"The kindness and love of God our Saviour."

"The kindness and love of God our Saviour."

Titus 3:4

How sweet it is to behold the Saviour communing with his own beloved people! 

There can be nothing more delightful than, by the Divine Spirit, to be led into this fertile field of delight. 

Let the mind for an instant consider the history of the Redeemer's love, and a thousand enchanting acts of affection will suggest themselves, all of which have had for their design the weaving of the heart into Christ, and the intertwisting of the thoughts and emotions of the renewed soul with the mind of Jesus. 

When we meditate upon this amazing love, and behold the all-glorious Kinsman of the Church endowing her with all his ancient wealth, our souls may well faint for joy. Who is he that can endure such a weight of love? That partial sense of it which the Holy Spirit is sometimes pleased to afford, is more than the soul can contain; how transporting must be a complete view of it! When the soul shall have understanding to discern all the Saviour's gifts, wisdom wherewith to estimate them, and time in which to meditate upon them, such as the world to come will afford us, we shall then commune with Jesus in a nearer manner than at present. 

But who can imagine the sweetness of such fellowship? It must be one of the things which have not entered into the heart of man, but which God hath prepared for them that love him. Oh, to burst open the door of our Joseph's granaries, and see the plenty which he hath stored up for us! 

This will overwhelm us with love. 

By faith we see, as in a glass darkly, the reflected image of his unbounded treasures, but when we shall actually see the heavenly things themselves, with our own eyes, how deep will be the stream of fellowship in which our soul shall bathe itself! Till then our loudest sonnets shall be reserved for our loving benefactor, 

Jesus Christ our Lord, whose love to us is wonderful, passing the love of women.

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

God is high and holy. God is righteous and majestic.

Isaiah 57:15 (NIV). 

For this is what the high and lofty One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy:''I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.''...... 

Thoughts on This Verse... 

Jesus' coming to earth is not inconsistent with the God who reveals himself in the Old Testament.

God is high and holy. 

God is righteous and majestic. 

However, God loves people, especially people who come to him knowing that they need his love and grace. 

To those who seek him with passion and reverence, God brings revival that touches the spirit and heart.

How is suffering a privilege?

Philippians 1:29 (NIV). 

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him .......... 

Thoughts on This Verse... 

Suffer! How is suffering a privilege? 

It's not unless it is for Jesus. 

Remember how the early apostles were joyful because they were counted worthy to suffer for the name? 

(cf. Acts 5:41.) 

You see, he suffered for us so we could be saved. When we face suffering for the cause of Christ and his Kingdom, we help inspire others to live faithfully in adversity and show to all the genuineness of our faith. 

So few have anything worthy of their living, dying, or suffering. 

We have reason for all three: 

our lives will be caught up in Jesus' victory! 

(cf. Rom 8:32-39; 1 Cor. 15.)

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

"These were potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work."1 Chronicles 4:23

Potters were the very highest grade of workers, but "the king" needed potters, and therefore they were in royal service, although the material upon which they worked was nothing but clay. 

We, too, may be engaged in the most menial part of the Lord's work, but it is a great privilege to do anything for 

"the king"; 

and therefore we will abide in our calling, hoping that, "although we have lien among the pots, yet shall we be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold." 

The text tells us of those who dwelt among plants and hedges, having rough, rustic, hedging and ditching work to do. They may have desired to live in the city, amid its life, society, and refinement, but they kept their appointed places, for they also were doing the king's work. The place of our habitation is fixed, and we are not to remove from it out of whim and caprice, but seek to serve the Lord in it, by being a blessing to those among whom we reside. 

These potters and gardeners had royal company, for they dwelt "with the king" and although among hedges and plants, they dwelt with the king there. No lawful place, or gracious occupation, however mean, can debar us from communion with our divine Lord. In visiting hovels, swarming lodging-houses, workhouses, or jails, we may go with the king. In all works of faith we may count upon Jesus' fellowship. It is when we are in his work that we may reckon upon his smile. Ye unknown workers who are occupied for your Lord amid the dirt and wretchedness of the lowest of the low, be of good cheer, for jewels have been found upon dunghills ere now, earthen pots have been filled with heavenly treasure, and ill weeds have been transformed into precious flowers. 

Dwell ye with the King for his work, and when he writes his chronicles your name shall be recorded.

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh."

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh."

Galatians 5:17

In every believer's heart there is a constant struggle between the old nature and the new. The old nature is very active, and loses no opportunity of plying all the weapons of its deadly armoury against newborn grace; while on the other hand, the new nature is ever on the watch to resist and destroy its enemy. 


Grace within us will employ prayer, and faith, and hope, and love, to cast out the evil; it takes unto it the "whole armour of God," and wrestles earnestly. These two opposing natures will never cease to struggle so long as we are in this world. 


The battle of "Christian" with "Apollyon" lasted three hours, but the battle of Christian with himself lasted all the way from the Wicket Gate to the river Jordan. The enemy is so securely entrenched within us that he can never be driven out while we are in this body: but although we are closely beset, and often in sore conflict, we have an Almighty helper, even Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, who is ever with us, and who assures us that we shall eventually come off more than conquerors through Him. 


With such assistance the new-born nature is more than a match for its foes. Are you fighting with the adversary today? Are Satan, the world, and the flesh, all against you? Be not discouraged nor dismayed. Fight on! For God Himself is with you; Jehovah Nissi is your banner, and Jehovah Rophi is the healer of your wounds. Fear not, you shall overcome, for who can defeat Omnipotence? Fight on, "looking unto Jesus;" and though long and stern be the conflict, sweet will be the victory, and glorious the promised reward. 


"From strength to strength go on; 
Wrestle, and fight, and pray, 
Tread all the powers of darkness down, 
And win the well-fought day."

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

"The evening and the morning were the first day."

"The evening and the morning were the first day."

Genesis 1:5

Was it so even in the beginning? 

Did light and darkness divide the realm of time in the first day? 

Then little wonder is it if I have also changes in my circumstances from the sunshine of prosperity to the midnight of adversity. 

It will not always be the blaze of noon even in my soul concerns, I must expect at seasons to mourn the absence of my former joys, and seek my Beloved in the night. 

Nor am I alone in this, for all the Lord's beloved ones have had to sing the mingled song of judgment and of mercy, of trial and deliverance, of mourning and of delight. It is one of the arrangements of Divine providence that day and night shall not cease either in the spiritual or natural creation till we reach the land of which it is written, 

"there is no night there." 

What our heavenly Father ordains is wise and good.

What, then, my soul, is it best for thee to do? Learn first to be content with this divine order, and be willing, with Job, to receive evil from the hand of the Lord as well as good. Study next, to make the outgoings of the morning and the evening to rejoice. Praise the Lord for the sun of joy when it rises, and for the gloom of evening as it falls. There is beauty both in sunrise and sunset; sing of it, and glorify the Lord. Like the nightingale, pour forth thy notes at all hours. 

Believe that the night is as useful as the day. The dews of grace fall heavily in the night of sorrow. The stars of promise shine forth gloriously amid the darkness of grief.

Continue thy service under all changes. If in the day thy watchword be labour, at night exchange it for watch. Every hour has its duty, do thou continue in thy calling as the Lord's servant until he shall suddenly appear in his glory. 

My soul, thine evening of old age and death is drawing near; dread it not, for it is part of the day; and the Lord has said, "I will cover him all the day long."

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

Shout for joy !!!

Psalm 100:1 (NIV). 

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth....... 

Thoughts on This Verse... 

With joy, Let's praise and make a joyful noise to the LORD of lords and the King of kings today. 

Let's find short moments during our day, 

seize them, and use them to give thanks and praise to our Father in heaven. 

When we are blessed, let's take a moment and pause for praise. 

In every good thing, let's share a phrase of praise to our gracious Father. 

"The king also himself passed over the brook Kidron."

"The king also himself passed over the brook Kidron."2 Samuel 15:23

David passed that gloomy brook when flying with his mourning company from his traitor son. 

The man after God's own heart was not exempt from trouble, nay, his life was full of it. 

He was both the Lord's Anointed, and the Lord's Afflicted. 

Why then should we expect to escape? At sorrow's gates the noblest of our race have waited with ashes on their heads; wherefore then should we complain as though some strange thing had happened unto us?

The King of kings himself was not favoured with a more cheerful or royal road. He passed over the filthy ditch of Kidron, through which the filth of Jerusalem flowed. 

God had one Son without sin, but not a single child without the rod. It is a great joy to believe that Jesus has been tempted in all points like as we are. 

What is our Kidron this morning? 

Is it a faithless friend, a sad bereavement, a slanderous reproach, a dark foreboding? The King has passed over all these. Is it bodily pain, poverty, persecution, or contempt? Over each of these Kidrons the King has gone before us. "In all our afflictions he was afflicted." The idea of strangeness in our trials must be banished at once and forever, for he who is the Head of all saints, knows by experience the grief which we think so peculiar. 

All the citizens of Zion must be free of the Honourable Company of Mourners, of which the Prince Immanuel is Head and Captain.

Notwithstanding the abasement of David, he yet returned in triumph to his city, and David's Lord arose victorious from the grave; let us then be of good courage, for we also shall win the day. We shall yet with joy draw water out of the wells of salvation, though now for a season we have to pass by the noxious streams of sin and sorrow. 

Courage, soldiers of the Cross, the King himself triumphed after going over Kidron, and so shall you.

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

Coming of Christ !!!

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, 

with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel 

and with the trumpet call of God, 

and the dead in Christ will rise first. 

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 

And so we will be with the Lord forever.

The presence of the Lord !!!

Psalm 31:16 (NIV). 

Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love....... 

Thoughts on This Verse... 

Can your faith hold during trying times? 

I hope mine can! 

This is a Psalm written during trying times. However, no matter how difficult the situation, the Psalmist still knows who God is and what he can do when he decides to do it. 

Even in trial he doesn't lose sight of the blessing that comes from the presence of the LORD.

 

"Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines."

"Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines."

Song of Solomon 2:15

A little thorn may cause much suffering. A little cloud may hide the sun. Little foxes spoil the vines; and little sins do mischief to the tender heart. 

These little sins burrow in the soul, and make it so full of that which is hateful to Christ, that he will hold no comfortable fellowship and communion with us. A great sin cannot destroy a Christian, but a little sin can make him miserable. Jesus will not walk with his people unless they drive out every known sin.

He says, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love." Some Christians very seldom enjoy their Saviour's presence. 

How is this? Surely it must be an affliction for a tender child to be separated from his father. Art thou a child of God, and yet satisfied to go on without seeing thy Father's face? What! thou the spouse of Christ, and yet content without his company! Surely, thou hast fallen into a sad state, for the chaste spouse of Christ mourns like a dove without her mate, when he has left her. Ask, then, the question, what has driven Christ from thee? He hides his face behind the wall of thy sins. 

That wall may be built up of little pebbles, as easily as of great stones. The sea is made of drops; the rocks are made of grains: and the sea which divides thee from Christ may be filled with the drops of thy little sins; and the rock which has well nigh wrecked thy barque, may have been made by the daily working of the coral insects of thy little sins. 

If thou wouldst live with Christ, and walk with Christ, and see Christ, and have fellowship with Christ, take heed of "the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes." Jesus invites you to go with him and take them. 

He will surely, like Samson, take the foxes at once and easily. Go with him to the hunting.

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."

GOD'S FAITHFUL PRESENCE !!!

OUR LIFE IS FULL OF BROKENESS---BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS, BROKEN PROMISES, BROKEN EXPECTATIONS.  HOW CAN WE LIVE WITH  THAT BROKENNESS WITHOUT BECOMING BITTER

AND RESENTFUL EXCEPT BY RETURNING AGAIN 

AND AGAIN TO GOD FAITHFUL PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES?..........

By Henri Nouwen 

GOD BLESS THE MAN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM !!!

Memorial Day Comments

Your word is a lamp to my feet !!!

Psalm 119:105 (NIV). 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.......

Thoughts on This Verse... 

So often, those of us who have received the blessings of faith and the guidelines of 

the Word of God don't fully appreciate them. 

Can you imagine what it is like to try to define ones worth, clarify ones values, and establish ones sense of purpose without a standard of truth? 

Imagine what it would be like to be lost without a map and without a compass? Remember what it was like to wake up in an unfamiliar place as a child in the pitch black darkness totally disoriented? 

We don't have to worry about that now, do we? God's Word -- both Scripture and his Son -- light our dark paths and show us the way home! 

"Thou hatest wickedness."

"Thou hatest wickedness."

Psalm 45:7

"Be ye angry, and sin not." 

There can hardly be goodness in a man if he be not angry at sin; he who loves truth must hate every false way. How our Lord Jesus hated it when the temptation came! Thrice it assailed him in different forms, but ever he met it with, "Get thee behind me, Satan." 

He hated it in others; none the less fervently because he showed his hate oftener in tears of pity than in words of rebuke; yet what language could be more stern, more Elijah-like, than the words, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer." 

He hated wickedness, so much that he bled to wound it to the heart; he died that it might die; he was buried that he might bury it in his tomb; and he rose that he might forever trample it beneath his feet. 

Christ is in the Gospel, and that Gospel is opposed to wickedness in every shape. Wickedness arrays itself in fair garments, and imitates the language of holiness; but the precepts of Jesus, like his famous scourge of small cords, chase it out of the temple, and will not tolerate it in the Church. So, too, in the heart where Jesus reigns, what war there is between Christ and Belial! 

And when our Redeemer shall come to be our Judge, those thundering words, "Depart, ye cursed" which are, indeed, but a prolongation of his life-teaching concerning sin, shall manifest his abhorrence of iniquity. As warm as is his love to sinners, so hot is his hatred of sin; as perfect as is his righteousness, so complete shall be the destruction of every form of wickedness. 

O thou glorious champion of right, and destroyer of wrong, for this cause hath God, even thy God, anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Today's reading taken from Charles Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening."