You have Allowed the Key to Rust - John MacDuff (Christian devotional)

You have allowed the key to rust!

(John MacDuff, "The Mind of Jesus" 1870)

"He continued all night in prayer to God." Luke 6:12

"Jesus was emphatically "a man of prayer"

The Spirit was "poured upon Him without measure" — yet He prayed! He was incarnate wisdom, "needing not that any should teach Him" — yet He prayed! He was infinite in His power, and boundless in His resources — yet He prayed! How deeply sacred are His prayerful memories that hover around the solitudes of Olivet and the shores of Tiberias! He seemed often to turn night into day — to redeem moments for prayer, rather than lose the blessed privilege.

All His public acts were consecrated by prayer — His baptism, His transfiguration, His miracles, His agony, His death. He breathed away His life in prayer. "His lastbreath," says Philip Henry, "was praying breath."

How sweet to think, in holding communion with God — that Jesus drank of this very brook! He consecrated the bended knee and the silent chamber. He refreshed His fainting spirit at the same great Fountain-head from which it is life for us to draw, and death to forsake.

Reader! do you complain of your languid spirit, your drooping faith, your fitful affections, your lukewarm love? May you not trace much of what you deplore — to an unfrequented prayer chamber? The treasures are locked up from you — because you have allowed the key to rust! Your hands hang down — because they have ceased to be uplifted in prayer. Without prayer! This is . . .
  the pilgrim without a staff;
  the seaman without a compass;
  the soldier going unarmed to battle!

Beware of encouraging what indisposes to prayer — of going to the audience-chamber of God with soiled garments, the din of the world following you, its distracting thoughts hovering unforbidden over your spirit. Can you wonder that the living water refuses to flow through obstructed channels, or the heavenly light to pierce murky vapors?

Among men, fellowship with lofty minds — imparts a certain nobility to the character. Just so, in a far higher sense, by communion with God — you will be transformed into His image, and get assimilated to His likeness! Make every event in life — a reason for fresh going to Him. If difficulties in duty — bring them to the test of prayer. If bowed down with anticipated trial — remember Christ's preparation, "Sit here while I go and pray yonder."

Let prayer consecrate everything — your time, your talents, your pursuits, your engagements, your joys, your sorrows, your crosses, your losses! By prayer . . .
  rough paths will be made smooth,
  trials are disarmed of their bitterness,
  enjoyments are hallowed and refined,
  the bread of the world turned into angels' food!

"It is in the prayer-closet," says Payson, "where the battle is lost or won!"

Archibald Brown - Hard Work, and Bad Pay!

Hard work, and bad pay!

(Archibald Brown, "Hard Work and Bad Pay!" 1868)

"The wages of sin is death!" Romans 6:23

What! is the reward for all that hard toil — death? Yes, death! Oh, extraordinary wages — but more astonishing still, that any should be found to work for them!

The death of the body, is but one result of sin. If sin had not found its way into God's fair earth — then death also would have been forever a stranger. Death is the dark shadow that sin casts. For six thousand years men have been receiving the wages of death. Death has passed upon all men, for all have sinned.

Think of the aggregate of sorrow that has come on this fallen world through death, the fruit of sin. Could all the groans that have burst from broken-hearted mourners since our first parents wept over their murdered son, be gathered into one — what a deep thunder-peal of anguish it would be! Were all the tears collected that death has caused to flow — what a briny ocean they would constitute! Let those call sin a trifle who dare — but to us it is clear that what could bring on man so dreadful a curse as death, must in itself be something unutterably horrible! 

And yet mere physical death, is the least that is meant here. If this was all the Lord meant — if men when they die, die like dogs — there would be no occasion for the agony of soul we often have. But alas! alas! the death referred to here is a death that never dies!It is placed in contrast to "eternal life." It means eternal death; in another word, HELL! Here, poor sinner, are your wages — here is the result of a life's toil for Satan, HELL!

Let me say moreover, sin pays some of its wages now; it gives sometimes an installment of Hell on earth. The wretched debaucheeoften finds it so. Mark his haggard countenance, his trembling gait; follow him to the hospital — no don't — let his end remain secret; terrible are the wages he receives!

Look at the drunkard; he is paid for his sin in his home, until not a single stick remains to tell of a place that once was bright and happy. Have you ever seen a drunkard in delirium tremens? If so, you will never doubt about the wages he receives in this life. Hearken to his shrieking — listen to his raving as he imagines he is being dragged to Hell by ten thousand fiery snakes!This is all included in the wages "death;" and yet after all, this is nothing. If the only wages for sin were those received in a lifetime, we could be calmer. But oh, Eternity, Eternity is sin's long pay-day — and the wages paid is Hell!

Suppose a person were to go to a blacksmith and say to him, 'I want you to make me a long and heavy chain — I will pay you well for it.' The blacksmith, for the sake of the money, commences it; and after toiling hard for some time, finishes it. The person calls, and says on looking at it, 'Yes, it is a good chain — but not long enough; work on it another week, I will then call and pay you for it.' Encouraged by the promise of full reward, the blacksmith toils on, adding link to link. When his employer calls again, he praises him as before — but still insists that 'the chain is too short.' 'But,' says the blacksmith, 'I can do no more; my iron is all gone, and my strength too.'

'Oh then, just add a few more links, the chain will then answer my purpose, and you shall be well paid.' The blacksmith, with his remaining strength, and last few scraps of iron, adds the last link he can. 'The chain will now do,' says the man, 'you have worked hard and long; I will now pay you your wages.' And taking the chain, he suddenly binds the blacksmith hand and foot, and casts him into a furnace of fire!

Such are the wages of sin. It promises much — but its reward is damnation!

Servants of sin and Satan, behold your future doom! Be honest, and confess that your service is hard work, and bad pay. God forbid that in this large concourse of people, there should be a single one who will ever learn by bitter, eternal experience that "the wages of sin is death!"

Charles Spurgeon Devotional: Faith's Checkbook - Commonest Things Blessed

Charles Spurgeon Faith's Checkbook - Commonest Things Blessed

Commonest Things Blessed

"Ye shall serve the LORD your God, and He shall bless thy bread, and thy water" (Exodus 23:25).

What a promise is this! To serve God is in itself a high delight. But what an added privilege to have the blessing of the LORD resting upon us in all things! Our commonest things become blessed when we ourselves are consecrated to the LORD. Our LORD Jesus took bread and blessed it; behold, we also eat of blessed bread. Jesus blessed water and made it wine: the water which we drink is far better to us than any of the wine with which men make merry; every drop has a benediction in it. The divine blessing is on the man of God in everything, and it shall abide with him at every time.

What if we have only bread and water! Yet it is blessed bread and water. Bread and water we shall have. That is implied, for it must be there for God to bless it. "Thy bread shall be given thee, and thy waters shall be sure." With God at our table, we not only ask a blessing, but we have one. It is not only at the altar but at the table that He blesses us. He serves those well who serve Him well. This table blessing is not of debt but of grace. Indeed, there is a trebled grace; He grants us grace to serve Him, by His grace feeds us with bread, and then in His grace blesses it.

Charles Spurgeon

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God First, Then Extras - Charles Spurgeon Faith's Checkbook

God First, Then Extras

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

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.

-C.H. Spurgeon, Cheque Book of the Bank of Faith
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Charles Spurgeon Devotional Faith's Checkbook - Be of Good Cheer

From Spurgeon's "Faith's Check Book"

152-Be of Good Cheer

"In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)  

My Lord's words are true as to the tribulation. I have my share of it beyond all doubt. The flail is not hung up out of the way, nor can I hope that it will be laid aside so long as I lie upon the threshing floor, How can I look to be at home in the enemy's country, joyful while in exile, or comfortable in a wilderness? This is not my rest. This is the place of the furnace, and the forge, and the hammer. My experience tallies with my Lord's words.

I note how He bids me "be of good cheer." Alas! I am far too apt to be downcast. My spirit soon sinks when I am sorely tried. But I must not give way to this feeling. When my Lord bids me cheer up I must not dare to be cast down.

What is the argument which He uses to encourage me? Why, it is His own victory. He says, "I have overcome the world." His battle was much more severe than mine. I have not yet resisted unto blood. Why do I despair of overcoming? See, my soul, the enemy has been once overcome. I fight with a beaten foe. O world, Jesus has already vanquished thee; and in me, by His grace, He will overcome thee again. Therefore am I of good cheer and sing unto my conquering Lord.

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Thomas Watson - The Trials and Sufferings of the Godly

The trials and sufferings of the godly

(Thomas Watson, "Body of Divinity")

God's own people often suffer great afflictions. 

"This is what the wicked are like—always carefree,
 they increase in wealth. Surely in vain have I kept
 my heart pure; in vain have I washed my hands in 
 innocence. For I am afflicted all day long!" 
    Psalm 73:12-14 

How can this be consistent with God's justice?

'God's ways of judgment are sometimes secret, but 
never unjust!' The Lord never afflicts His people 
without a cause; He cannot be unjust towards them. 

There is some good in the godly—therefore the wicked 
afflict them; there is some evil in them—therefore God 
afflicts them!

God's own children have their blemishes. "But aren't 
you also guilty of sins against the Lord your God?" 
2 Chr. 28:10. These spiritual diamonds—have they no
flaws? Do we not read of the spots of God's children? 
Are not they guilty of much pride, passion, worldliness? 
Though, by their profession, they should resemble the 
birds of paradise, to fly above, and feed upon the dew 
of heaven; yet, as the serpent, they often lick the dust!

The sins of God's people, do more provoke God than 
the sins of others. "The Lord saw this and was filled 
with loathing. He was provoked to anger by His own 
sons and daughters." Deut 32:19. The sins of others 
pierce Christ's side; the sins of His people wound His 
heart! Therefore is not God just in all the afflictions 
which befall them? "You only have I chosen of all the 
families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for 
all your sins." Amos 3:2. I will punish you sooner, 
surer, sorer—than others.

The trials and sufferings of the godly, are to 
refine and purify them. God's furnace is in Zion. Is 
it any injustice in God to put His gold into the furnace 
to purify it? Is it any injustice in God, by afflicting His 
people, to make them partakers of His holiness? What 
more proclaims God's faithfulness—than to take such 
a course with them as may make them more holy? 

"I know, O Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and
in faithfulness You have afflicted me." Psalm 119:75 

   

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There is mercy in God, like a river—but it is for the penitent believer in Christ Jesus

There is mercy in God, like a river—but it is for the penitent believer in Christ Jesus. There is a love in God towards sinners which is unspeakable and unsearchable—but it is for those who “hear Christ’s voice and follow Him.” Seek to have an interest in that love. Break off every known sin; come out boldly from the world; cry mightily to God in prayer; cast yourself wholly and unreservedly on the Lord Jesus for time and eternity; lay aside every weight. Cling to nothing, however dear, which interferes with your soul’s salvation; give up everything, however precious, which comes between you and heaven. — This old shipwrecked world is fast sinking beneath your feet: the one thing needful is to have a place in the lifeboat and get safe to shore. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure. Whatever happens to your house and property, see that you make sure of heaven. Oh, better a million times be laughed at and thought extreme in this world than go down to hell from the midst of the congregation and end like Lot’s wife! 

J.C. Ryle