Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Morning and Evening: 03/10
Tuesday, March 10, 2009—posted by Matt Shea
» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible
I think that this morning and evening's devotion is very timely. With the state of our economy and so many people either in jeopardy of losing their jobs or already have... I believe we need the reminder laid out in these devotions.
How often do we equate our spiritual health with our physical health? Or with our financial health? We must remember that growing in our relationship with Christ often comes during affliction and adversity. Praise Him for these times... this is Spurgeon's point. We bless God for whatever state we're in... we bless Him because we know that it comes from His fatherly hand.
We bless God, then, for our afflictions; we thank Him for our changes; we extol His name for losses of property; for we feel that had He not chastened us thus, we might have become too secure. Continued worldly prosperity is a fiery trial.
Lord Jesus, may we never trust or hope in our wealth or our health. May we continually bless Your name for whatever state we may be in... whether we lack or have plenty. May our only security be in your finished work on the cross. Lord, bind our wandering hearts to You... In Christ's name, Amen.
Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon
posted by Matt Shea|
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1 Comments:
Thank for your words of encouragement Pastor Matt. Whatever our circumstances we should be able to praise God. I agree totally with you (and Spurgeon) that we seem to tie our well-being to financial health or physical health, rather than spiritual health!
I am often convicted by my own perspective on things. For in fact, almsot all who are reading your exhortation are rich (finanically) in comparison to most of the world (including our Christian brethern). It is easy to live in one of the richest counties in the USA...in the world and lose perspective. In comparison to the rest of Orange County, we may be "poor" or at least not "rich." But in relation to the rest of the world, we are rich. We have computers, or one or two cell phones, that allow us to read this. We have personal transportation vehicles where much of the world they have only their two feet. The list could go on and on.
The following words of our Lord convict me when I read them and He brings them to my mind occassionally.
"Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.'"-Luke 9:23 NKJV
"So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, 'You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.'"-Luke 18:22 NKJV
"But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?"-1 John 3:17 NKJV
There is so much for which to praise the LORD. But let me first praise Him...for Him.
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