DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)
O God, allow us to intercede with you a moment for our unconverted ones. Give us to feel great sorrow and heaviness of heart for those who, as yet, are far off from God: Lord, bring them in. O God, awaken the careless and frivolous—we know some who have never given any solemn consideration to the matters of their soul. May they be awakened and aroused today; and while we set forth the way of salvation by grace, may they feel their need of it, and be willing to accept it; and may the Lord save them this day.
May any that are anxious, but are missing the mark, looking to themselves instead of to Christ, learn the way of life and run in it. Save them, O God; yes, save this people.
Amen.
VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)
“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift….” (Ephesians 2:8)
Grace is the first and last moving cause of salvation. Important as faith is, it is only an important part of the machinery which grace employs. Faith occupies the position of a channel or conduit. Grace is the fountain and the stream; faith is the aqueduct along which the flood of mercy flows down to refresh the thirsty sons of men.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
Are you really saved? (You CAN know for sure)
Today we prayed for those who don’t know God’s grace in Christ. Some of these people are “looking to themselves instead of to Christ,” which makes it extremely difficult to share the gospel with them.
Here’s a resource to help you examine yourself: Am I Really a Christian? by Mike McKinley.
This book is a short Bible study on seven ways that the New Testament describes all Christians. If these things are true of you, then praise God, you can have assurance that you are born again. If these things are not true of you, then come to the cross in faith and find life in Jesus’ resurrection.
This book is a great resource for any Christian struggling with assurance. It is also a great book to read with a non-believer who claims to be a Christian — buy two and read it with a nominal Christian you know this year.
I hope you’ll take seriously the call to examine yourself, and I know that this book will be a helpful tool in the process.