DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)
Lord, we have yet another burden—it is that we ourselves do not love you as we should, that oftentimes we grow lukewarm and chill, and doubt creeps over us, and unbelief mars our confidence, and we sin and forget our God. O Lord, help us! Pardon is not enough, we want sanctification.
We ask, let the weeds that grow in the seed plot of our soul be cut up by the roots. We do want to serve you. We long that every thought we think, and word we say or write, should be all for you. We would lead consecrated lives; for we are persuaded that we only live as we live unto God, that anything else is but trifling. Oh, to be taken up as offerings wholly to be consumed upon the altar of the Lord, joyfully ascending to him in every outgoing of our life.
Amen.
VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)
“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16)
As tepid water makes one’s stomach heave, so lukewarm religious profession is nauseous to the Almighty. Did Jesus Christ think salvation so important that he came from heaven to earth to work it out? Did he think the gospel so worthy that he spent his life proclaiming it? Did he think redemption so valuable that he shed his own precious blood to complete it? Then, if I profess to believe these truths and yet am indifferent to them, do I not insult Christ by insinuating that there was no need for him to be in such dead earnest?
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
Increase your faith and fight your sin
In today’s prayer, Spurgeon prayed that God would increase our faith and help us to follow him. We prayed for this today, because we can’t do it alone — we need God the Holy Spirit to bear the fruit of self-control in our lives (Galatians 5:23).
While our growth in holiness is a miracle that only God can do, we also have a role to play in this work. You will not automatically grow in godliness — you need to pursue godliness with the strength that God the Holy Spirit gives you.
A great, practical book on growing in godliness (self-control, taming the tongue, and more) is The Practice of Godliness by Jerry Bridges. This book won’t just tell you that something is sinful, it will actually equip you practical tools and truths from God’s Word to slay your sin and live in godliness.
Whatever pressing sin you are currently facing and want to grow in, The Practice of Godliness by Jerry Bridges is a great resource to help you take your next steps. I hope you pick up a copy today.