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Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

March 6
Guardian of the Fatherless

In thee the fatherless findeth mercy. (Hosea 14:3)

THIS is an excellent reason for casting away all other confidences and relying upon the Lord alone. When a child is left without its natural protector, our God steps in and becomes his guardian: so also when a man has lost every object of dependence, he may cast himself upon the living God and find in Him all that he needs. Orphans are cast upon the fatherhood of God, and He provides for them. The writer of these pages knows what it is to hang on the bare arm of God, and he bears his willing witness that no trust is so well warranted by facts, or so sure to be rewarded by results, as trust in the invisible but ever-living God.

Some children who have fathers are not much the better off because of them, but the fatherless with God are rich. Better have God and no other friend than all the patrons on the earth and no God. To be bereaved of the creature is painful, but so long as the Lord remains the fountain of mercy to us, we are not truly orphaned. Let fatherless children plead the gracious word for this morning, and let all who have been bereaved of visible support do the same, Lord, let me find mercy in Thee! The more needy and helpless I am, the more confidently do I appeal to Thy loving heart.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

March 5
Home Blessings
He blesseth the habitation of the just. (Proverbs 3:33)

HE fears the Lord, and therefore he comes under the divine protection even as to the roof which covers himself and his family. His home is an abode of love, a school of holy training, and a place of heavenly light. In it there is a family altar where the name of the Lord is daily had in reverence. Therefore the Lord blesses his habitation. It may be a humble cottage or a lordly mansion; but the Lord's blessing comes because of the character of the inhabitant and not because of the size of the dwelling.

That house is most blest in which the master and mistress are Godfearing people; but a son or daughter or even a servant may bring a blessing on a whole household. The Lord often preserves, prospers, and provides for a family for the sake of one or two in it, who are "just" persons in His esteem, because His grace has made them so. Beloved, let us have Jesus for our constant guest even as the sisters of Bethany had, and then we shall be blessed indeed.

Let us look to it that in all things we are just—in our trade, in our judgment of others, in our treatment of neighbors, and in our own personal character. A just God cannot bless unjust transactions.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Quote of the Week

The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter VIII
Of Christ the Mediator

V.  The Lord Jesus, by His perfect obedience, and sacrifice of Himself, which He, through the eternal Spirit, once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of His Father; [34] and purchased, not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto Him. [35]

34. Rom. 3:25-26; 5:19; Heb. 9:14; 10:14; Eph. 5:2
35. Dan. 9:24; II Cor. 5:18; Col. 1:20; Eph. 1:11, 14; Heb. 9:12, 15; John 17:2

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

March 4
Honor God

'Them that honour me I will honour.'  -1 Samuel 2:30

DO I make the honour of God the great object of my life and the rule of my conduct? If so, He will honour me. I may for a while receive no honour from man, but God will Himself put honour upon me in the most effectual manner. In the end it will be found the surest way to honour to be willing to be put to shame for conscience' sake.

Eli had not honoured the Lord by ruling his household well, and his sons had not honoured the Lord by behavior worthy of their sacred office, and therefore the Lord did not honour them, but took the high-priesthood out of their family, and made young Samuel to be ruler in the land instead of any of their line. If I would have my family ennobled, I must honour the Lord in all things. God may allow the wicked to win worldly honours; but the dignity which He Himself gives, even glory, honour, and immortality, He reserves for those who by holy obedience take care to honour Him.

What can I do this day to honour the Lord? I will promote His glory by my spoken testimony, and by my practical obedience. I will also honour Him with my substance, and by offering to Him some special service. Let me sit down and think how I can honour Him, since He will honour me.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Peace through the blood of His cross

Colossians 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
   
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

March 3
Not Left to Perish

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither will thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10)

This word has it proper fulfillment in the Lord Jesus; but it applies also, with a variation, to all who are in Him. Our soul shall not be left in the separate state, and our body, though it see corruption, shall rise again. The general meaning, rather than the specific application, is that to which we would call our readers' thoughts at this particular time.

We may descend in spirit very low till we seem to be plunged in the abyss of hell; but we shall not be left there. We may appear to be at death's door in heart, and soul, and consciousness; but we cannot remain there. Our inward death as to joy and hope may proceed very far; but it cannot run on to its full consequences, so as to reach the utter corruption of black despair, We may go very low, but not lower than the Lord permits; we may stay in the lowest dungeon of doubt for a while, but we shall not perish there. The star of hope is still in the sky when the night is blackest. The Lord will not forget us and hand us over to the enemy. Let us rest in hope, We have to deal with One whose mercy endureth forever. Surely, out of death, and darkness, and despair we shall yet arise to life, light, and liberty.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

March 2
Giving Without a Whisper

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in, secret himself shall regard thee openly. (Matthew 6:3-4)

No promise is made to those who give to the poor to be seen of men. They have their reward at once and cannot expect to be paid twice.

Let us hide away our charity—yes, hide it even from ourselves. Give so often and so much as a matter of course that you no more take note that you have helped the poor than that you have eaten your regular meals. Do your alms without even whispering to yourself, How generous I am! Do not thus attempt to reward yourself. Leave the matter with God, who never fails to see, to record, and to reward. Blessed is the man who is busy in secret with his kindness: he finds a special joy in his unknown benevolences. This is the bread, which eaten by stealth, is sweeter than the banquets of kings. How can I indulge myself today with this delightful luxury? Let me have a real feast of tenderness and flow of soul.

Here and hereafter the Lord Himself will personally see to the rewarding of the secret giver of alms. This will be in His own way and time; and He will choose the very best. How much this promise means it will need eternity to reveal.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

That I may gain Christ

Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
   
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

This verse, from my daily Bible reading, really stood out to me this morning in light of my focus on the atonement.

Hebrews 12:1-2. . .let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 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.

The atonement of Christ calls us to an upward call; to forget the things of this world and to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith--the One Who endured the cross "for the joy that was set before Him."

(edited for clarity) 

In Like a Lion

Well, March is certainly making its presence known in Chicagoloand this morning.  We're having thunderstorms with lightning.  For some reason, my Accuweather isn't working this morning, so I'm not sure what the temperature is, but the rain is turning to slush once it hits the ground.  There's a gray half inch of it on the sidewalks and driveways.  The thunder is rattling this old house's windows in their frames and poor Eve gave me the most baleful look when I made her go outside to go potty.

 

Down deep I am excited.  Maybe this means that March will go out like a lamb.  I long for spring.  Today I will begin plotting and planning and thinking of my garden and bees in the lavendar and the butterflies in the coneflower. 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

March 1
Joy for the Cast-Out

Hear the Word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his guard; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. (Isaiah 66:5)

Possibly this text may not apply to one in a thousand of the readers of this little book of promises; but the Lord cheers that one in such words as these. Let us pray for all such as are cast out wrongfully born the society which they love. May the Lord appear to their joy!

The text applies to truly gracious men who tremble at the word of the Lord. These were hated of their brethren and at length cast out because of their fidelity and their holiness. This must have been very bitter to them; and all the more so because their casting out was done in the name of religion, and professedly with the view of glorifying God. How much is done for the devil in the name of God! The use of the name of Jehovah to add venom to the bite of the old serpent is an instance of his subtlety.

The appearing of the Lord for them is the hope of His persecuted people. He appears as the advocate and defender of His elect; and when He does so it means a clear deliverance for the God-fearing and shame for their oppressors. O Lord, fulfill this word to those whom men are deriding!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Today's the Day

 

Gulp.  Today's the day I finally got up the nerve to launch my new business--Bookworm Bookmarks.   Through this new, online venture I have found a way to wed my love for calligraphy with my love for books, quotations, and blogging.  Bookworm Bookmarks is an extension of my work-from-home business, Calligraphics.

 

I've been working on this behind the scenes for a while now.  You can find the permanent link in the sidebar under "My Blogs."  For some reason, the link to the Bookworm Categories isn't working yet, but eventually you will be able to browse through the categories. 

 

So, when you have a few minutes, check it out and let me know what you think! 

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

February 28
Real Estate in Heaven

Knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. (Hebrews 10:34)

This is well. Our substance here is very unsubstantial; there is no substance in it. But God has given us a promise of real estate in the gloryland, and that promise comes to our hearts with such full assurance of its certainty that we know in ourselves that we have an enduring substance there. Yes, "we have" it even now. They say, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush," but we have our bird in the bush and in the hand, too. Heaven is even now our own. We have the title deed of it, we have the earnest of it, we have the firstfruits of it. We have heaven in price, in promise, and in principle; this we know not only by the hearing of the ear but "in ourselves."

Should not the thought of the better substance on the other side of Jordan reconcile us to present losses? Our spending money we may lose, but our treasure is safe. We have lost the shadows, but the substance remains, for our Savior lives, and the place which He has prepared for us abides. There is a better land, a better substance, a better promise; and all this comes to us by a better covenant; wherefore, let us be in better spirits, and say unto the Lord, "Every day will I bless thee; and praise thy name for ever and ever."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Children's Poetry Month: I Never Saw a Moor

Children's Poetry Month is winding down, so I thought I'd add another poem today.  It harmonizes with my morning thoughts of faith and confidence.  Sam had to recite this poem in school a few years ago and I learned it right along with him.  It didn't take long to memorize; it's just a few short lines.  I like it.  I hope you do, too.

I Never Saw a Moor

I never saw a moor
I never saw the sea;
Yet I know how the heather looks,
And what a wave must be.

I never spoke with God,
Nor visited in Heaven;
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the chart were given.

Emily Dickinson 

This Constant Confidence

This morning's Daily Entry in the Chequebook of the Bank of Faith reminded me of this quote from Thomas Watson.  "This constant confidence" that Spurgeon speaks of is the very thing from which our contentment comes.

Contentment is a divine thing: It becomes ours, not by acquisition, but infusion; it is a slip taken off from the tree of life, and planted by the spirit of God in the soul; it is a fruit that grows not in the garden of philosophy, but is of a heavenly birth: it is therefore very observable that contentment is joined with godliness, and is profitable: "godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Tim.6:6).

Contentment is an intrinsical thing: Contentment hath both fountain and stream in the soul…Thieves may plunder us of our money and plate, but not of this pearl of contentment, unless we are willing to part with it, for it is locked up in the cabinet of the heart; the soul which is possessed of this rich treasure of contentment, is like Noah in the ark, that can sing in the midst of a deluge"

Contentment is a habitual thing: It shines with a fixed light in the firmament of the soul. Contentment does not appear only now and then, as some stars which are seen but seldom; it is a settled attitude of the heart.

Thomas Watson, the Art of Divine Contentment (1855)

Confidence leading to contentment. 

Psalm 125:1-2  

Those who trust in the LORD
         Are like Mount Zion,
         Which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
         So the LORD surrounds His people
         From this time forth and forever.  

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

Unstaggering Trustfulness
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. (Psalm 112:7)

Suspense is dreadful. When we have no news from home, we are apt to grow anxious, and we cannot be persuaded that "no news is good news." Faith is the cure for this condition of sadness; the Lord by His Spirit settles the mind in holy serenity, and all fear is gone as to the future as well as the present.

The fixedness of heart spoken of by the psalmist is to be diligently sought after. It is not believing this or that promise of the Lord, but the general condition of unstaggering trustfulness in our God, the confidence which we have in Him that He will neither do us ill Himself nor suffer anyone else to harm us. This constant confidence meets the unknown as well as the known of life. Let the morrow be what it may, our God is the God of tomorrow. Whatever events may have happened, which to us are unknown, our Jehovah is God of the unknown as well as of the known. We are determined to trust the Lord, come what may. If the very worst should happen, our God is still the greatest and best. Therefore will we not fear though the postman's knock should startle us or a telegram wake us at midnight. The Lord liveth, and what can His children fear?

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Consequent Absolute Necessity

Redemption Accomplished and Applied

Notes, Chapter One (con't.)

 

Why did Christ have to die?  Why was it necessary?

 

We looked briefly at one common answer to this nearly universal question, the Hypothetical Necessity.  Today we'll look at the most commonly held view, the classical Protestant view of Consequent Absolute Necessity.

 

In a nutshell, this view begins with the understanding that God didn't have to save anyone; it was entirely according to the good pleasure of His Will that He purposed to save a people for Himself:

 

Ephesians 1:5-7  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

 

In other words, the saving of fallen man was not of absolute necessity in and of itself, however, once decreed, it followed that sin must, by necessity, be atoned for--absolutely.  Because God purposed to save us, it became necessary "to secure this salvation through a satisfaction that could be rendered only through substitutionary sacrifice and blood-bought redemption."

 

Murray lays out six reasons that a substitutionary sacrifice is absolutely necessary and he reminds us that all these Scriptural references must be taken "together and cumulatively."

 

1. Christ, our suffering Captain:

 

Hebrews 2:10-17  For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying:

    “ I will declare Your name to My brethren;
      In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
13 And again:
    “ I will put My trust in Him.”

And again:
    “ Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”

 

14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

 

In order for us to be "accepted in the beloved as adopted children, we needed a "suffering Captain."  Ephesians 1 tells us that that Captain is Christ Himself.

 

2. Eternal Life or Eternal Perdition?

 John 3:16  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. 

 

Murray explains that the positive reading of this verse tells us that those who believe in the One He has given will have everlasting life.  From this statement we can deduce it's corollary; the negative reading of the verse:  Those who do not believe will perish eternally.  John 3:16 also speaks to the uniqueness of Christ as the absolute answer; there is no other alternative.

 

3. "The efficacy of Christ's work is contingent upon the unique constitution of Christ's person."  So serious is our sin, so utterly does it separate us that only the "perfect, final, transcendant efficacy" of Christ's sacrifice can atone for it:

 

Hebrews 1:1-3 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 

 

Hebrews 2:9-18  9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
  
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying:

“ I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”
13 And again:
    “ I will put My trust in Him.”
And again:
    “ Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”

14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. 

 

Hebrews 9:9-14  9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
   
11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

 

Hebrews 9:22-28  22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

 

We usually think of the Levitical sacrifices as being the forerunner to the sacrifice of Christ, however, as the verses above explain, they themselves were copies of things in the heavens where the blood of Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many.

 

This application of the blood of Christ in the heavenlies was of absolute necessity because:

 

a) sin is an absolute reality

b) only a person with flesh and blood can bleed and die and only "the effulgence of the Fathger's glory and the express image of  His substance"--pure, righteous, and holy--could secure forgiveness of sin.

 

4.  Not only does the atonement secure remission of sin--because of Christ's perfect righteousness and obedience it secures our justification as well.  It is not only forgiveness we require; we need righteousness and only the perfect, obedient righteousness of Christ is the remedy for our condition.

 Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

 

5.  The infinite, supreme sacrifice of Christ demonstrates the love of God.

 

 Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

1 John 4:10  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

Romans 8:32  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

 

And finally, 6. Not only does Christ's sacrifice secure remission of sin and justification, it vidicates the demands of justice: 

Romans 3:21-26  But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

 

". . .in the work of Christ the dictates of holiness and the demands of justice have been fully vindicated.

 

Murray concludes Chapter One with this thought:

 

"The more we emphasize the inflexible demands of justice and holiness the more marvelous become the love of God and its provisions."

 

UPDATE:  Pam of "a rustling of leaves" is blogging her way through Redemption Accomplished and Applied, too.  Here is a link to her reflections on Chapter One.

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

TRUTH wears well. Time tests it, but it right well endures the trial. If, then, I have spoken the truth, and have for the present to suffer for it, I must be content to wait. If also I believe the truth of God and endeavor to declare it, I may meet with much opposition, but I need not fear, for ultimately the truth must prevail.

What a poor thing is the temporary triumph of falsehood! 'A lying lip is but for a moment!' It is a mere gourd, which comes up in a night, and perishes in a night; and the greater its development the more manifest its decay. On the other hand, how worthy of an immortal being is the avowal and defense of that truth which can never change; the everlasting gospel, which is established in the immutable truth of an unchanging God! An old proverb saith, 'He that speaks truth shames the devil.' Assuredly he that speaks the truth of God will put to shame all the devils in hell, and confound all the seed of the serpent which now hiss out their falsehoods.

O my heart, take care that thou be in all things on the side of truth, both in small things and great; but, specially, on the side of Him by whom grace and truth have come among men!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon 

Quote of the Week

 My friend, Leslie, from Lux Venit left this quote in the comments section of a recent post:  Love's Determinate Purpose.  How deep the Father's love for us. . .

"...And so we must say that this love of the Father was at no point more intensely in exercise than when the Son was actively drinking the cup of unrelieved damnation, than when he was enduring as substitute the full toll of the Father's wrath...What love for men that the Father should execute upon his own Son the full toll of holy wrath, so that we should never taste it!" (from Murray, Collected Writings, as quoted in Reymond, A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, pg. 642)

How Deep the Father’s Love for Us

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.

Words and Music by Stuart Townend, 1995

Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith

February 25
Set Apart

Ye shall be named the priests of the Lord. (Isaiah 61:6)

This literal promise to Israel belongs spiritually to the seed after the Spirit, namely, to all believers. If we live up to our privileges, we shall live unto God so clearly and distinctly that men shall see that we are set apart for holy service and shall name us the priests of the Lord. We may work or trade as others do, and yet we may be solely and wholly the ministering servants of God. Our one occupation shall be to present the perpetual sacrifice of prayer, and praise, and testimony, and self-consecration to the living God by Jesus Christ.

This being our one aim, we may leave distracting concerns to those who have no higher calling. "Let the dead bury their dead." It is written, "Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vine-dressers," They may manage politics, puzzle out financial problems, discuss science, and settle the last new quibbles of criticism; but we will give ourselves unto such service as becomes those who, like the Lord Jesus, are ordained to a perpetual priesthood.

Accepting this honorable promise as involving a sacred duty, let us put on the vestments of holiness and minister before the Lord all day long.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon