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Sing in the Ways of the Lord

“They shall sing in the ways of the Lord.” Psalm 138:5

A Classic Devotional from C.H. Spurgeon

The time when Christians begin to sing in the ways of the Lord is when they first lose their burden at the foot of the Cross.  Not even the songs of the angels seem so sweet as the first song of rapture which gushes from the inmost soul of the forgiven child of God.  [“Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus and to take him at his word.”]

You know how John Bunyan describes it [Pilgrim’s Progress]. He says, when poor Pilgrim lost his burden at the Cross, he gave three great leaps, and went on his way singing — “Bless Cross! blest Sepulchre! blest rather be The Man that there was put to shame for me!”

Believer, do you recollect the day when your fetters fell off? Do you remember the place when Jesus met you, and said, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love; I have blotted out as a cloud thy transgressions, and as a thick cloud thy sins; they shall not be mentioned against thee any more forever”?  Oh! what a sweet season is that when Jesus takes away the pain of sin! When the Lord first pardoned my sin, I was so joyous that I could scarce refrain form dancing.  I thought on my road home from the house where I had been set at liberty, that I must tell the stones in the street the story of my deliverance.  So full was my soul of joy, that I wanted to tell every snowflake that was falling from heaven, of the wondrous love of Jesus, who had blotted out the sins of one of the chief of rebels. But it is not only at the commencement of the Christian life that believers have reason for song; as long as they live they discover cause to sing in the ways of the Lord, and their experience of His constant loving kindness leads them to say, “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”  See to it, brother [and sister], that thou magnifies the Lord this day.  “Long as we tread this desert land, new mercies shall new songs demand.”

 

Thank you Lord for loving me, and for loving all your children.

 

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Yea, thou I walk

The events of December 14th have touched the hearts and souls of the world.  Sorrow, anguish, horror, sadness and pain for those lost, and for those left behind to cope with their journey through the valley of the shadow of death.

Lord, paint our souls with a picture of you, so Your divine light can be seen in this dark world. Paint our hearts with your love to enable us to show what real love really is. Paint our spirits with your peace so we become vessels of calm in troubled waters.  Paint our minds with your wisdom, and our bodies with your strength and mercy, so that we show your amazing grace to the world.

Help us Lord, to walk with these families and others through this time.  Their journey through these dark days are beyond comprehension.  And like others before them, remind us all that our personal journeys intersect with theirs right now, and as your servants we have a work to do them.

Lord, let them know they are not alone, for you are with them.  Your rod and staff will comfort them, and the table you’ve prepared is anointed with your healing oil.  Remind them You are filling their cups with your loving comfort, like the gates of heaven.

Lord, be with these families whose children, and loved ones are gone and with those who are providing care, comfort, support, aid.  Give us the strength and courage as a nation to help, really help those who need it.  Amen

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So walk ye in him

A Devotional by C.H. Spurgeon

“So walk ye in him.” Colossians 2:6

If we have received Christ himself in our inmost hearts, our new life will manifest its intimate acquaintance with him by a walk of faith in him. Walking implies action. Our religion is not to be confined to our closet; we must carry out into practical effect that which we believe. If a man walks in Christ, then he so acts as Christ would act; for Christ being in him, his hope, his love, his joy, his life, he is the reflex of the image of Jesus; and men say of that man, “He is like his Master; he lives like Jesus Christ.” Walking signifies progress. “So walk ye in him;” proceed from grace to grace, run forward until you reach the uttermost degree of knowledge that a man can attain concerning our Beloved.

Walking implies continuance. There must be a perpetual abiding in Christ. How many Christians think that in the morning and evening they ought to come into the company of Jesus, and may then give their hearts to the world all the day: but this is poor living; we should always be with him, treading in his steps and doing his will. 

Walking implies habit. When we speak of a man’s walk and conversation, we mean his habits, the constant tenor of his life.  Now, if we sometimes enjoy Christ, and then forget him; sometimes call him ours, and anon lose our hold, that is not a habit; we do not walk in him.  We must keep to him, cling to him, never let him go, but live and have our being in him. “As ye have received Chrsit Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him;” persevere in the same way in which ye have begun, and, as at the first Christ Jesus was the trust of your faith, the source of your life, the principle of your action, and the joy of your spirit, so let him be the same till life’s end; the same when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and enter into the joy and the rest which remains for the people of God.  O Holy Spirit, enable us to obey this heavenly precept.   Amen.

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I will rejoice over them

A Classic Devotional from C.H. Spurgeon

“I will rejoice over them to do them good.” Jeremiah 32:41

How heart-cheering to the believers is the delight which God has in his saints! We cannot see any reason in ourselves why the Lord should take pleasure in us; we cannot take delight in ourselves, for we often have to groan, being burdened; conscious of our sinfulness, and deploring our unfaithfulness; and we fear that God’s people cannot take much delight in us, for they must perceive so much of our imperfections and our follies, that they may rather lament our infirmities than admire our graces.

But we love to dwell upon this transcendent truth, this glorious mystery: that as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so does the Lord rejoice over us. We do not read anywhere that God delighteth in the cloud-capped mountains, or the sparkling stars, but we do read that he delighteth in the habitable parts of the earth, and that his delights are with the sons of men. We do not find it written that even angels give his soul delight; nor doth he say, concerning cherubim and seraphim, “Thou shalt be called Hephzibah, for the Lord delighteth in thee; but he does say all that to poor fallen creatures like ourselves, debased and depraved by sin, but saved, exalted, and glorified by his grace.  In what strong language he expresses his delight in his people!

Who could have conceived of the eternal One as bursting forth into a song?  Yet it is written, “He will rejoice over thee with joy, he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”  As he looked upon the world he had made, he said, “It is very good;” but when he beheld those who are the purchase of Jesus’ blood, his own chosen ones, it seemed as if the great heart of the Infinite could restrain itself no longer, but overflowed in divine exclamations of joy.  Should not we utter declaration of his love, and sing, ” I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation?”

May this give you hope and blessed assurance in our God, who rejoices over you.  Have a blessed day.

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Friendship

A sudden call in the middle of the night; a moan; a cry of disbelief, and then the slow walk into the “valley of the shadow of death” echoed through the room.  Reality and shadow merged, and the question why is uttered.   The sudden lost of a friend hits hard, and when it does your spirit and soul seeks a place of refuge.  A place that makes sense when the floor beneath your feet feels like sinking sand.  As news of the sudden passing of our friend came, the community that knew him gathered to comfort and console one another.  There were memories of past days of fellowship, fun and friendship.  Conversations that began with  “remember when he; remember when we;  remember, remember, remember…. The inevitable sighs, and strained moments of laughter amidst the reality of lost, and what will be never be again.  Then tears, sadness, and pleas to gather more frequently, to share and celebrate our lives together.   

Friendship is a powerful thing that connects and unites us to another human being or circle of individuals.  It is mutual values, experiences, common interests, or special ties which creates a bond sometimes stronger than family relationships. Friendship generates community; a sense of belonging to something or someone.  Friendship forms love.  

The abundant life includes friends whose purpose it is to share their life with you and I.  Yes, friendships are a wonderful thing, but even more they are blessings from God.     

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Humility

“True humility is a flower which will adorn any garden.  This is a sauce with which you may season every dish of life, and you will find an improvement in every case.” C.H. Spurgeon

Walking around with a covering of humility in this era of self-promotion seems a bit out of place, or does it? What does it mean to be a humble person?  Is there any value in being humble?  Does the world celebrate the truly humble?  Does it [the world] need more humble people?

Humble means

  1. modest:modest and unassuming in attitude and behavior
  2. respectful:feeling or showing respect and deference toward other people
  3. lowly: relatively low in rank and without pretensions

Think of Mother Teresa, a small woman who showed respect, and love for those suffering due to illness and bigotry.

Think of Martin Luther King, a black man who demonstrated that a person’s worth is not defined by skin color, or race but by the fact they are gifts from God.

Or Sand Springs Baptist Church in Athens, Texas that recently raised money to help an avowed atheist who pushed for the removal of Nativity Scene from the county courthouse.  When asked why they did it, the simple answer was because he needed help.  No fanfare.  No trumpets blazing, just the simple commitment to demonstrate that a humble spirit can experience the wonders of God. 

The world prefers the proud and brash. When it does recognize the humble, it comes after much upheavel. The humble prefers to do their work in quiet, knowing a greater reward awaits them.

The humble person is a witness bearer for the truth.  They may reside on your block, even in your home, but they have learned a wonderful lesson, and that is the immense joy of showing love through humility. 

Spurgeon was right.  Humility is a sweet flower that looks good on any table.  How about yours?