Weekday Devotions September 14th

Faith’s Check Book

By Charles H. Spurgeon

 

MARK OF DIVINE APPROVAL

 

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him" James 1:12

 

Yes, he is blessed while he is enduring the trial. No eye can see this till it has been anointed with heavenly eye-salve. But he must endure it, and neither rebel against God, nor turn aside from his integrity. He is blessed who has gone through the fire, and has not been consumed as a counterfeit.

 

When the test is over, then comes the hallmark of divine approval — "the crown of life." As if the Lord said, "Let him live; he has been weighed in the balances, and he is not found wanting." Life is the reward: not mere being; but holy, happy, true existence, the realization of the divine purpose concerning us. Already a higher form of spiritual life and enjoyment crowns those who have safely passed through fiercest trials of faith and love.

 

The Lord hath promised the crown of life to those who love Him. Only lovers of the Lord will hold out in the hour of trial; the rest will either sink or sulk, or slink back to the world. Come, my heart, dost thou love thy Lord? Truly? Deeply? Wholly? Then that love will be tried; but many waters will not quench it, neither will the floods drown it. Lord, let thy love nourish mine to the end.

Thought’s for the Quiet Hour

I will instruct thee, and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye

Psalms 32:8

When God does the directing, our life is useful and full of promise, whatever it is doing; and discipline has its perfecting work.

H. E. Cobb

The path by which He will conduct you will not always be smooth and pleasant

   ~  ~  ~  ~

    ("Every Day!" Author unknown, 1872)

"He led them forth by the right way--that they might go to a city of habitation." Psalm 107:7

Just so will the Lord will lead you, beloved reader, by the "right way"--if you truly yield yourself to His guidance. The path by which He will conduct you will not always be smooth and pleasant. You will have some "Hill Difficulty" to climb, and some "Valley of Humiliation" to walk in. You will have some thorny steps to tread--and occasionally you may have to pitch your tent by Marah--the waters of bitterness.

As you are led by a mysterious and circuitous way amidst perplexity and conflict--you may be ready to think that you are traveling by a needlessly painful and trying path, and that you may safely walk by some smoother one to the home of eternal rest. Do not yield to the temptation of turning aside from the path which the Lord plainly marks for you in His Word, and by the footprints of Christ. Still follow as He leads. He designs to exercise your faith, and patience, and self-denial. The way to the crown--is by the cross!

Trust, then, your All-wise Leader--and depend on His faithfulness and grace. He will surely bring you by the right way . . .
  to the city of habitation,
  to the home of the redeemed,
  to the abode of endless rest, and peace, and love!

"Jesus, on You our hope depends,
 To lead us on to Your abode,
 Assured our Home will make amends
 For all our toil while on the road!"

   ~  ~  ~  ~

Daily Promises

Blue Letter Bible
September 14, 2016

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

God is all-powerful. He is able to provide for every need that meets a believer in his walk with Christ. As humans we often think of "needs" in the light of food, shelter, and physical amenities. However, our "real" needs are spiritual, for our spirit is eternal. Jesus has provided for all of our spirital needs. As the Apostle Peter says in his second letter:

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

The Philippians trusted in God's promises, and they gave to the Lord's work out of what little they possessed. Praise God that we can trust in Him for our daily provision of all our needs!

 

Weekday Devotions September 13

Faith’s Check Book

By Charles H. Spurgeon

 

THE DEW OF HEAVEN

 

"His heavens shall drop down dew" Deuteronomy 33:28

 

What the dew in the East is to the world of nature, that is the influence of the Spirit in the realm of grace. How greatly do I need it! Without the Spirit of God I am a dry and withered thing. I droop, I fade, I die. How sweetly does this dew refresh me! When once favored with it I feel happy, lively, vigorous, elevated. I want nothing more. The Holy Spirit brings me life, and all that life requires. All else without the dew of the Spirit is less than nothing to me: I hear, I read, I pray, I sing, I go to the table of communion, and I find no blessing there until the Holy Ghost visits me. But when He bedews me, every means of grace is sweet and profitable.

 

What a promise is this for me! "His heavens shall drop down dew." I shall be visited with grace. I shall not be left to my natural drought, or to the world’s burning heat, or to the sirocco of Satanic temptation. Oh, that I may at this very hour feel the gentle, silent, saturating dew of the Lord! Why should I not? He who has made me to live as the grass lives in the meadow, will treat me as He treats the grass; He will refresh me from above. Grass cannot call for dew as I do. Surely, the Lord who visits the unpraying plant will answer to His pleading child.

Thought’s for the Quiet Hour

These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work

1 Chronicles 4:23

Anywhere and everywhere we may dwell “with the King, for his work.” We may be in a very unlikely or unfavorable place for this; it may be in a little country life, with little enough to be seen of the “goings” of the King around us; it may be among hedges of all sorts, hindrances in all directions; it may be, furthermore, with our hands full of all manner of pottery for our daily task. No matter! The King who placed us “there” will come and dwell there with us; the hedges are all right, or He would soon do away with them; and it does not follow that what seems to hinder our way may not be for its very protection; and as for the pottery, why, this is just exactly what He has seen fit to put into our hands, and therefore it is, for the present, “His work.”

Frances Ridley Havergal

Medicine for the soul!

   ~  ~  ~  ~

    ("Every Day!" Author unknown, 1872)

"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name--you are Mine. When you go through deep waters--I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty--you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression--you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior!" Isaiah 43:1-3

The people of God are not promised exemption from trial--but support under it!

The Lord does not engage to lead His children by a smooth path--but to furnish them with shoes of iron and brass, that they may safely walk the rugged and thorny road.

He does not promise to bridge over the waters of sorrow and the rivers of tribulation--but assures them of His presence as they pass through them. "I will be with you!" He says, "When you go through rivers of difficulty--you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression--you will not be burned up."

Christian pilgrim--will not this suffice?

Support in trial, will suit you better than exemption from it.

Affliction and sorrow, in the hands of the great Physician--are medicine for the soul!
The wounds He inflicts--are for the healing of the spirit!

The fire He may lead you through will not burn--but only purify and brighten you!

   ~  ~  ~  ~