DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)
When our church gathers next, we ask that we may be in the Spirit, and know the fullness of his quickening power. May we do nothing after the dead manner of formality. May there be no dead hymn, nor dead prayer. Lord, give the preacher life. Oh, give the hearers life. Oh may we know living worship, not the bowing of heads alone, but of hearts, and the closing not alone of the eyes to things that can be seen, but the closing of the eyelids of the thought to everything worldly.
Amen.
VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)
“Stop bringing useless offerings. Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of solemn assemblies— I cannot stand iniquity with a festival. I hate your New Moons and prescribed festivals. They have become a burden to me; I am tired of putting up with them.” (Isaiah 1:12–13)
If you are hypocrites, if your hearts are not right with God, you may multiply your church-goings, and your chapel-goings, and your sacraments; but all these are only a provoking of God to anger. There is nothing in it all that he could possibly accept; he cannot endure it. He says, “It is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.”
When men are committing crimes, when they are oppressing the poor, when they are living in the daily practice of injustice, when they indulge in secret drunkenness, when their whole life is a lie, they may do what they will, but God will not hear their prayers. While we keep sin in our hearts, it is in vain for us to stretch out our hands unto God. He is a holy God, and he seeks holy hearts and holy lives; and nothing short of these can be acceptable to him.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
The Magnificent God Who Saves Unworthy Sinners
Today we prayed that we would be worthy worshippers — that God would give us life to worship him from the heart. And we saw in the Verse of the Day how God responds to unworthy worshippers.
This is one of the big themes in the Book of Isaiah — God was not accepting the worship of his people because, while they did all the right religious things on the outside, they were neglecting to love their neighbor.
And yet, Isaiah makes clear that God gives grace to save this sin-stained, rebellious, unloving people.
Honestly, I’ve always had a hard time reading, understanding, and applying Isaiah. So last year, I took time to study this book in-depth. One of the resources that really helped me was Isaiah: God Saves Sinners by Ray Ortlund.
This book is a simple commentary on the entire book of Isaiah. And WOW — it will leave you absolutely amazed at the greatness of God and the wonder of his grace. God really does save sinners!
This book is a little pricier than what I usually recommend ($20–30), but it’s worth every penny, because it will point you to God’s Word and the glories of our Savior.
I know this book will help you better understand Isaiah and will leave you absolutely amazed at the wonder of God’s grace.