Spurgeon: Morning and Evening April 28

"Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope."—Psalm 119:49.

HATEVER your especial need may be, you may readily find some promise in the Bible suited to it. Are you faint and feeble because your way is rough and you are weary? Here is the promise—"He giveth power to the faint." When you read such a promise, take it back to the great Promiser, and ask Him to fulfil His own word. Are you seeking after Christ, and thirsting for closer communion with Him? This promise shines like a star upon you—"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Take that promise to the throne continually; 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." Are you distressed because of sin, and burdened with the heavy load of your iniquities? Listen to these words—"I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions, and will no more remember thy sins." You have no merit of your own to plead why He should pardon you, but plead His written engagements and He will perform them. Are you afraid lest you should not be able to hold on to the end, lest, after having thought yourself a child of God, you should prove a castaway? If that is your state, take this word of grace to the throne and plead it: "The mountains may depart, and the hills may be removed, but the covenant of My love shall not depart from thee." If you have lost the sweet sense of the Saviour's presence, and are seeking Him with a sorrowful heart, remember the 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." Banquet your faith upon God's own word, and whatever your fears or wants, repair to the Bank of Faith with your Father's note of hand, saying, "Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope."

Taken lock, stock, and barrel from: A Daily Dose of Spurgeon. Which is just a reprint from Spurgeon's daily devotional "Morning and Evening" I love the illustrations and practical advice Spurgeon always gives. The last one picturing me coming to the Father's bank with a note of exchange that is the Father's catches my heart.

Pursue Kindness Instead of Honor

Proverbs 21:21
"Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor."

In the business world, this verse seems backwards. It would appear that if I pursue strength of position, knowledge of my craft, and wisdom of how to move up the ladder, that I will move up well. Instead this verse clearly says to pursue righteousness and kindness, and life and honor will be supplied.

How can I pursue righteousness and kindness at work? If I can deliver what I say I will deliver, when I say I'll do it, that will be righteous. If I make extra sure that I'm not defrauding the company by wasting time, that will be righteous. If I can take extra time with people who frustrate me, that will be kind. If I sacrifice for others that will be kind.

I want life and honor. I will be righteous and kind to get them.

Finding the Right Spouse is Tricky

Proverbs 21:9,19
⁹It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
¹⁹It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

I remember reading these verses before I was married and thinking they were just funny. After seven years of marriage, I realize they are essential! Looking back on my decision process for selecting my wife, I never would have considered all the attributes that she brings to the table. Don't get me wrong, the attributes of a great spouse (kindness, wisdom, forgiveness, gentleness, financial strength, parenting love, etc...) were in her at the time, I just didn't know to look for them. Despite my poor calculations, the Grace of God led us together in marriage.

In particular, these 2 verses warn of a quarrelsome spouse. Sharing your life with someone, includes daily sharing physical things, parenting schemes, and emotional burdens. Quarreling about those topics would make life unlivable. As unlivable as if you lived on a tiny corner of your roof exposed to the hot summer sun, and freezing winter rains. Or if you lived in a miserable dry-land with no water to feed your crops or your parched throat.

If your perspective spouse is always trying to stir up quarrels or induce more stress through stubbornness, then run fleeing for the hills and seek the Lord for someone else.

Praise the Lord my wife is humble and Christ-minded. She is a model of Godliness that my children and I can follow as we pursue Jesus together.

Don't always believe what you read in Newsweek...

If you haven't seen this Newsweek article yet, it might be of interest to you. What is not surprising though is the mis-characterization of the central tenants of the Christian Faith. Here is a paragraph from the article:

"Roughly put, the Christian narrative is the story of humankind as chronicled in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament—the drama of creation, fall and redemption. The orthodox tend to try to live their lives in accordance with the general behavioral principles of the Bible (or at least the principles they find there of which they approve) and anticipate the ultimate judgment of God—a judgment that could well determine whether they spend eternity in heaven or in hell."

Lets take a look at this paragraph phrase by phrase:

• "Christian narrative is the story of humankind as chronicled in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament" Actually the Bible is much more about God and his reaching out to us, then it is about human experience itself. It just so happens that the best way to show the glory and grace of our Lord is to set it in contrast to the misery and selfishness that humans manifest, and that Jesus ultimately rescues us from.
• "the drama of creation, fall and redemption" I actually do agree with this statement. The traversal of humanity across this chain is truly dramatic. Not just flippantly dramatic. It is a story that we can all identify with. In fact that drama is one of the reasons why I love the Bible show much. It clearly shows me who I am.
• "The orthodox tend to try to live their lives in accordance with the general behavioral principles of the Bible" This sentence makes me chuckle, and then feel really sorry for the author. He has it exactly backwards. It turns out that the truly orthodox are actually living their lives in worship of God the Father for His great mercy, God the Son for His sacrifice, and God the Spirit for His comfort and support. It just so happens that in response to our worship of the Lord we desire to love Him by obeying His commandments. The former drives the latter, not the other way around.
• "(or at least the principles they find there of which they approve)" Again this saddens me, that the author would betray his own understanding of orthodoxy as that which the people get to decide on, instead of that which is ultimately, and objectively true. The Bible is the truth, and when read in context, there is only one proper interpretation of any given scripture. The interpretation that God and the original author intended. Scripture doesn't depend on my ability to understand or interpret. It is for me to seek the truth held within, not to place my opinions on top of.
• "and anticipate the ultimate judgment of God" This is a strange way to think of things. I'm not saying that God doesn't Judge. He does. I'm glad that He does. I want their to be justice for wrongs done on this Earth. But I don't sit around waiting for His Judgment. I actively work, to prepare for His second Coming!
• "a judgment that could well determine whether they spend eternity in heaven or in hell." The truly orthodox, have no fear of judgment. They know exactly where they are going. If they trust in Jesus' propitiating sacrifice on the cross, then God has demonstrated His willingness to accept that sacrifice through His rising of Christ's from the Dead. That's why Easter is such a big deal. It proves that God accepted the sacrifice. It secures for us that same resurrected body that Jesus displayed to the disciples and now has at the right hand of the Father.

I pray that this Easter finds you secure in the knowledge of your salvation if you know the Lord, and if you don't that you would seek Him while He may yet be found.