Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Away with Carking Care! God is our portion.

But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt. 6:33

by C.H. Spurgeon

See how the Bible opens: “In the beginning God.” Let your life open in the same way. Seek with your whole soul, first and foremost, the kingdom of God, as the place of your citizenship, and His righteousness as the character of your life. As for the rest, it will come from the Lord Himself without your being anxious concerning it. All that is needful for this life and godliness “shall be added unto you.”

What a promise this is! Food, raiment, home, and so forth, God undertakes to add to you while you seek Him. You mind His business, and He will mind yours. If you want paper and string, you get them given in when you buy more important goods; and just so all that we need of earthly things we shall have thrown in with the kingdom. He who is an heir of salvation shall not die of starvation; and he who clothes his soul with the righteousness of God cannot be left of the Lord with a naked body.

Away with carking care. Set all your mind upon seeking the Lord. Covetousness is poverty, and anxiety is misery: trust in God is an estate, and likeness of God is a heavenly inheritance.

Lord, I seek Thee; be found of me.
 

Monday, October 16, 2017

Covenant Grace = Cleansing

The Lord your God will also cleanse your heart and the hearts of your descendants so that you may love him with all your mind and being and so that you may live. — Deut 30:6 NET

 by C.H. Spurgeon

Here we read of the true circumcision. Note the author of it: “The Lord thy God.” He alone can deal effectually with our heart and take away its carnality and pollution. To make us love God with all our heart and soul is a miracle of grace which only the Holy Spirit can work. We must look to the Lord alone for this and never be satisfied with anything short of it.

Note where this circumcision is wrought. It is not of the flesh but of the Spirit. It is the essential mark of the covenant of grace. Love to God is the indelible token of the chosen seed; by this secret seal the election of grace is certified to the believer. We must see to it that we trust in no outward ritual but are sealed in heart by the operation of the Holy Spirit.

Note what the result is -- “that thou mayest live.” To be carnally minded is death. In the overcoming of the flesh, we find life and peace. If we mind the things of the Spirit, we shall live. Oh, that YHVH, our God, may complete His gracious work upon our inner natures, that in the fullest and highest sense we may live unto the Lord!

Selah.

Note: I'm so thankful that what God demands of us, He fulfills! As often as He says, "Be holy, for I am holy," He says, "I will purify you, I will cleanse you."

Alleluia!

1 Pet. 1:16 -- You shall be holy, for I AM holy. cf. Lev. 11:44, 45, et al.

Hebrews 12:14 -- Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Mal. 3:3 -- He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. 

Ez. 36:25 -- I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.

Isa. 6:7 -- Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”