Inherit a Kingdom

“I heard a good man say he should be content to win a corner behind the door. I shall not be.

The Lord says we shall inherit a kingdom. We would not be satisfied to inherit less, because less than that would not suit our character. ‘He has made us kings and priests unto God,’ and we must reign forever and ever, or be as wretched as deposed monarchs.

Beloved, strive after, more and more, that which the Spirit of God will give you—a kingly heart. Do not be among those who are satisfied and content with the miserable nature of ordinary humanity.” — Charles Spurgeon

-ak

The Gospel in Four Words - Spurgeon

“‘Come unto me,’ he says, ‘and I will give you.’ You say, ‘Lord, I cannot give you anything.’ He does not want anything. Come to Jesus, and he says, ‘I will give you.’ Not what you give to God, but what he gives to you, will be your salvation. ‘I will give you‘ — that is the gospel in four words.

Will you come and have it? It lies open before you.”

C. H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, 1950), I:175.

-A

Cloaks and Glory

The clouds cloak September's brow this morning, and messy hair cloaks mine as I type. It was damp last night. Sleep wouldn't come, because memories crowded it out.

Today, Isaac would be five months old. As I've typed here months ago, it's hard to believe it's been that long, or hasn't been that long. I miss him.

I think back and remember my frailty and humanness, feelings of such weakness and helplessness in those twelve days. Coming to the end of me. And I remember the feeling of a solid, divine strength bearing the weight underneath. Coming to the beginning of the Eternal. Remembering that long last night, the quiet, the dark. Utter fatigue. The thin blankets on the bed. Cody sleeping between the wall and I. Drifting in and out of black sleep as the nurses floated in and out during the night watches. The green recliner within my arm's reach and my sweet Mom resting there, the dulled light of the lamp silhouetting her mother's face; Isaac laying on his tummy, his head over her heart. And the morning came, soft, pink, quiet. And Isaac was gone. And a peace that completely surpassed my little understanding permeated the room. I felt it as real as the dawn. The Good Shepherd carried our little lamb home, but He hadn't left us alone. And then the tears came later. They still come, softly, in the stillness of night. But the peace and assurance of a Good Shepherd remains, cloaking us in His tender mercies. God is good.

~~~

I love this devotional from Charles Spurgeon, taken from "Morning and Evening", the morning of July 19th. (Emphasis mine.)

“The Lord our God hath shewed us his glory." Deuteronomy 5:24

God’s great design in all his works is the manifestation of his own glory. Any aim less than this were unworthy of himself. But how shall the glory of God be manifested to such fallen creatures as we are? Man’s eye is not single, he has ever a side glance towards his own honour, has too high an estimate of his own powers, and so is not qualified to behold the glory of the Lord. It is clear, then, that self must stand out of the way, that there may be room for God to be exalted; and this is the reason why he bringeth his people ofttimes into straits and difficulties, that, being made conscious of their own folly and weakness, they may be fitted to behold the majesty of God when he comes forth to work their deliverance.

He whose life is one even and smooth path, will see but little of the glory of the Lord, for he has few occasions of self-emptying, and hence, but little fitness for being filled with the revelation of God. They who navigate little streams and shallow creeks, know but little of the God of tempests; but they who “do business in great waters,” these see his “wonders in the deep.” Among the huge Atlantic-waves of bereavement, poverty, temptation, and reproach, we learn the power of Jehovah, because we feel the littleness of man.

Thank God, then, if you have been led by a rough road: it is this which has given you your experience of God’s greatness and lovingkindness. Your troubles have enriched you with a wealth of knowledge to be gained by no other means: your trials have been the cleft of the rock in which Jehovah has set you, as he did his servant Moses, that you might behold his glory as it passed by. Praise God that you have not been left to the darkness and ignorance which continued prosperity might have involved, but that in the great fight of affliction, you have been capacitated for the outshinings of his glory in his wonderful dealings with you.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Looking Unto Jesus

Here is an excerpt from Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening devotional; he has so much wisdom to offer, conviction to dole out, encouragement and insight to share. For the record, this is from the morning devotional from June 28th, which is also my birthday. :) This is such a good reminder to stop "navel-gazing" and start "Savior-gazing," and find rest and assurance by solely LOOKING UNTO JESUS, the author and perfecter of our faith.

"It is ever the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan’s work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, “Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of his children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus.” All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: he tells us that we are nothing, but that 'Christ is all in all.'

Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument—it is Christ’s blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith.

We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by “looking unto Jesus.”

Keep thine eye simply on him; let his death, his sufferings, his merits, his glories, his intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to him; when thou liest down at night look to him. Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after him, and he will never fail thee."

“My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness:

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”