Reverence and Awe

Good Morning!
(click to hear this morning's devo)
(click to hear this evening's devo)

Good Morning,
Charles takes us this morning to the Song of Solomon. A book that many can be confused reading as there is much poetry. The verse he has brought us to this morning is regarding Christ's view of the church, it's people, his spouse. We remember that throughout the bible Christ is the bridegroom of the church and it's people. So in Solomon's words here we see a description of a husbands love for his wife with regard to it's beauty.

The wonderful thought here is that Christ views us as having no spot or blemish as we might think. And I love how Spurgeon points out that there are many things that the Holy Spirit could have written here regarding out purity/beauty in the eyes of Christ like being without cancer, or without balding... but instead goes to the most simplistic of degradations and says a spot. Blemish we might think. This is reflecting on Christ's love for his spouse - Us. That his adoration is not marred by our ugly sin or quenched by our fallen nature. Rather our faults do not effect his love for us, His love for us is unconditional!

What an amazing truth to steep our mind on this morning and today. I think of my new daughter Lilyana Joy who sings to my heart even in her sheerest of cries and screams. Yet my love for her will fail at times though it's had for me to imagine right now. Then to think how Jesus' love for me is unconditional and never failing.
Amazing Love!


Good Evening!
Great thoughts for downtrodden sinners. "The Lord mighty in battle." This quote from Psalm 24 is mighty in meaning. We are quick to think our Lord mighty in battle against our every foe but in this thought foe is usually and almost always defined as our enemy - they guy who wishes to do harm to me, or persecute me for my faith, or harm me because of striving to live righteously which is true however, Charles reminds us this evening of a deeper application of his might and a deeper definition of our foe.

"The Lord mighty in battle" against our sinful nature and our every turning hearts. Us, yes we too are the foe. We seek the fleeting joys of this world more than the righteousness of Christ yet He is mighty in battle to keep us. We who were haters of God He has won the battle of our bitterness and given us hearts of flesh that we might be lovers of God.

The arrows of their natural hatred are snapped, and the weapons of their rebellion broken.

Oh sinner - let us rejoice tonight that we broken and corrupt fall into the mighty and graceful arms of our savior who's battles are won against our sinful hearts.

This evening let the Christian warrior chant the war song, and prepare for tomorrow's fight. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.

God bless!
-jeff paisano