Reverence and Awe

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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


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

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

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

Have a blessed day as you worship the Savior!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

A reflection based upon this morning's reading:

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

We love You Jesus...Maranatha!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

Good Evening Everyone. I pray that you had a blessed day as I did and am praising Him for all He has done.

If your day didn't go as planned or you are battling sin, my prayer is that you will find comfort in tonight's reading.

Spurgeon writes "we rejoice in Him whose faithful word is sweeter than honey or the honeycomb. In every trouble we should first seek to realize God's presence with us." We see throughout the book of Job the trials and tribulations that he faced. Spurgeon points out that in Job's extremity he cried out after the Lord. I am so blessed by Spurgeon's next comment. "The longing desire of an afflicted child of God is once more to see his Father's face."

I was reading tonight's prayer update regarding our team in Vietnam, and was blessed to hear that things were going so well and excited to hear how God is blessing the people. They have and are experiencing grave trials yet have found comfort and refuge in Him. But how easy is it to run the other way from God? It is our sinful nature to run from His affliction, yet I am thankful that as a believer I find shelter in Him. As Spurgeon puts it, "God's children run home when the storm comes on. Have you ever been so boastful when things are going great? We get all puffed up sometimes and think we are doing it. We don't need anyone else's help. We are doing just fine. Nothing can stop us. And then bam!!! Out of nowhere our whole world is picked up and shaken upside down. Oh what a blessing that I can cry out to my Lord and savior.

Oh that I might know where to find Him that I might come to His seat. - Job 23:3

Amen

Labels: Morning and Evening, Reverence, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

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

And hence Spurgeon's exhortation to us:

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

He is glorious.

He is gracious.

He is loving.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AMEN!

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

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

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

I really love this:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spurgeon hits the nail on the head:

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

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

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

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

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon