the most notorious criminal, and the sentence he deserves, it is sobering to think that I am just as vile in the sight of God prior to my sin and guilt placed upon Christ on the cross. I now have a freedom that releases me from all my bondage. May we rejoice in our freedom today!

As I identify myself in His death, I must also identify myself in His glorious resurrection. I am His Bride, brought near to Him and will be with Him for all eternity. How can we attempt to be distant to a Bridegroom who has secured our eternal rest and fellowship with Him. I pray that today, we would all find ourselves in close communion with our Lord who has secured our freedom and guaranteed our eternal glory. Our Lord has given us this glorious position today, may we find ourselves in joy in His presence today as His redeemed Bride!

(To hear this Mornings Devotion Click Here)
Good Morning -

This morning we are reminded of an event that takes place towards the end of Christ's life when Judas betrayed Him by bringing the soldiers of the high priest to where Christ was and kissing Christ on the cheek showing the guards which one of them was in fact Christ himself. Spurgeon makes this a metaphor as to how our present day world can sometimes lead us astray by speaking to our ears when in fact their intention is to lead us astray.

I think of the mormon coming to the door to tell me that they too are Christians just like me and that they too believe in Jesus. When in fact their belief is radically different.

What I would like to point out is that Jesus though He was betrayed he was not surprised by this betrayal. Not only did he call out Judas at the passover supper but he knew when they were arriving before they announced themselves in the garden of Gethsemane

Matthew 26:45-47 45)Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46)Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.” 47)And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.(NKJV)

The opponents of Christ were never a surprise to him because he was truth. Likewise if we are abiding in the truth and his truth abides in us we too will recognize whenever we come against a false prophet or someone attempting to lead us astray. But if we are not abiding in Him through his word, and his word is not abiding in us, we will be tossed about by every wind of doctrine and false teaching that may come our way.

May we praise out lord this morning for giving us his word that through it we have his wisdom, and his wisdom looks with spiritual eyes that see beyond the physical things of this world.

I will leave you with a question - What does it mean to you to Abide in him as found in John 15:4?

(To hear this evenings devotion Click Here)
Good Evening -

We rejoice this evening with Spurgeon as he bring to our minds the great mystery of our Lord and Savior coming in the form of a man, a human being. This is a great gift to you and to me because if Jesus came to the earth yet were not in the form of a man we would not relate or identify with him in the same way. If Jesus was an unnatural supreme being that was something other than a human being we would not expect him to relate with our pains and sufferings as we experience them here in this life. But he did come in the form of a man and this was necessary in order that we might identify with him and in order that his sacrifice might cover our sins.

Philippians 2:5-8 5)Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6)who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7)but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8)And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.(NKJV)

May we rejoice this night with thanksgiving for the gift of God's son coming as a man. And who humbled himself being identified as "The Son of Man" that we might have access to the father.

I'll leave with another question. If you were there and saw Christ walking through the streets, would you recognize him as a king? Was he a king?

-jeff paisano

» 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

Today's devotions are so timely for me. My eyes become fixed on "me" so often... sometimes I don't even notice it. I love what Spurgeon says here:

Faith links me with divinity. Faith clothes me with the power of God. Faith engages on my side the omnipotence of Jehovah. Faith ensures every attribute of God in my defence. It helps me to defy the hosts of hell. It makes me march triumphant over the necks of my enemies. But without faith how can I receive anything of the Lord?

Without faith, not only can I not receive anything of the Lord... but I can't please Him. Soooo.... is it about having great faith? I'm so glad that this particular evening devotion followed this particular morning devotion. It exhorts us to not simply seek to have a faith that is great but a faith that is sourced in our great God, Jesus Christ. And I believe there is a difference!

Our head is satisfied with the precious truth which Christ reveals; our heart is content with Jesus, as the altogether lovely object of affection; our hope is satisfied, for whom have we in heaven but Jesus? and our desire is satiated, for what can we wish for more than "to know Christ and to be found in Him"?

May we be satisfied in our Savior, the Lord Christ Jesus! May we fix our eyes and hearts on His splendor and majesty! May we rest in the author and finisher of our faith!

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,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 12:1-2)

Hallelujah!!

» 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

Go here for this mornings devo (click here)

Good Morning!

What a thought. Where is your heart this morning towards reaching out to those in need? When you pass by a person in need do you continue as if to not make eye contact? Do you wear your sunglasses so that you may examine their state while not addressing them with your head? Would you rather not deal with the smell, or with the foul breath, or with the whole situation? It is easy to continue as if God had not brought this into your sight. But He did.
We so quickly forget that our condition before our righteous God was one that stink'ith of death and that we had an eternal need for help, when Christ came to our need. May we not get so comfortable in our luxury vehicles with toll road transponders that we cannot reach out with the same warm hearts as the one that reached out to ours. Physically, we may never be able to relate, and pray we don't. But spiritually, we were born homeless.

I will leave a question - What are some ways we may respond or you may have responded to a person in need on a street corner, at a gas station, or in your community? Is money the only currency?


Good Evening! (click here for this evenings devotion)

Few moments are greater in my life than when my soul is at peace.
I'm reminded this evening what an amazing gift from God peace is. What would my life be like if it were not hedged about with God's peace in the world. It is the very peace of God that allows me to have fellowship with my wife and coworkers, friends and family. Without God's peace in the world all would seek their own and there would be no moral reasoning for being kind or gentle to one another.
We enjoy the peace of God each morning we wake up and there is not war at our window. And spiritually there was a greater war between our soul and God that was silenced by the Prince of Peace - Jesus Christ who has reconciled us to God. No longer are our souls at enmity with God because of unrighteousness. Now there is peace, and Christ has called us to now become peacemakers. So, rejoice with me this evening Christian, in the peace that surpasses all understanding.

But still I leave you with a question: How? How are we to be peacemakers? Is it in our speech, our words, our outlook on life, our facial expressions?

May you sleep in heavenly peace this night.

-jeff paisano

We are comforted by knowing that God is fully present with us at all times. Not only is He present with us, but we have His loving, Fatherly attention. When we feel as if we are strangers in this land, we are comforted with the assurance that we are not alone. The Holy Spirit is with us to encourage us, comfort us, and guide us in all circumstances. While traveling to Southern Sudan over the last few weeks, and being away from my wife and little boy, I constantly placed my hope in God's sovereign presence. While aboard a tiny bush plane heading towards a land of uncertainty, I was thankful to know that God was with me and in control of my every situation.

I am also thankful that my ever present Lord can keep me from sin. I know that I am prone to wander and prone to leave the God I love. I am thankful that He can bind my wandering heart to Himself. I pray that He would keep me from sin. That He would give me the strength to overcome temptation. If we attempt to fight sin without using the gift of prayer and the spiritual armor He provides...defeat is certain. Depend on God today to keep you from sin! God Bless, Pastor Kevin

» 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

I thought I would post something a little different for this morning! Last night for the college group we simply read through the epistle of Paul to the Phillipians. It was such a blessing just to read through God's word and let the spirit just have His way through the word of God. Not that it was not planned or deliberate, but that there is power in reading the word of God as a body. I am posting this because it is so important to have the simple and powerful word of God be the focus of all of our study. So often we get too caught up in great writers and systems of theology, of which I love systematic theology, and forget to just read the word of God.

Tonight was better than planned! As we read through the epistle we caught a glimpse of the heart of God for His church and Got a great vision for God's all sufficient power. Paul says to love is Christ and to die is gain! For this to be true in our hearts we must believe that God is able to provide all that we need and be everything for us that we could ever want or hope for. I pray that our church would be like Paul in this and see Christ as sufficient for all things, and all situations. The reason that Paul could be poor and naked and hungry and dying for the sake of the Gospel was that He knew Christ would supply him all things in all situations.

All this to say, read the word of God often and be consumed by it. Let it be all you need in a world of pain and disappointment. Let the word of God be your vision of who God is so that we can suffer the loss of all things for the sake of the Gospel and have the righteousness of God be everything to us.

» 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

Praise God for His gracious work in the establishment of the first RBC church plant. The new church is located in Colorado Springs. In the church's first service yesterday, Pastor Derick Hull taught a message entitled Behold Your God (right-click link to download) from Isaiah 40. We give God all the glory for this budding ministry, and look forward to the work He will do in this community, as Jesus Christ is proclaimed.

» 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