DAILY PRAYER (BY SPURGEON)
Lord Jesus, work in the world more powerfully than you have done recently. Our heart is often heavy as we see sin of every kind around us, and especially the insidious advance of error in the midst of your own church, which makes the cross of Christ have no effect. Lord Jesus, reign, we ask you. O Son of God, we ask you, reign from the Tree.
You have gone up on high, you have led captives home. All power is in your hands; exert that power, graciously exert it, for the salvation of myriads of men. Let the earth bow before you. What a little flock is still yours! We ask you, gather the nations; let the whole earth call you blessed. Our prayer is, “Let the whole earth be filled with his glory!”
Amen.
VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)
“This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16)
True love is not satisfied with expressing itself in words. Love must express itself in deeds. Love delights in sacrifices. Love rejoices in self-denials. The more costly the sacrifice, the better is love pleased to make it. Christ’s love is best seen in the laying down of his life.
There were no claims on him on the part of those for whom he died. I can understand a mother dying for her children. I can see some reason a noble citizen would die for his city. But the Son of God had no relationship to us until he chose to assume one out of his infinite compassion. There was no more relation between him and us than between the potter and the clay. If the clay on the pottery wheel is misshapen, what does the potter do but discard the clay? So might the great Creator have done with us. Yet with no claims on himself, of his own free will, he yielded to death because of his amazing love for us.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCE
Glorify God this Christmas.
Every year, it seems harder than ever to focus on Christ at Christmas. As the world is screaming about gifts and Santa and holiday travels, it’s easy to lose sight of the meaning behind it all — the baby in the manger who was Savior and Lord.
I put together a book, Spurgeon on Christmas — a collection of Christmas sermons from Charles Spurgeon. These sermons are rich and I know that they will help you focus on Christ this Christmas.
(Plus, buying a copy of this book will help support this ministry, so I can continue sending this daily email!)
I hope you’ll buy a copy of Spurgeon on Christmas and be encouraged throughout this Advent and Christmas season.
Buy Spurgeon on Christmas now on Amazon (Paperback or Kindle edition)