"Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes--and he dined regularly in the presence of the king of Babylon for the rest of his life. As for his allowance, a regular allowance was given to him by the king, a portion for each day, for the rest of his life." 2 Kings 25:29-30
Jehoiachin was not sent away from the king's palace with a 'supply' to last him for months, but his provision was given him as a daily pension. Herein he well pictures the happy position of all the Lord's people. A daily portion is all that a man really needs. We do not need tomorrow's portion; for that day has not yet dawned, and its needs are as yet unborn. The thirst which we may suffer in the month of June does not need to be quenched in February, for we do not feel it yet. If we have enough for each day as the days arrive, we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day is all that we can enjoy.
We cannot eat or wear more than the day's supply of food and clothing. Any surplus gives us the care of storing it, and the anxiety of watching against a thief. One staff aids a traveler, but a bundle of staffs is a heavy burden. Enough is not only as good as a feast, but is all that the greatest glutton can truly enjoy. Enough is all that we should expect; a craving for more than this is ungrateful. When our Father does not give us more, we should be content with His daily allowance.
Jehoiachin's case is ours--we have . . .
a sure portion;
a portion given to us by the King;
a gracious portion;
and a perpetual portion.
Here is sure ground for thankfulness.
Beloved Christian, in matters of grace, you need a daily supply. You have no store of grace. Day by day must you seek help from above. It is a very sweet assurance that a daily portion is provided for you. In the Word, by meditation, in prayer, and waiting upon God, you shall receive renewed grace and strength. In Jesus, all needful things are laid up for you. Never go hungry while the daily bread of grace is on the table of mercy! Enjoy your continual allowance!
"Give us each day our daily bread." Luke 11:3
"As your days, so shall your strength be." Deuteronomy 33:25
- C. H. Spurgeon
Friday, March 27, 2009
What about Tatoos?
"You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves: I am the Lord." (Lev. 19:28); "All things are lawful but not all things are profitable; all things are lawful, but not all things edify." (1 Cor. 10:23)
Tattoos are a growing "art collection" for over 45 million people -- even the 50 year old "Totally Stylin" Barbie comes complete with attachable tattoos. One out of every three adults under 35 has one, and over 75 percent of people would get one if it was the right art. Body piercings are even higher.
So why is God against them -- or is He? Here are three considerations to take before hanging a picture on your body:
First, tattoos are lawful -- as long as they don’t represent a participation in idolatry, which is the context of the Leviticus passage. Cutting the body, rounding off the beard (vs. 27), and tattoos were pagan rites and rituals that sought to appease the gods on the departure of loved ones. Few, if any, today get a tattoo for those reasons. But if there's an idol attached, consider it scratched.
Second, tattoos must be profitable -- and this doesn't mean making money as a tattoo artist. Think before you ink. Will my tattoo, even a "Christian" one, glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31) or am I simply getting one to look cool around others -- or worse, getting the "tramp stamp" to be sexy? Will this help or hinder my modest appearance (1 Tim. 2:9)? Anyone can say they’ve prayed about it, but being profitable means you can show a return on being an ambassador for Christ with the body God has given you (Matt. 25:20-21; Rom. 14:23).
Third, they must be edifying. Will my tattoo cause a weaker brother/sister to follow my course of action for which they have no faith (1 Cor. 8:10-12)? While no man is our master when it comes to tattoos (1 Cor. 7:23), every man is our mission when it comes to service (1 Cor. 9:19-23). Neglect that principle and you’re disqualified from the race (1 Cor. 9:26).
Advice? Don't get one if you haven't, and don't fret if you have. While tattoos, in my opinion, close more doors for the gospel than they open, they also can become a helpful reminder to others of what not to do. You’re called to be holy -- embrace the separation (2 Cor. 6:14-18; 1 Pet. 2:9). After all, if anyone asks, tell them you already have a "tattoo" -- "Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads" (Rev. 14:1).
- Mark Lacour
Tattoos are a growing "art collection" for over 45 million people -- even the 50 year old "Totally Stylin" Barbie comes complete with attachable tattoos. One out of every three adults under 35 has one, and over 75 percent of people would get one if it was the right art. Body piercings are even higher.
So why is God against them -- or is He? Here are three considerations to take before hanging a picture on your body:
First, tattoos are lawful -- as long as they don’t represent a participation in idolatry, which is the context of the Leviticus passage. Cutting the body, rounding off the beard (vs. 27), and tattoos were pagan rites and rituals that sought to appease the gods on the departure of loved ones. Few, if any, today get a tattoo for those reasons. But if there's an idol attached, consider it scratched.
Second, tattoos must be profitable -- and this doesn't mean making money as a tattoo artist. Think before you ink. Will my tattoo, even a "Christian" one, glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31) or am I simply getting one to look cool around others -- or worse, getting the "tramp stamp" to be sexy? Will this help or hinder my modest appearance (1 Tim. 2:9)? Anyone can say they’ve prayed about it, but being profitable means you can show a return on being an ambassador for Christ with the body God has given you (Matt. 25:20-21; Rom. 14:23).
Third, they must be edifying. Will my tattoo cause a weaker brother/sister to follow my course of action for which they have no faith (1 Cor. 8:10-12)? While no man is our master when it comes to tattoos (1 Cor. 7:23), every man is our mission when it comes to service (1 Cor. 9:19-23). Neglect that principle and you’re disqualified from the race (1 Cor. 9:26).
Advice? Don't get one if you haven't, and don't fret if you have. While tattoos, in my opinion, close more doors for the gospel than they open, they also can become a helpful reminder to others of what not to do. You’re called to be holy -- embrace the separation (2 Cor. 6:14-18; 1 Pet. 2:9). After all, if anyone asks, tell them you already have a "tattoo" -- "Then I looked, and behold, the Lamb was standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads" (Rev. 14:1).
- Mark Lacour
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Eye of Faith
"We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal!" 2 Corinthians 4:18
In our Christian pilgrimage it is well, for the most part, to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown and onward is the goal. Whether it is for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love, the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith!
Looking into the future, the Christian sees sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, the soul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker of eternal glory. Looking further yet, the believer's enlightened eye can see death's river passed. He sees himself enter within the pearly gates, hailed as more than conqueror, crowned by the hand of Christ, embraced in the arms of Jesus, glorified with Him, and
made to sit together with Him on His throne!
Contemplation of my glorious future may well relieve the darkness of the past and the gloom of the present! The joys of heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth!
Hush, hush, my fears! Death is but a narrow stream and you shall soon have forded it! Death--how brief! Immortality--how endless! Time--how short! Eternity--how long! The road is so, so short! I shall soon be there!
"In the future, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day; and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing!"
2 Timothy 4:8
- C. H. Spurgeon
In our Christian pilgrimage it is well, for the most part, to be looking forward. Forward lies the crown and onward is the goal. Whether it is for hope, for joy, for consolation, or for the inspiring of our love, the future must, after all, be the grand object of the eye of faith!
Looking into the future, the Christian sees sin cast out, the body of sin and death destroyed, the soul made perfect, and fit to be a partaker of eternal glory. Looking further yet, the believer's enlightened eye can see death's river passed. He sees himself enter within the pearly gates, hailed as more than conqueror, crowned by the hand of Christ, embraced in the arms of Jesus, glorified with Him, and
made to sit together with Him on His throne!
Contemplation of my glorious future may well relieve the darkness of the past and the gloom of the present! The joys of heaven will surely compensate for the sorrows of earth!
Hush, hush, my fears! Death is but a narrow stream and you shall soon have forded it! Death--how brief! Immortality--how endless! Time--how short! Eternity--how long! The road is so, so short! I shall soon be there!
"In the future, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day; and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing!"
2 Timothy 4:8
- C. H. Spurgeon
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
When I'm Down in the Dumps
There is really only one direction to look when you are cast down and really in the dumps, whether it is discouragement or deeper depression.
1. Don't Look Within
This is often the biggest mistake and what causes one to sink down in the beginning; you surely don't want to look within, but we often do, to our own detriment, thus delaying coming out of the pit of discouragement.
2. Don't Look Outward
By this, I mean that do not focus on what is happening around you; you do not want to look outward, focusing on the circumstances, pressures, and outward situation you find yourself in. That will in no way help you, but will only drag you down deeper.
Instead, there is a clear path to take--a choice to make-- once you realize you are down or are sinking down in the valley, with the clouds of despondency gathering around you like a fog, and you are neutralized and unable to even know what to do.
3. Look Upward
The only way to look is up, that is to God the Father, to Christ the Saviour, to heaven, from whence comes our help always, in every situation, regardless of the circumstances or how deeply one is cast down.
Here are some things that can always help in this regard.
1. Pour Out
Get alone, away from everyone; then pour out your feelings honestly to your dear friend and only Helper, Jesus your compassionate Saviour. Tell Him all you feel--tell Him exactly how you feel, no matter how painful it is to be that honest. Pour it out, ugliness and all, feelings and all, struggles and all; hold nothing back--pour it all out to the only one who can ultimately help you out of it. Tell the Saviour--come to Him and bring with you all your words.
2. Pour Over
Get alone away from everyone for at least 2 hours, then open the Bible and ask God to give you exactly what you need to help you; then begin to pour over the Word of God for several hours, reading it slowly, praying back to the Lord anything that speaks to you; stay there and keep doing it until light arises in your mind and comfort begins to come to your heart. David, in Ps. 119, said that the Scriptures were his counselors. Do we need other people at times to counsel us? Yes, but we first need the Bible as our counselor. It addresses anything we can be going through. Pour over it, praying it, taking it in, renewing your mind to it, until help begins to come.
3. Look Deliberately
Look deliberately and consciously to Christ alone, away from yourself, away from your circumstances, and focus on Him; He has the answers, the wisdom, the counsel, the help, the relief, the directions, the encouragement that He alone can provide.
If we learn to make Him our refuge, we will find help more regularly and much quicker. If we don't, we won't.
- Mack T.
1. Don't Look Within
This is often the biggest mistake and what causes one to sink down in the beginning; you surely don't want to look within, but we often do, to our own detriment, thus delaying coming out of the pit of discouragement.
2. Don't Look Outward
By this, I mean that do not focus on what is happening around you; you do not want to look outward, focusing on the circumstances, pressures, and outward situation you find yourself in. That will in no way help you, but will only drag you down deeper.
Instead, there is a clear path to take--a choice to make-- once you realize you are down or are sinking down in the valley, with the clouds of despondency gathering around you like a fog, and you are neutralized and unable to even know what to do.
3. Look Upward
The only way to look is up, that is to God the Father, to Christ the Saviour, to heaven, from whence comes our help always, in every situation, regardless of the circumstances or how deeply one is cast down.
Here are some things that can always help in this regard.
1. Pour Out
Get alone, away from everyone; then pour out your feelings honestly to your dear friend and only Helper, Jesus your compassionate Saviour. Tell Him all you feel--tell Him exactly how you feel, no matter how painful it is to be that honest. Pour it out, ugliness and all, feelings and all, struggles and all; hold nothing back--pour it all out to the only one who can ultimately help you out of it. Tell the Saviour--come to Him and bring with you all your words.
2. Pour Over
Get alone away from everyone for at least 2 hours, then open the Bible and ask God to give you exactly what you need to help you; then begin to pour over the Word of God for several hours, reading it slowly, praying back to the Lord anything that speaks to you; stay there and keep doing it until light arises in your mind and comfort begins to come to your heart. David, in Ps. 119, said that the Scriptures were his counselors. Do we need other people at times to counsel us? Yes, but we first need the Bible as our counselor. It addresses anything we can be going through. Pour over it, praying it, taking it in, renewing your mind to it, until help begins to come.
3. Look Deliberately
Look deliberately and consciously to Christ alone, away from yourself, away from your circumstances, and focus on Him; He has the answers, the wisdom, the counsel, the help, the relief, the directions, the encouragement that He alone can provide.
If we learn to make Him our refuge, we will find help more regularly and much quicker. If we don't, we won't.
- Mack T.
Monday, March 23, 2009
The Life of a Christian
O soul, consider this deeply: it is the life of a Christian that carries more conviction and persuasion than his words. Even if you, like an angel, talk of Christ, of the gospel, of the doctrines of grace, and of heaven, yet if you indulge devilish tempers, and live under the power of any sinful lusts and passions, you will hereby harden others against the things of God and prevent their setting out in the ways of God. Study and pray to be a consistent walker in the ways of holiness; otherwise, all is but windy profession and airy talk. O, how much harm is done to Christ's cause by the unholy walk of many professors!
- John Bunyan
- John Bunyan
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Never Out of Reach of Temptation
"One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, a very beautiful woman." 2 Samuel 11:2
At that hour David saw Bathsheba. We are never out of the reach of temptation! Both at home and abroad, we are liable to meet with allurements to evil. The morning opens with peril and the shadows of evening find us still in jeopardy. They are well kept whom God keeps! But woe unto those who go forth into the world, or even dare to walk their own house unarmed. Those who think themselves secure are more exposed to danger than any others. The armor-bearer of sin is self-confidence.
David should have been engaged in fighting the Lord's battles, instead of which he tarried at Jerusalem, and gave himself up to luxurious repose, for he arose from his bed in the evening. Idleness and luxury are the devil's jackals, and find him abundant prey. In stagnant waters, noxious creatures swarm. Neglected soil soon yields a dense tangle of weeds and briers. Oh for the constraining love of Jesus to keep us active and useful!
When I see the King of Israel sluggishly leaving his couch at the close of the day, and falling at once into temptation, let me take warning, and set holy watchfulness to guard the door! Is it possible that the king had mounted his housetop for prayer and devotion? If so, what a caution is given us to count no place, however secret, as a sanctuary from sin!
While our hearts are so like a tinder-box, and sparks so plentiful, we had need use all diligence in all places to prevent a blaze. Satan can climb housetops and enter closets! And even if we could shut out that foul fiend, our own corruptions are enough to work our ruin unless God's grace prevents it.
Reader, beware of evening temptations. Be not secure. The sun is down, but sin is up. We need a watchman for the night as well as a guardian for the day. O blessed Spirit, keep us from all evil this day and this night.
- C. H. Spurgeon
At that hour David saw Bathsheba. We are never out of the reach of temptation! Both at home and abroad, we are liable to meet with allurements to evil. The morning opens with peril and the shadows of evening find us still in jeopardy. They are well kept whom God keeps! But woe unto those who go forth into the world, or even dare to walk their own house unarmed. Those who think themselves secure are more exposed to danger than any others. The armor-bearer of sin is self-confidence.
David should have been engaged in fighting the Lord's battles, instead of which he tarried at Jerusalem, and gave himself up to luxurious repose, for he arose from his bed in the evening. Idleness and luxury are the devil's jackals, and find him abundant prey. In stagnant waters, noxious creatures swarm. Neglected soil soon yields a dense tangle of weeds and briers. Oh for the constraining love of Jesus to keep us active and useful!
When I see the King of Israel sluggishly leaving his couch at the close of the day, and falling at once into temptation, let me take warning, and set holy watchfulness to guard the door! Is it possible that the king had mounted his housetop for prayer and devotion? If so, what a caution is given us to count no place, however secret, as a sanctuary from sin!
While our hearts are so like a tinder-box, and sparks so plentiful, we had need use all diligence in all places to prevent a blaze. Satan can climb housetops and enter closets! And even if we could shut out that foul fiend, our own corruptions are enough to work our ruin unless God's grace prevents it.
Reader, beware of evening temptations. Be not secure. The sun is down, but sin is up. We need a watchman for the night as well as a guardian for the day. O blessed Spirit, keep us from all evil this day and this night.
- C. H. Spurgeon
Never Out of Reach of Temptation
"One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing, a very beautiful woman." 2 Samuel 11:2
At that hour David saw Bathsheba. We are never out of the reach of temptation! Both at home and abroad, we are liable to meet with allurements to evil. The morning opens with peril and the shadows of evening find us still in jeopardy. They are well kept whom God keeps! But woe unto those who go forth into the world, or even dare to walk their own house unarmed. Those who think themselves secure are more exposed to danger than any others. The armor-bearer of sin is self-confidence.
David should have been engaged in fighting the Lord's battles, instead of which he tarried at Jerusalem, and gave himself up to luxurious repose, for he arose from his bed in the evening. Idleness and luxury are the devil's jackals, and find him abundant prey. In stagnant waters, noxious creatures swarm. Neglected soil soon yields a dense tangle of weeds and briers. Oh for the constraining love of Jesus to keep us active and useful!
When I see the King of Israel sluggishly leaving his couch at the close of the day, and falling at once into temptation, let me take warning, and set holy watchfulness to guard the door! Is it possible that the king had mounted his housetop for prayer and devotion? If so, what a caution is given us to count no place, however secret, as a sanctuary from sin!
While our hearts are so like a tinder-box, and sparks so plentiful, we had need use all diligence in all places to prevent a blaze. Satan can climb housetops and enter closets! And even if we could shut out that foul fiend, our own corruptions are enough to work our ruin unless God's grace prevents it.
Reader, beware of evening temptations. Be not secure. The sun is down, but sin is up. We need a watchman for the night as well as a guardian for the day. O blessed Spirit, keep us from all evil this day and this night.
- C. H. Spurgeon
At that hour David saw Bathsheba. We are never out of the reach of temptation! Both at home and abroad, we are liable to meet with allurements to evil. The morning opens with peril and the shadows of evening find us still in jeopardy. They are well kept whom God keeps! But woe unto those who go forth into the world, or even dare to walk their own house unarmed. Those who think themselves secure are more exposed to danger than any others. The armor-bearer of sin is self-confidence.
David should have been engaged in fighting the Lord's battles, instead of which he tarried at Jerusalem, and gave himself up to luxurious repose, for he arose from his bed in the evening. Idleness and luxury are the devil's jackals, and find him abundant prey. In stagnant waters, noxious creatures swarm. Neglected soil soon yields a dense tangle of weeds and briers. Oh for the constraining love of Jesus to keep us active and useful!
When I see the King of Israel sluggishly leaving his couch at the close of the day, and falling at once into temptation, let me take warning, and set holy watchfulness to guard the door! Is it possible that the king had mounted his housetop for prayer and devotion? If so, what a caution is given us to count no place, however secret, as a sanctuary from sin!
While our hearts are so like a tinder-box, and sparks so plentiful, we had need use all diligence in all places to prevent a blaze. Satan can climb housetops and enter closets! And even if we could shut out that foul fiend, our own corruptions are enough to work our ruin unless God's grace prevents it.
Reader, beware of evening temptations. Be not secure. The sun is down, but sin is up. We need a watchman for the night as well as a guardian for the day. O blessed Spirit, keep us from all evil this day and this night.
- C. H. Spurgeon
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)