DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)
One thing we hope we can say with confidence—that our trust is stayed where you would have it stayed, even in the work, the blood, the righteousness, the person of your dear Son. We have no confidence but in Christ, this we know; but Lord, if this be a true confidence it will work by love and purify the soul. Oh, that there might be the sweet results of faith about our secret character and public life.
We do sin, the Lord grant we may never leave off grieving because of sin, never may we be contented with ourselves, never fancy that we have reached a point where we may rest and be thankful, and that there is nothing more for us to do in seeking to be more than conquerors of ourselves.
Amen.
VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)
“Look, his ego is inflated; he is without integrity. But the righteous one will live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4)
The prophet Habakkuk is the one who first uttered these words, “The righteous one will live by his faith.” I wonder whether he fully understood them himself? It is always pleasant to see whether a doctor takes his own medicine and whether a preacher practices his own precepts. I think this is how Habakkuk understood these words.
Here is his practical exposition of them, in the last verses of his prophecy. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the flocks disappear from the pen and there are no herds in the stalls, yet I will celebrate in the Lord; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!” (3:17–18). This is a hymn, is it not—the hymn of a man who saw his bread going, the meat going, the oil going, and everything going, and yet he rejoiced in the Lord. This is what living by faith meant—a faith that does without anything—a faith that can take nothing and be content with it because it finds everything in God—faith under the worst conceivable conditions. This is how the just are to live.
This verse and commentary were taken from the Spurgeon Study Bible. This month only, you can get the Spurgeon Study Bible for 50% off — use promo code SPURGEONBOOKS. Click here to learn more.*
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
A great book for summer reading — be reminded of God’s incredible salvation
I can’t think of anything better to reflect on this summer than the person of God and the astounding work he has done to save us in Christ. That’s the subject of The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler. This book is deep, but intensely practical. If your summer plans keep you from reading for a few weeks, you’ll be able to put the book down (although I don’t think you’ll want to put it down!).
I first read The Explicit Gospel over a summer shortly after its release. I was so amazed by the stunning picture the book paints of God’s greatness and his amazing grace.
This book will really encourage you this summer. Grab a copy of the book to read on vacation or grab the audiobook to listen on your summer road trips or commute.