Reverence and Awe

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

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

For this I am thankful!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

MORNING
Grumble, grumble, grumble! "Woe is me for I am undone, for I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell amongst a people with unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts", Isaiah 6:5. Perspective is everything! When I selfishly focus on my reality and the stuff of my days I grumble. When I take my eyes off myself and focus on the King and what He has done, I feel like Isaiah.

I am so thankful that my Father loves me enough to chasten me and bring me back to the right perspective. I don't like it but knowing that His corrections are sent in love, to purify me, and draw me near to Himself I accept it. I remember when I disciplined my children when they were young, the incredibly tender moments afterward when I affirmed my love. If I chasten my children because I love them, why am I surprised when God chastens me? The chastenings of life assure me that I am His son. What a joy!

EVENING
I like the way Spurgeon approaches this devotion. "The Lord always thought about His people; hence their election and covenant of grace by which their salvation is assured. He will always think of them; hence their final perseverance by which they will be brought to their final rest." What assurances to my soul! He will never leave me nor forsake me. His watchful eye is always on me! He is the author and finisher of my faith, the alfa and omgega, the beginning and the end! He writes all my struggles in His book. Wow! What can you say? Hallelujah! Makes this morning's devotion even clearer. His ways are not my ways and His ways past finding out but knowing His thoughts are for blessing, I'll trust even when I don't understand

"Thou art my hope in the day of evil." — Jeremiah 17:17

This reminds me of the promise that God gives us as his children that He will finish the work that He has started and will refine us for His own names sake! Trials and tribulation are apart of our Christian walk. Sometimes it is due to our own sin and sometimes it is due to the sin of others, either way it is ordained by God that we face certain troubles and trials. I am so comforted that God is our hope always no matter what state we find ourselves in. I praise Him that he does not leave us in peril forever but in those times that we are in it He is our great source of hope and comfort. In Micah chapter seven Micah says "Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The LORD [will be] a light to me, and goes on to say that God will plead our case and execute justice for us. We are to run from evil and darkness into His marvelous light. God please help us to see you and look to you as hope in the days of evil and trial. As we look to him we will find ourselves at peace in all situations.

The Lord taketh pleasure in His people." — Psalm 149:4

How amazing it is! So much so that we will never bear his judgement and punishment in Hell but remain in His presence for all eternity. Consider this; Redemption, justification, forgiveness, eternal life, righteousness, adoption, sanctification, to name just a few of the blessings which His love has brought us and as John says in 1John 3:1 it is His love that made us his children. In all things we should trust in this love and let it cover all that we do and think and pray about. Worship Him with all of our lives and Lord please help us to know the love that you have for us!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning

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

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

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

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

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

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


Evening

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

Good Morning and Evening

(click here to hear this mornings devotional)

(click here to hear this evenings devotional)

Praise the Lord for being a refuge, a fortress, and our mighty King who has overcome sin and death for us. I rejoice this morning and today for the extent at which he has dealt with my sinful state and sealed, and secured myself in him.

I have as many of us have had time of realizing my wondering from him and upon return to his feet am brought low in heart and humbled by his majesty and cry out to him with a prayer that begs he forgive me once again and wash me clean again from my sin and restore me to himself. In that moment I am overcome with a renewed thanksgiving that these things I am requesting at his feet he has already accomplished upon my behalf.

In answer to my plea for a cleansing it is as if His answer to me would be "I already have." At which point my heart sinks deeper in love with him for his compassion and renewed understanding of the depths and riches fond only in His love for me a sinner.

Few are sweeter than the times of renewal with our Almighty King. I think of times when my wife and I have quarrelled and had a time of enmity between us causing us to fall out of fellowship with one another and well just down right fight about things. There are few times sweeter in our relationship than those times when we come back together humbled by our stupidity and restore our relationship and love toward each other. These times bring such a closeness and sober heartfelt love for one another that I come close to saying we should fight just so we can make up.

Much is the same as when I am restored to my King. Rich is his grace and mercy toward me and ever flowing his love as he fills my heart with joy inexpressible making his grace irresistible to me. And in that moment of renewal I am met with the sweet reality that he held me in his hand the whole time.

May we rejoice this day having been giving the knowledge of our mighty Kings hand, from which none may be snatched.

-jeff and angela paisano

We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us! Our victory is in Him. He has already conquered sin and death for believers positionally, and He continues to enable us to conquer sin in this life practically. We are to find the source and ability to fight sin in the enabling of or Savior.

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 NKJV) "Rejoice always, (17) pray without ceasing, (18) in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (19) Do not quench the Spirit. (20) Do not despise prophecies. (21) Test all things; hold fast what is good. (22) Abstain from every form of evil. (23) Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (24) He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it."

We must rely upon our Savior to sanctify us completely. He is faithful. We can show our dependence as we come to Him in prayer, in the reading of His Word, and through fellowship with the Body of Christ, our church family. He will conquer our sin and we will give Him all the glory.

Evening
(Revelation 5:6 NKJV) "And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth."

We look forward to seeing our Savior in heaven. He is worthy of all glory and honor because He was the lamb that was slain. He is in heaven as "a lamb as though it had been slain." We will forever look upon the Lord in all His glory, and at the same time see Him as the Lamb of God who takes away our sins. We will worship the risen Lamb for all eternity. May we picture our Savior slain for us today and worship Him for laying down His life on behalf of His people.

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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


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


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


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


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


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


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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible
The devotions for today in my mind are part of our present reality. I know that my Redeemer lives and He sits at the right hand of God. God so completely addressed His Sovereignty, His Holiness, His Justice, His Will, His control of History that our only response is reverence and awe.

Job was a righteous man and in his own eyes he couldn't understand why he had so many afflictions until he came to understand the Sovereignty of God. When he did he said: I heard of you, I thought I understood but now I know! There's a big gap between our intellectual assent to God's Word and declared Glory and knowing it at an experiential level. Think about it, God in us, the hope of Glory! The Holy Spirit resident in sinful flesh to redeem us! I don't know about you but I find that overwhelming at times.

Further as the evening devotion reminds us, Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us! Every time we sin, He says Father forgive them they don't know what they are doing! He only asks us to confess that sin and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us! He is the Prophet, Priest and King of our souls. As Spurgeon declares: "If sin, death and Hell are all defeated by Him and you are represented in Him, there exists no possibility of your being destroyed. That makes me want to say Halleleujah, Praise the Lord!

Sorry for forgetting to blog today so I ask for your grace!

I want to leave you all with this;

8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;
When I fall, I will arise;
When I sit in darkness,
The LORD will be a light to me.
9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD,
Because I have sinned against Him,
Until He pleads my case
And executes justice for me.
He will bring me forth to the light;
I will see His righteousness.
10 Then she who is my enemy will see,
And shame will cover her who said to me,

“ Where is the LORD your God?”
My eyes will see her;
Now she will be trampled down
Like mud in the streets.
11 In the day when your walls are to be built,
In that day the decree shall go far and wide.[a]
12 In that day they[b] shall come to you
From Assyria and the fortified cities,[c]
From the fortress[d] to the River,[e]
From sea to sea,
And mountain to mountain.
13 Yet the land shall be desolate
Because of those who dwell in it,
And for the fruit of their deeds.

I rejoice every moment of my life that these words are true for us as his children. Consider what love He has had on us that we should be his children! God will be and is our vindication! A guilt free life is a God honoring life!

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Reader, have you come to the blood of sprinkling? The question is not whether you have come to a knowledge of doctrine, or an observance of ceremonies, or to a certain form of experience, but have you come to the blood of Jesus?

If our answer is yes... then words cannot express the joy that fills us! I don't know about you, but I know that I cannot be reminded enough to fix my eyes on Christ. To stop whatever I'm doing and remember the Cross and worship my Savior.

Today's devotion reminded me of a song we sing:

I COME BY THE BLOOD

You are the perfect and righteous God
Whose presence bears no sin
You bid me come to Your holy place
How can I enter in, when Your presence bears no sin
Through Him who poured out His life for me
The atoning Lamb of God
Through Him and His work alone
I boldly come

Chorus
I come by the blood, I come by the cross
Where Your mercy flows from hands pierced for me
For I dare not stand on my righteousness
My ev'ry hope rests on what Christ has done
And I come by the blood

You are the high and exalted King
The One the angels fear
So far above me in every way
Lord how can I draw near, to the One the angels fear
Through Him who laid down His life for me
And ascended to Your side
Through Him, through Jesus alone
I boldly come

My simple encouragement today is to take time to worship the Savior! We come to Him, because of Him. We boldly come to His throne in worship and prayer because of His blood shed for us. That is praiseworthy!!

GOOD MORNING!
(click to hear this morning's Devo)

In every remembrance of Calvary, in every event that took place during the trails and crucifixion of Christ as told in the scriptures there is a common inescapable fact. That Christ's blood was shed.

When you think back to the long drawn out process of the trials and scourging of Christ, His staggering footsteps up to Calvary, then hanging there for hours on the cross there must have been the stains of Christ's blood at each location and probably seen as a nuisance at the time. My heart breaks as I think about the annoyed servant who swings the mop in the court possibly never to know that these stains that burden him are the very drops that would set him free from sin and death. The very drops that are so needed by every person that has life.

In looking at the cross I am faced with a most bittersweet truth, that His blood spilt means for me FREEDOM and LIFE.
May we in every communion with Him remember Christ, His body laid down and His blood poured out upon us, washing us clean from the stains of sin, making us white as snow in the sight of God.

Let us love and sing and wonder, let us praise the Savior's name, he has hushed the law's loud thunder, he has quenched mount Sinai's flame - He has washed us with His blood, He has brought us nigh to God.

Let us wonder grace and justice, join and point to mercy's store, when through grace in Christ our trust is, justice smiles and asks no more - He has washed us with His blood, He secured our way to God. (Hymn - John Newton - Let us Love and Sing and Wonder.)

GOOD EVENING!
(click to hear this evening's Devo)

On prayer - Let us remember that the veil has been torn in two. This was the veil that hung in the temple and separated us from the presence of God. That veil has been removed and we are no longer separated from the presence of God. Let this be an encouragement to all of us that we have access to our God and Father, we have been brought near to him and we may truly sit at his feet in his presence in prayer and worship. What grounds for rejoicing!

One of my favorite pictures of prayer comes from Pastor John Piper as he describes prayer as a wartime walkie talkie in His book Let The Nations Be Glad:

Life is war…. Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den. God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world. Prayer gives us the significance of frontline forces and gives God the glory of a limitless Provider. The one who gives the power gets the glory. Thus prayer safeguards the supremacy of God in missions while linking us with endless grace for every deed. (p. 41)

May we rejoice this evening that our Heavenly Father has communicated himself to us through His word and he hears our prayers!

-jeff paisano

That moment upon the cross, when we hear Christ's words, "My God, my God, why has thou forsaken Me?", we are brought to a place of seeing the magnitude of our sins placed upon Christ on the cross. The wrath of God placed on Christ insures that the child of God, through faith in Christ, will never have to experience the condemnation that we deserved. As we picture Christ on the cross, and hear His words as He was crucified, I pray that we would be brought to a place of thanksgiving and worship. Christ, the sinless one, became sin for us! May this bring us to worship this morning.

For our evening devotion, our text states, "Lift them up forever" (Psalm 28:9). Our Lord lifts us up from every circumstance. He is there to carry us as we depend on Him in every trial. Not only did Christ take the wrath we deserved upon Himself, he also carries our every concern and hardship for us in this life. Call out to the Lord on this day to lift you up. We are encouraged that He lifts us up forever. For as long as we live He delights in doing good to us! Depend on Christ today to lift you up!

MORNING
We just concluded a glorious Easter weekend celebrating the risen Lord. We followed Him through His agony, passion, and ultimate triumph over the grave. Spurgeon in this devotion takes us back to the incomparable sufferings of Christ. No one deserved suffering less than the Holy Son of God! He was without sin but He suffered for the sins of the whole world, past, present and future. The garden, the mock trials, the scourging, the crucifixion, the insults!

Why? "Christ suffered once for sin, the righteous for the unrighteous that He might bring us to God", 1 Peter 3:18. Like we sang this weekend, Love so amazing, love so amazing! God was glorified in the death of His Son and is glorified as we reflect on the suffering of Christ and by faith accept the most amazing, incredible, loving, gracious gift of all time.

EVENING
Always, at all times, "It is well with my soul!" As Spurgeon puts it: "If God declares that all is well, ten thousand devils may declare that it to be ill, but we may laugh them all to scorn." That is such a profound thought! In my day to day I don't always appreciate that fact. It is comforting to realize that I am in a relationship with a Soverign, covenant God who will never leave me or forsake me. I take great comfort in knowing that in spite of my lapses in faith, He is faithful! His Word assures me and His Spirit bears witness with my soul that I am His.

Father God break our addiction to the things of this world! Open our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to receive what you have for us for your Word tells us that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into our hearts what you have in store for those who love You. Give us an undivided heart to Love You and fulfill your purpose in our lives for your Glory for Jesus sake! Amen!

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

EVENING:

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning:

"My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels."—Psalm 22:14

Spurgeon begins his devotion in Proverbs 18:14 where Solomon writes, "The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity," however, the verse concludes with a painful reminder, "but a wounded spirit who can bear?"

Spurgeon is making the point that a wounded spirit in a man is amongst the worst of conditions with which one can be afflicted and he refers to it as a deep depression.Only those who have experienced this place can understand the depth of pain that can be attained when the human Spirit is broken. It is a place that leaves us helpless and with no alternative but to look to Jesus for relief from the agony; this is where the healing process begins.

Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you.—1 Peter 5:7

This is our reminder of what our first order of business should be when we find ourselves in the depths of despair.

How appropriate this topic is as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, who only hours before His death, experienced both physical and emotional pain the likes of which we could not begin to fathom. Jesus understands what it is to suffer as a mortal human being.When one finds themselves in a place that seems to be beyond their ability to cope with "casting your cares upon Him" is an absolute that may make the difference between life and death.Unlike the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane who abandoned Jesus in His time of agony, Jesus will remain faithful to His promises.

In Hebrews 13:5-6 Jesus said,

I will never leave you, nor forsake you. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

As we celebrate the Risen Christ this morning let us not forget that Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor and our Great Physician. He has experienced hellish malice and mental suffering beyond any preacher’s ability to set forth to you¹ and He understands and can heal our pain.

Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.—Phillippians 4:6-7

Don’t try through your own strength to heal your wounded spirit, look to Jesus.


Evening:

"The king's garden."—Nehemiah 3:15

What an interesting perspective Spurgeon gives relating the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane. In the Garden of Eden Satan begins his assault on mankind that is still underway today. Satan told Adam the lie that he too can be like God. Adam believed this lie and as a result, mankind fell and as Spurgeon notes, "dragons and demons have dwelled on this earth ever since."

In the Garden of Gethsemane, much to Satan’s chagrin, God undid the mischief of Satan. We need only look to the cross and understand that it is the blood, which Spurgeon so eloquently states, "watered the garden" that allows us to live a life based on truth.

1 Peter 5:8 reminds us that Satan is a roaring lion, seeking whom he can destroy. He accomplishes much of this destruction through the lies that he tells. He hunts God's people, trying to pick off the weak, the ailing, and those who have grown weary and dropped back.

For those of us who look to the cross, we have God’s Word as a gauge to measure truth and lies. We have the Holy Spirit which exhorts us and disciplines us when we choose to believe Satan’s lie. Spurgeon goes so far as to liken the church to the "King’s Garden;" a place where rich greens and life-giving protein keep us healthy and alert and make us strong to stand against the lies and attacks of Satan. It is at church that we grow in God’s Word and get the all important fellowship and support that strengthens us and keeps us accountable.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.—Hebrews 10:25

Praise Him for what He did for us in the Garden of Gethsemane that ultimately led to Him suffering, dying and being buried, all in our stead. And on the third day, He rose again thereby completing His promise of salvation, in spite of Satan’s accomplishment in the Garden of Eden.

---

1. Rev. C. H. Surgeon, February 8^th, 1863, “Gethsemane”

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

"The place which is called Calvary." — Luke 23:33

The place of the cross is the place of extreme passionate life giving joy that moves us to the core of our being! I think of the cross and I think of passion. I wish it was passion for the forgiveness that it brings to us but I am talking about the passions that draw us away from what was accomplished on that hill. On the hill of calvary we have the most joyous and amazing event that ever took place, one that elicits all of our devotion and passion. Lately, I have been thinking much about what I am passionate about. My wife, my business, my family, my friends, my hobbies, all of which are good things but only to the extent that they are inline which the cause and call of the gospel. If the hill of Calvary is not first and foremost in my heart all of these other areas will suffer and be fruitless. I pray to God that the excitement and joy of calvary will be real and present every moment that my heart beats. Take an account of your life and see where calvary is placed in your own agenda. Make it first and foremost in all you do and pray for the grace to do so!

"For there stood by me this night the angel of God." — Acts 27:23

It is not a secret that most of us are not in the best financial situation that we have ever been in. I have talked to so many of my friends and colleagues that are really struggling in this economy and I am sure that this is true in our church as well. How comforting to know that God is with us. God is with us!!!!! Think about that, contemplate that and know that this is true. When Paul had his most trying days we see that He also had great joy and comfort in knowing that God was with Him. It is not a sin to be in a bad situation but it is a sin to not trust in God and forget that He will always provide for us, He is Jehovahjireah and He will provide for our every need and situation.

Before I begin, I am overwelmed with joy as today my parents will be celebrating 35 years of marriage. In a worldly view where marriage doesn't mean much anymore, but as Christians, I am delighted that God has blessed them and has shown them the significance of the covenent that they made so long ago. They would be the first to tell you that it was only God that made this happen. I look at them as such great examples, as tomorrow will be my anniversary with Cindy celebrating our 5th year of marriage; and it is God who I put my trust in to guide me through.

"Thy gentleness hath made me great." Psalm 18:35

As a sinner, I am so blessed by this verse. Spurgeon looks at Thy gentleness as a few different points of view, thy goodness, thy providence, thy help, thy humility, they condescension, and thy discipline.

We see that in all these it is God making Himself little which is the cause of our being made great. I am so glad that God is gentle and corrects me with love and discipline. Spurgeon writes, "My sins were the scourges which lacerated those blessed shoulders, and crowned with thorn those bleeding brows: my sins cried Crucify Him, Crucify Him and laid the cross upon His gracious shoulders." After reading this, God should have and could have used no condescension or humility and crushed all of our wretched souls. I praise Him, as should you, that it is finished. God sent Jesus to pay for these sins.

He makes Himself little that we can be made BIG. He gives us the ability and the cause to do great things. He is the cause of our significance. Do not boast in what you have done, but what He has done. As we meditate on Him today, remember who and what put Him on the cross and the wrath that should have been place on us was put on Jesus. Yet also remember that it was God's perfect plan and His gentleness that saved us from that wrath. Praise Him!

Labels: Morning and Evening, Reverence, Spurgeon

There is a great contrast between this Morning's devotion and this Evening's devotion. There is a great contrast between the regenerated believer and the sinner who is dead in their sins. The future for the child of God is filled with joy, peace, everlasting life, and unconditional love. For the unbeliever, there weeping and gnashing of teeth, death and separation, and the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. The separation of Christ from His Father on the cross, and anguish as Christ became sin for us, is the reality of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. To the unbeliever, God will not hold back in His judgement. There will never be a moment of joy for the one separated from God's glory. Conversely, there will never be one moment of despair or sadness once we enter into the joy of the Lord. Join with me in praising God for the abounding grace that is poured on our depraved souls. We know what God declares regarding the depths of our sin...and we know that God has graced His people with all righteousness. My prayer is that we would find ourselves brought to a place of worship as we meditate on the judgement we deserved and the grace we have received. May we never stop thinking of the depths of our own sin and the endless extent of God's grace on His people who have been made alive through the glorious gospel. Have a wonderful day meditating upon your position in Christ, Pastor Kevin

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Spurgeon pens a short list of "honors" that Israel awarded to Christ leading up to His death. It's moving to read them and to think of the shame and humiliation that our Savior endured leading up to and including the cross. I agree with Spurgeon when he says that "the cross was, in fact, the full expression of the world's feeling towards Him". But you know... apart from the Holy Spirit radically changing our hearts, we would have been numbered among the scoffers. We would have been numbered among those yelling "crucify Him, crucify Him!" I read this morning's devotion and I shake my head... in wonder, amazement, humility. Christ suffered the cross... His death brought me life. Sometimes it's too much to wrap my head around... but it never ceases to make my heart thankful.

I love Psalm 51 and because I sin, I find myself going back to this psalm often in my life. Psalm 51 gives us a perfect model on how we might repent and seek forgiveness from our Lord. I think Spurgeon sums up this Psalm well in one page. We must be honest about our sin, direct our plea for forgiveness to God (because He alone can forgive) and then worship with joy on the basis of His righteousness.

We must sing of the finished work of a precious Saviour; and he who knows most of forgiving love will sing the loudest.

We'll see who sings the loudest on Sunday! :-)

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Good Morning:
(click to hear this mornings devo)

Spurgeon bring us this morning to a most sobering thought. "Christ did not suffer so as to exclude us from suffering". This goes contrary to some popular beliefs taught by TV evangelist's and other mainstream preachers. "Come to Christ and all your troubles will be gone, they will go away". But this is not so.
Christ's suffering was was the direct effect of man's sin and the full wrath of God being poured out upon him. This cup of God's wrath, though poured out on him was ours to drink as it was our sin that Christ was atoning for.
As sweet as this is, it does not remove suffering in this life.

"Christ exempts you from sin, but not from sorrow. Remember that and expect to suffer." (Spurgeon)

But we can rejoice this morning knowing that any suffering we will endure here in this life will never compare to the joy and happiness we will experience for all eternity in His presence in heaven. And in this life He will be our refuge and strength in times of weakness and strife bringing us to thus trust and rely on Him.

Matthew 11:28-30 28)Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29)Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30)For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”(NKJV)

Good Evening: (click to hear this evenings devo)

This evenings devo brings us to face another life long lesson, humility. It is funny how you can read humility in a person even without conversation. Like hearing a smile over the phone you can pick it up without embracing it. What's more is someone who doesn't display humility who can miss. I'm ever amazed at how God would make such a character trait as humility such an important part of our sanctification in a life that is built upon an outward self glorifying and boastful character.
I make note to the use of Surgeon's wording here as he says -

"The whole exchequer of God shall be made over by deed of gift to the soul which is humble enough to be able to receive it without growing proud because of it."

The use of this word exchequer is to say the whole treasury of His riches in grace. What a great way to express his blessing to those humble.

May we pray for humility to come to us daily as a gift from his great treasury.

-jeff paisano

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon