DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)
The Lord be pleased to help us every day to put down sin. O Lord, whenever pride arises, may we be more than ever humbled in your sight. Whenever self comes up, may we be determined it shall not live, but flee to the precious blood, that we may slay it.
Lord, save us from self; save us from the love of the world; save us from the pride of the eye, and the pride of life; save us, we ask you, from everything that is natural to fallen man, and let the new nature which you have planted manifest itself day by day, till we shall be made like unto Christ, “Though we have not seen him, we love him” (1 Peter 1:8), but to whom we shall be conformed, for we shall “we will see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
Amen.
VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy.” (1 Peter 1:8)
None of us have seen Christ. We sometimes foolishly wish that we had. But believing in him is better than merely seeing him, for many saw him when he was upon the earth and yet perished. But no man ever truly believed in him and then perished.
It is a mistake, a great mistake, to conceive that contact with Jesus through the senses would produce faith. Mark the fact that out of the mass who did see Jesus and who did hear him, few, very few believed. The crowd that gathered round the crucifixion, which might seem to be the most moving scene in the story, were not bettered by what they saw. As the multitude gazed, instead of tears they yielded laughter. Instead of penitence they exhibited blasphemy.
The people who have received the salvation of their souls are those who love the One they have never seen and who even rejoice in him whom they do not see.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
A New Storybook Bible — Fill Your Kids with the Hope of Heaven*
I’m so excited about a new storybook Bible for kids of all ages — God With Us by Jeremy Pierre and illustrated by Cassandra Clark. This book is an incredible telling of 30 Bible stories that will leave kids of any age (and their parents) amazed at the greatness and goodness of God.
Unlike other storybook Bibles, God With Us focuses on the theme of God’s presence. It makes plain that the horrors of sin have separated us from God, but that, because of Jesus, we have hope to be with God forever.
There are 30 Bible stories, with stunning story-telling and captivating illustrations, told over the course of nearly 300 pages — all focused on telling one beautiful, hope-filled story about God dwelling with his people.
This book will fill your child’s heart with love for God and a desire to see him face-to-face.
(And the stories are so good, you’ll be blessed as well.)
I know that this book will be a blessing to your whole family — I hope you’ll pre-order a copy today.