"Coming To Jesus"

This is an apt description of the whole of the Christian life. I consider it to be a complete picture of a saint, drawn with one stroke. In all circumstances and conditions, we are to come to Jesus alone. The Christian life is begun, continued, and perfected altogether in dependence upon the Lord Jesus. He is both the author and the finisher of our faith. 

If we begin aright, we begin with "Christ is all!" If we live aright, we live with "Christ is all!" And if we finish aright, we finish with "Christ is all!" 

We are to be always coming to Him: coming to Him for spiritual nourishment; coming to Him for needed grace; coming to Him for cleansing, guidance, support and comfort; coming in fact, for everything. The whole Christian life is drawn in one line it is a continuous "coming to Jesus!" I am persuaded that the only happy, holy, safe way for a Christian to live, is to live in daily dependence upon Jesus and to come to Him at all times, in all respects, under all circumstances, for everything! May it be the habit of our lives to be incessantly coming to our loving and merciful Savior. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

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1 Peter 2: 3-4 ...  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

Matthew 11:28 ... Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Revelation 22:17 ... And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. ❤

He Prays That We May Experience It!

Paul acknowledges that the love of Jesus is too great to be fully understood, yet he prays that we may experience it! The apostle is not referring to a merely intellectual understanding, but a personal, transformative relationship with the Lord Jesus. We can only truly experience this love, through the Gospel. Christ's love is most clearly seen in the cross.  

As we meditate on Jesus' wondrous sacrifice for our sins, we are overwhelmed by the vastness of His love. Though we may never fully comprehend it, we can rest in the assurance that His love for us is infinite, and deeper than all of our sins and shame! May His measureless love for us, lead us to a life of gratitude, worship, humility, and holiness. 

We shall never know the depths of Christ's love for us, until we feel the weight of our sin, and the worth of His sin-atoning death, which delivers us from the Hell that we rightly deserve. This unsearchable love of Jesus humbles the pride of man, exalts the grace of God, and calls us to a life of holiness! 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Romans 5:8  ... But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 Ephesians 3:18-19 ... May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. ❤

God's Rod is a Pencil to Draw Christ's Image Upon Us!

Affliction is never accidental for the believer. Every trial, pain, and hardship is sovereignly appointed by God for His glory and our good. The world sees suffering as meaningless, or merely as an obstacle to their happiness. But Scripture teaches that suffering is a tool in the hands of our loving Father to purify our faith, to humble our pride, and to draw us nearer to Jesus. 

God often uses affliction: to bring His people to repentance, to teach them humility, to refine them in the furnace of affliction, to draw them closer to Himself, to cause them to live a more holy life, to strengthen their faith, and to conform them to Christ. God's rod is a pencil to draw Christ's image upon us! God's people never grow strong in grace without trials. 

Troubles are the tools with which God polishes His jewels. The pruning knife is never out of His hand, and it is never used without wisdom or love. Affliction is not the end of the story. One day, every tear will be wiped away, every pain will be no more, and we will see our trials as God's instruments that shaped us for eternity. Until that day, we endure with faith, knowing that God is working out His perfect plan. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

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Job 23:10 ... But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Romans 8:18 ... For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ... For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.❤

A New Creation!!

Whenever anyone is saved by the sovereign grace of God and regenerated by the Holy Spirit he becomes a new creation in Christ.  This is not a mere moral improvement, nor a religious reformation, nor the adoption of a more wholesome lifestyle but a supernatural work of the Spirit, producing a new nature. Having experienced this miracle of salvation, this new man now has new views, new ambitions, new convictions, new desires, new notions, new hopes, new dreads, new pleasures, new aims, new principles, new affections, new joys, and new pursuits. Everything about him is changed. He does, as it were, live in a new world! He was once spiritually dead, enslaved to sin, governed by the flesh, blind to truth, and hostile to God!

Now, his affections are changed he loves what he once hated and hates what he once loved! Now, his mind is renewed he no longer sees life through the lens of popular culture, but through the lens of Scripture. Now, his will is liberated he longs to do the will of God, though not without struggle. Though sin still remains in his flesh, it no longer reigns in his life. The believer is brought into a new realm: from darkness to light; from death to life; from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God. He is adopted as God's child, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and sealed for the day of redemption. In Christ, every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms is now his! 

His past is forgiven, his present is transformed, and his future is secured. But the glory of this new creation lies not in the man himself, but in the One who made him new. Just as the original creation displayed the majesty of God, so this new creation displays the greatness of His sovereignty, mercy, and grace. Christian, never forget who you are--you are not what you once were. And though you are not yet what you will be--you are already made new in Christ. Let this truth humble you, encourage you, and move you to walk in newness of life, to the glory of God! 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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Ephesians 1:3 ... Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 

Colossians 1:13–14 ... Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

2 Corinthians 5:17 ... Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ❤

His All-comforting Balm

"I have overcome the world." When these words were spoken, our Savior was about to leave His disciples to go to His death for their sakes. His great concern was that they might not be overly cast down by the trials which would come upon them. He desired to prepare their minds for the heavy sorrows which awaited them, while the powers of darkness and evil men wrought their wicked will upon Him. 

Observe that our Lord Jesus, in whom infinite wisdom dwells, knew all the secret springs of comfort, and all the hallowed sources of consolation; and yet in order to console His disciples, He spoke concerning Himself. Does He not herein teach us, that there is no balm for the broken heart, like Himself; and that there is no consolation comparable to His own person and His work. 

If the divine consoler Himself must point to who He Himself is to us, and what He has done for us, in order to comfort us then how wise it must be for ministers to preach much of Jesus by way of encouragement to the Lord's afflicted.  And how prudent it is for troubled believers to look to Him for all the comfort they need. "Be of good cheer," He says, "I" something about Himself, "I have overcome the world." 

So then beloved, in every time of trouble or sorrow, hasten to the Lord Jesus! Whenever the cares of life burden you, and the way is hard for your weary feet flee to Jesus! There are other sources of consolation, but they are not helpful at all times, or in every situation. But there dwells such a fullness of comfort in Jesus, that His streams of consolation are always flowing. However great your trouble, and from whatever quarter it may arise resort at once to Jesus for His all-comforting balm. It has been rightly said, "The Spirit is the comforter, but Jesus is the comfort." 

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

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John 16:33 ... These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Matthew 11:28 ... Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

2 Corinthians 1:4 ... Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. ❤

Judging!!

Few verses are more misunderstood or misused than the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, lest you be judged!" In our day of moral relativism, blame-shifting, and self-justification, this verse is regularly pulled out of context to silence any voice that dares to call sin what it is. Yet such misuse turns the Lord's words on their head, distorting both His meaning and His purpose. 

First, what Jesus is NOT saying: He is not forbidding all forms of judgment. Scripture itself commands believers to discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14), to expose the fruitless deeds of darkness (Ephesians 5:11), and to confront a brother or sister who is in sin (Galatians 6:1). In fact, just a few verses later in Matthew 7, Jesus warns against giving what is sacred to dogs (verse 6), and identifying false prophets by their fruits (verses 15-20) both of which require spiritual discernment and righteous judgment. 

Clearly then, Jesus is not promoting a blind tolerance of sin, or moral indifference. Nor is He forbidding the correction of others. His very command, "then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" implies that helping a brother overcome sin is a necessary and loving work. But it must be done with humility, self-awareness, and sincerity. What Jesus IS condemning, is self-righteous, hypocritical judgment, the kind that sees minor faults in others, while ignoring major ones in ourselves. He is exposing the pride that delights in criticizing others from a position of moral superiority, while remaining blind to our own sin. 

The image which Jesus paints is intentionally exaggerated in order to make His point: a man with a plank sticking out of his eye, trying to remove a speck of dust from someone else's eye. None are more unjust in their judgments of others, than those who have a high opinion of themselves. Until we have first humbled ourselves before God, repented of our own sin, and been cleansed by His grace we are not fit to help others. We must first judge ourselves rightly only then will we be able to see clearly and act compassionately. 

In the end, this passage is not a prohibition against loving confrontation. The real force of Jesus' words is this: Judge yourself first. Deal with your own sinful heart, before you presume to deal with another's. And when you do speak to others about their sin, let it be from a place of grace, truth, and godly love never from hypocrisy. Judgment that aligns with God's Word, is exercised in humility and aims at restoration--is not only permitted it is commanded. 

The problem is not judgment itself, but self-righteous, hypocritical, or unjust judgment. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

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The Objects of Christ's Mission

The objects of Christ's mission: His People WHO are the recipients of this glorious salvation? The text is unmistakably clear: "His people." Not all mankind indiscriminately, but those whom the Father gave to Him from eternity past (John 6:37; 17:2); those chosen in Him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), and for whom He laid down His life as their Good Shepherd. (John 10:11, 15) This truth exalts the sovereign grace of God. Jesus did not come to make salvation possible for all, but to secure salvation for His people a definite, elect, blood-bought multitude. 

His mission was not to offer redemption hypothetically, but to accomplish it perfectly. "He WILL save…" is the language of certainty, not possibility. Yet how can one know if he is among "His people"? The answer is found in the fruits of saving grace: conviction of sin, faith in Christ, repentance toward God, love for holiness, and perseverance in the truth. Those who trust in Christ and walk in His ways, show themselves to be the people He came to save. Do not rest in a shallow profession. Examine your heart. Has Christ truly delivered you from the love of sin, the dominion of self, and the darkness of unbelief? 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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A Child With Four Divine Names

Isaiah 9:6, "For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

In this glorious prophecy, Isaiah lifts the veil of history and gives us a glimpse of the unspeakable gift that God would send to this sinful and hopeless world: a Child born, a Son given. Yet this is no ordinary child. In His birth, He is human. In His names and essence, He is divine. Every title reveals a facet of His infinite majesty and gracious mission. 

Wonderful Counselor. In a world drowning in confusion and moral blindness, Jesus comes as the infallible guide for His redeemed people. He needs no teacher, for He is wisdom incarnate. His counsel is never shallow, never mistaken, never misleading. He discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. To the weary, He gives rest. To the broken, He gives hope. To the perplexed, He gives direction.  Jesus is the great Counselor who can unravel all mysteries, solve all difficulties, and advise us in all dilemmas. Have you gone to Him for counsel? Have you sat at His feet and let His Word guide your steps? 

Mighty God. Though born as a helpless infant, He is none other than the omnipotent One! This is the staggering mystery of the Incarnation: The Almighty nursing at the bosom of a young virgin. He is not a mere man with divine power; He is God incarnate. With a word, He calmed the storm. With a touch, He healed the sick. With His death, He crushed Satan. And with His resurrection, He conquered the grave.  This Mighty God makes all things work together for the good of His people. He who hung upon the cross, was the God who made the heavens and the earth. How great is the love that made Him stoop to such humiliation! 

Everlasting Father. Not in the sense of replacing God the Father, but in His paternal care for His own blood-bought people. He is fatherly in His goodness and compassion. He never abandons His people, never forgets them, and never grows weary of them. He is a faithful Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. He loves His people with a Father's heart. His compassion never fails. He provides, protects, and disciplines us as a loving Father does. Do you rest in His unchanging love? 

Prince of Peace. He does not merely bring peace; He is peace. At the cross, He reconciled guilty sinners to the holy God, making peace through His sin-atoning blood. Now he gives peace to the troubled heart, to the sin-burdened conscience, to the fearful soul. The world offers fleeting distractions, but Jesus gives a peace that surpasses understanding. Are you looking to Him alone for peace in your soul? These are not mere names. They are divine realities. This is the Christ we worship: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He is wise in counsel, strong to save, tender in care, and perfect in peace. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Revelation 5:12 ... Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

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So Deplorable a State!

Many pastors have grown 'professional' in their service, and preach like automatons, wound up for a sermon, to run down when the discourse is over. They have little more care for the souls of men, than if they were so much dirt! Too many pastors are fascinated with technical trifles about words, fancies of speculation, or fopperies of oratory. 

God forgive us if we have fallen into so deplorable a state! 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Romans 16:18 ... For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

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The Essence of Christ's Mission

The essence of Christ's mission: To Save from Sin This verse is a glorious declaration of the very heart of the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not salvation from suffering. Not salvation from political oppression. Not salvation from earthly poverty. But salvation from their SIN that which separates man from God, damns the soul, and defiles every part of life. He did not come to be a moral teacher, a political reformer, or a cultural icon. He came to save from sin. Sin is not a light matter. 

It is the rebellion of the creature against the Creator, the transgression of God's holy Word, and the corruption of human nature. Sin stains every thought, word and deed. Sin places every sinner under the righteous wrath of Almighty God. Therefore, the greatest need of every human soul, is not self-improvement or religious reformation but divine salvation. Jesus did not come merely to forgive sin, but to save from sin. That means He delivers from sin's guilt, by His atoning death, from sin's power, by His Spirit's indwelling presence, and soon from sin's presence altogether, in eternal glory. 

He came not only to justify, but to sanctify. Any gospel that offers pardon without purification, or Heaven without holiness is a false gospel. Jesus saves entirely from the penalty, power, and pollution of sin. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

Matthew 1::21 ... And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

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Daily Feasting on the Slain Lamb

While this applies to physical provision, it also reflects our need for continual spiritual sustenance. Just as our bodies need daily food, our souls need to feed on Jesus daily. John 6:48, "I am the Bread of Life!" 

The same Jesus who saved us, must also sustain us. We need Him as much for our continual spiritual nourishment, as we did for our initial salvation. Spurgeon rightly said, "A living Jesus must be the food of a living Christian." Just as the physical body will waste away without food, so will the soul wither without a continual feeding on Jesus. Yesterday's grace will not sustain us today. Yesterday's strength will not triumph in today's trial. We must feast afresh on Jesus, drawing from Him all that we need for living a holy life, pleasing to Him. 

The true food of the believer is Jesus as the slain Lamb. His sin-atoning sacrifice is not just the foundation of our forgiveness, but the daily food for our souls. This continual feasting on Jesus as the slain Lamb, is the secret of a healthy Christian life. Many believers are weak and tossed about, because they are malnourished. They snack on the spiritual junk-food that is continually distributed by the shallow and lukewarm churches of our day. Neither can today's pseudo-Christian books provide any soul-nourishment. They may nibble on Scripture, but they do not provide the true Bread of Life, Jesus Himself. 

Christian, do not neglect your daily Bread. Feed on the slain Lamb, and your soul shall thrive. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

Matthew 6:11 ... Give us this day our daily bread.

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When a Lost Man Dies ...

When a lost man dies: his relatives scramble for his money; the worms scramble for his body; and the demons scramble for his soul! What a fearful and sobering picture this is! The world may dress death in velvet and flowers, but God reveals its true horror for the unregenerate soul. The instant a man without Christ breathes his last, everything he loved is torn from him. His money is left behind, becoming a point of contention and greed among his relatives. The body he once adorned and pampered, is claimed by corruption and decay. And his soul the most precious part of his being is cast into eternal Hell. 

The world's goods, its riches, its pleasures, its pomp, its fame what are all these without Jesus? They are a painted pageantry to go to Hell in! They are a mockery to an immortal spirit. They are like a mirage in the desert, deluding the traveler, but not yielding one substantial drop of joy. "I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind!" (Ecclesiastes 1:14) 

Yes! This poor world is a heap of chaff; the only enduring treasure is to be found in Jesus. If you neglect Him, you neglect all that is worth having. For the lost, death is not an escape it is the doorway to everlasting punishment. Jesus spoke more often of Hell than of Heaven, warning us with great compassion: "Fear Him who, after killing the body, has power to throw you into Hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!" (Luke 12:5) 

The man who lives for himself and dies without Jesus, does not rest in peace. He awakens to eternal torment, where hope never dawns, and mercy is no longer offered. Dear reader, do not be deceived. Life is short! Death is certain! Eternity is near! 

A golden coffin will be a poor compensation for a damned soul! 

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

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Hebrews 9:27 ... And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Mark 8:36 ... For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? ❤

"The Path of Life"

This is the language of one who knows his God, who has walked with Him, and who has learned that there is no joy like that which comes from the conscious nearness of God. How great is the mercy of our God, that He has not left us to grope in darkness or stumble blindly through a world cursed by sin. Earthly joys always disappoint, decay, and die. But in His infinite grace, He has made known to us the path of life a path not known by the wisdom of man, nor paved by human merit, but graciously revealed through His Word and perfectly embodied in Jesus. 

He is the only path of life, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Outside of Him, there is no life at all only despair, death, and damnation. The world offers many paths broad paths of avarice, pleasure, and pride but these all lead to eternal destruction. The path of life is narrow. It is marked by humility, faith, repentance, and obedience. It leads upward, against the sinful customs of the age, and can only be walked by those whose eyes have been opened by the sovereign working of the Spirit. For those who walk this path, even though it is steep and narrow, it ends in the presence of God, where there is fullness of joy. 

Not the hollow joys of earthly gain, or temporary relief; but deep, abiding, soul-satisfying joy--in the presence of Jesus, our precious Savior. In Heaven, sin will be gone, sorrow will vanish, and every holy longing will be satisfied. The pleasures that await are not fleeting or shallow--they are everlasting delights; pure, perfect, and ever-increasing--poured out by the God who delights to bless His redeemed people. Oh, how glorious is our destination! Brethren do not envy the foolish and fleeting pleasures of the wicked. Fix your eyes on Jesus and follow in His path with steady steps and a trusting heart. Jesus Himself is our portion, and in His presence is joy unspeakable and full of glory. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Psalm 16:11 ...  Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

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Do Not Be Afraid!!

Fear often grips our hearts when we face uncertainty, suffering, and trials. But God speaks directly to His redeemed people: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you!" This is not a mere suggestion it is a divine command grounded in His sovereign grace. He has purchased us at the highest cost the blood of His darling Son, Jesus Christ! (1 Peter 1:18-19)  

Because we are ransomed, we are also called by name. This is the personal love of God toward each of His redeemed people. He knows each of us intimately and claims us as His own. What a comfort to know that our identity is not found in our struggles, failures, or circumstances but in the unchanging truth that we are God's redeemed children! Our trials may seem overwhelming, but they can never undo what Christ has secured for us. We belong to Him, and nothing can snatch us from His omnipotent and loving hand! (John 10:28-29)  

The Christian life is not free from suffering, but it is never without God's presence. The Lord does not say IF you go through deep waters, but WHEN. This world is filled with trials, but the promise is sure: "I will be with you!" Deep waters will not drown you. When trouble comes like a flood, God holds us fast. The waves may crash, but they cannot pull us from His omnipotent grip! (Psalm 93:4) 

Rivers of difficulty will not sweep you away. Temptations, sorrows, and hardships may rise--but our foundation in Christ remains forever firm. Fires of oppression will not consume you. Just as God preserved Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, He will sustain us through every trial. (Daniel 3:25) 

We do not walk alone. The sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, is our Savior. He leads us, refines us, and upholds us by His wisdom and power. Every trial, though painful, is used by God to purify our faith and deepen our dependence on Him. (1 Peter 1:6-7)  

You may measure the heavens with a ruler, you may weigh the mountains in scales--but the love of Christ, who shall measure that! 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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Romans 8:38-39 ...  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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isaiah 43:1-3 ... But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. ❤

Your Heart's Desires

The world clamors after countless delights: riches, fame, lust, success. But the Word of God redirects the soul with this divine imperative: "Take delight in the LORD." This is not a bare command, but a gracious invitation into the very joy and satisfaction of God. True religion is not found in cold duty or lifeless religious rituals, but in the warm, living enjoyment of God Himself. The believer is called not merely to serve the Lord, but to delight in Him. He is to find his chief joy in God's glory, his deepest satisfaction in God's presence, and his highest pleasure in doing God's will. This delight is not superficial it flows from a heart transformed by saving grace. 

The natural man has no desire for God; he finds no sweetness in Christ, no loveliness in a holy life, no beauty in the bloody cross. But when the Spirit of God regenerates the soul, a miracle occurs: the heart is drawn irresistibly to the Lord. The believer now sees in Him infinite worth and majesty. His love becomes better than life. His favor is counted more precious than gold. His Word becomes the soul's delight, and His will becomes the soul's aim. 

The Christian's desires for God are intense, continual, and insatiable. The heart refuses to be content with anything but the living God. It is to such a person that the promise is made: "He will give you your heart's desires." But note carefully this is not the promise of carnal wishes being granted, but of holy desires being fulfilled. The one who delights in the Lord no longer craves the empty husks of the world. His heart's desires are shaped by God's Word and aligned with God's purposes. He desires communion with Christ, conformity to Christ, usefulness for Christ, and ultimately, to be with Christ forever! 

These are the desires God gladly fulfills, because He Himself planted them. The one who makes the Lord his delight, will find in Him the fountain of all true delight unchanging, eternal, and all-satisfying. Dear believer, fix your heart upon Christ. Delight in His perfections. Rejoice in His grace. Rest in His promises. And as your desires are drawn upward--He will fill them with Himself.

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

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Psalm 42:1-2 ... As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

Psalm 73:25 ...  Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.

Psalm 37:4 ... Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. ❤

The Gospel Hospital!

When a man is absorbed by a new master-passion, what a different man he becomes. The passion for wealth will work marvels! We have known idle people become very diligent, and profuse voluptuaries become even self-denying to their flesh in their ambition to acquire riches. In the same way, whenever God really saves a person, He gives that person a new master-passion the passion of gratitude to Christ, along with love to the God who saved him. 

These always become a new master-principle which rules the entire man. From the moment that a man sincerely believes in Jesus, his nature becomes different from what it was before. He receives a new heart. Another influence takes possession of him, and another love engrosses him. He who once loved sin now loves God and lives for Him. By the saving grace of God, this supernatural change is possible even to the most vile and degraded people. 

If a man has committed every crime in the whole catalog of villainy, and his heart has become as hard as the nether millstone, and his disposition altogether vile and detestable, and groveling, and sensual, and devilish the Spirit can turn that man in a single moment, into a lover of that which is true, and right, and just! 

Yes, the Spirit can passionately inflame him with the desire to be perfectly holy! We do not teach that Christ forgives men and then lets them continue to live in the hog pens as before! We assert that the moment He gives the pardon of sin, He gives the new nature as well. The gospel hospital is not merely a place where lepers are harbored, but where lepers are healed! 

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

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Ezekiel 36:26–27 ... A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.  And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ...  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ❤

Psalm 25:14

The secret of the Lord is with those who fear him. Some read it "the friendship." It signifies familiar fellowship, confidential intimacy, and select fellowship. This is a great secret. Carnal minds cannot guess what is intended by it, and even believers cannot explain it in words, for it must be felt to be known. 

The higher spiritual life is necessarily a path which the eagle's eye has not known, and which the lion's whelp has not traveled; neither natural wisdom nor strength can force a door into this inner chamber. Saints have the key of Heaven's hieroglyphics they can unriddle celestial enigmas. They are initiated into the fellowship of the skies they have heard words which it is not possible for them to repeat to their fellows. And he will show them his covenant. Its antiquity, security, righteousness, fullness, graciousness and excellence shall be revealed to their hearts and understandings. 

Above all, their own part in it shall be sealed to their souls by the witness of the Holy Spirit. The designs of love which the Lord has to his people in the covenant of grace, he has been pleased to show to believers in the Book of Inspiration, and by his Spirit, he leads us into the mystery, even the hidden mystery of redemption. He who does not know the meaning of this verse, will never learn it from a commentary let him look to the cross, for the secret lies there. 

[Charles Spurgeon]

Psalm 25:14 ... The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. ❤

The Astonishing Love of Jesus For Us!

There is no greater wonder in all the universe than this: that the infinitely holy Son of God would set His heart upon vile, guilty, Hell-deserving sinners. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!" Not when we were seeking Him. Not when we were repenting. Not when we were bettering ourselves. But while we were rebels, with hearts full of enmity against Him, He loved us still. (Romans 5:6, 8, 10) 

Paul, once a blasphemer and persecutor of Christ's church, could only marvel: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinner of whom I am the worst!" (1 Timothy 1:15)   So, it is with all who have been given eyes to see their corruption, and hearts to feel their need. When we know ourselves rightly, we are utterly astonished that Jesus would save such ungodly ones as ourselves. 

Our salvation was not the fruit of our seeking, but of His. "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save those who are lost!" (Luke 19:10) It was the overflowing of His sovereign, unmerited love. Dead in sin, blind in mind, corrupt in heart yet He loved us, and by His great mercy made us spiritually alive. (Ephesians 2:4–5) 

What love is this, that stooped so low? "He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities." (Isaiah 53:5) The pure and spotless Lamb bore the filth and condemnation of our sin. He who knew no sin, was made sin for us, "so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21) It was not out of obligation, but out of sheer grace. "When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy." (Titus 3:4–5) 

Christian! Jesus loved you before the world began, He loves you now and He will love you forever! His love for you is unfathomable it is as boundless as infinity. Oh, the precious love of Jesus! It is the sun in the heavens of grace, the river in the garden of mercy, and the foundation of the temple of redemption! 

The love of Jesus is the most amazing thing under Heaven, if not in Heaven itself. Oh, what a Savior is ours! His love is not shallow or sentimental it is a love that bleeds, and bears wrath. It is a love that will never let us go. It is a love that astonishes us now and will be our wonder and song for all eternity. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Revelation 1:5–6 ... And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

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The Gospel of The Grace of God

The heart of the Gospel is redemption, and the essence of redemption is the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ. The gospel is not a moral code, or religious sentiment. It is the divine proclamation that the thrice-holy God saves guilty Hell-deserving sinners freely, sovereignly, and eternally through the sin-atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cruel cross. 

It is the gospel of grace unmerited and undeserved. Grace authored salvation in eternity past. Grace sent the eternal Son, clothed in frail humanity. Grace sustained Him in Gethsemane, nailed Him to the cross, and raised Him in triumph. That same grace now calls the unworthy, convicts the hard-hearted, converts the dead in sin, and keeps them to the end. This gospel lays man in the dust, and crowns Christ with glory. 

It shuts every mouth and saves the worst of sinners. It declares with finality, that salvation is of the Lord from beginning to end. The condemned are pardoned. The dead are made alive. Rebels are adopted as sons and daughters of God. Let us proclaim the gospel of grace with boldness, treasure it with reverence, and walk in its power daily. 

The gospel is not man's achievement it is God's mercy. The gospel is the refuge of the desperate, the song of the redeemed, and the everlasting praise of Heaven. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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Romans 1:16-17 ...  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Acts 20:24 ... But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Ephesians 2:8 ... For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:❤

All The Mercy!!

Christian, all the mercy in the heart of God belongs to you! As great as your necessities may be, my dear brother, all the mercy that is in God belongs to you and is engaged to meet your case. 

Let me put it in another light: If there were no other person in the world but you, and God loved you infinitely and exclusively then would He not be able to do much for you, if all of His omnipotence was devoted to your good, and if all of His grace centered upon you, and you were the focus of all His wise and loving purposes? 

"Oh yes!" you say, "I would be favored indeed!" You are just as favored as that, for the multiplicity of the objects of divine love, necessitates no diminution to anyone. God can love a million and love each one as intensely as if there were but one to be favored! 

Our little minds are distracted with many objects. We cannot concentrate upon many; we are therefore confined. But the full concentrated love of the eternal God is set upon each one of His dear children! Is there not great comfort here? 

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

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Psalm 118:1 ... O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 89:1 ... I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 118:4 ...  Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 103:17 ... But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;

Psalm 100:5 ... For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.❤