Reverence and Awe

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

MORNING:

Those who have read much of Charles Haddon Spurgeon know of his strong belief in the sovereignty of God and the eternal security of the believer. However, we see that balance in Spurgeon that also exhorts us to apply God's Word in our lives. In fact in this morning's devotion he is looking deep into his own life. Not to see whether he possesses salvation, but to see if he is growing within his salvation. As Paul exhorted the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 3:1-3), let us desire to fed on the meat of the Word, no longer to suffice with just milk. And then the Word of God would change our hearts and our actions.

But Spurgeon (as did the Apostle Paul) directs us to the source of our strength, the source of the fruit, and that is God, through the power and working of the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:1-5).

"let me count the cost of being a follower of Jesus, above all let me feel the energy of His Holy Spirit, and then I shall possess an abiding and enduring seed in my soul." (quote from Morning)

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present [you] faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy...(Jude 24 NKJV)

...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV)

The grace of God is the source of the planting of the seed and its development. So let us look to the Source of our salvation to assist us in our sanctification.

SIDEBAR:
"If my mind remains as obdurate as it was by nature..."

I don't know about you but I did have to look up the word obdurate at Merriam-Webster's site .

EVENING:

Thank God that the Living Word is our High Priest, our Mediator of the New Covenant with God (Hebrews 8). Even as we read this, He is interceding for us at the right hand of God. Jesus' High Priestly prayer, as recorded in John 17, might gives us a hint of what His intercession prayer would be this day. Might it be, to be one with Him and the Father, that we would be more perfect today, that the world would today see Jesus in us, and that today we would demonstrate the love of God that is within us.

Thankfully, we have the grace of God to draw upon for our needs today.

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

The LORD is interceding for us even when we do not realize it, and when we do recognize that we need His help, we can go boldly to Him to find grace, mercy and help in our time of need. Truly this is a matter for joy and worship.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon