DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)
Oh, that you would make us clean, we pray; while we pray to you, we also know that believing in Christ we are clean; we thank you that we do not doubt his justifying power. While we are now crying to him to be sanctified, may we not doubt his power to sanctify; but while crying, “O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death” (Romans 7:24) as well we may; we do nevertheless shout exultingly, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Amen.
VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Corinthians 15:56–57)
Turn now, O believer, and sing a song of triumph. “The sting of death is sin.” Through Jesus Christ that is forgiven. “The strength of sin is the law.” Through Christ Jesus that has ceased to thunder, for it has been fulfilled and has become our friend. Therefore, “thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Prepare the voice of joyous thanksgiving; make ready your triumphal hymn. Death, we now triumph over you; you have spoken, but now we will speak and answer you to your face. Death has no sting to a believer. Once death was the penalty of sin; sin being forgiven, the penalty ceases, and Christians do not die now as a punishment for their sin, but they die that they may be prepared to live. They are unclothed that they may be clothed upon with that house which is from heaven. They leave the tenement of clay that they may inherit the eternal mansion.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
You are saved from death. Don’t live like a dead man anymore.
As I was reading today’s prayer and verse of the day, I was reminded of Romans 8:13, “if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” God has set you free from sin, and he has sent his Spirit to empower you to live free of sin — to pursue holiness. You’ve been made alive. So don’t live like a dead man.
One of the most motivating and empowering books on personal holiness that I have ever read is The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. This book will show you the high calling of holiness that God has laid on all of his people (and why it’s so important) while also giving grace-fueled practical guidance on actually pursuing holiness in your own life.
I recommended The Practice of Godliness earlier this week. These are great books to read together; you can make holiness the theme of your summer reading project.