Pray with Spurgeon

Daily Newsletter from SpurgeonBooks

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

The Lord condescends to describe himself as making speed to carry out his gracious engagements, saying, “I the Lord will hasten it in his time” (Isaiah 60:22). But we must not pray in this fashion, as though we had the slightest fear that the Lord could or would delay, or that he needed us to quicken his diligence. No. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness” (2 Peter 3:9). Our God is slow to anger, but in deeds of grace “his word runs very swiftly” (Psalm 147:15).

PRAY FOR THE NATIONS

This week, we’re praying for the Bindla of India.

The Bindla live in Andhra Pradesh, where a lot of development is taking place currently (There was actually an interesting article about this last week in the New York Times).

Pray that Christians would move to Andhra Pradesh for jobs in tech and bring the gospel with them.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Witness the unstoppable power of God*

The world has tried, again and again, to destroy the message of Jesus and those who proclaim it.

But over and over again, God has proven that their power is limited but his is unstoppable. Recently, I’ve seen this truth proven in the book FOXE: Voices of the Martyrs, a collection of hundreds of short true stories of martyrs from the days of the apostles up to today. (Each story is 2–3 pages each)

Every one of these stories highlights the fury of the world against Christ and the unstoppable power of God.

This incredible 500+ page hardback book is beautiful. And it could actually be yours FOR FREE.

My friends at The Voice of the Martyrs are mailing a copy to every one who donates to their ministry this month using our special link (any amount!)

The Voice of the Martyrs is such a valuable ministry.

They produce resources (like this book or their award-winning magazine) to help Christians on THIS side of the globe understand the realities of persecution today. AND they send resources and critical aid to Christians facing persecution (Such as teens abandoned by their parents after getting baptized or pastors whose churches have been burned down by radical extremist groups).

Donating to VOM this month is a win—win, so I hope you’ll take the time to do it now.

Request your free book today.

FAITH’S CHECKBOOK

Spurgeon’s classic devotional, The Chequebook of the Bank of Faith, contains a promise of God for every day of the year. Pray with Spurgeon Plus subscribers receive the daily readings every weekday.

If you want to strengthen your faith in God’s promises (and support this ministry!), subscribe to Pray with Spurgeon Plus here.

“Then people will say, ‘Yes, there is a reward for the righteous! There is a God who judges on earth!’” (Psalm 58:11)

God’s judgments are not always clearly seen in this life, for in many cases one event happens the same way to all people. This is the state of probation, not of punishment or reward. Yet at times God works terrible things in righteousness and even the careless are compelled to own his hand.

Even in this life, righteousness has that kind of reward which it prefers above all others, namely, the smile of God, which creates a quiet conscience. Sometimes other rewards follow, for God will be in no man’s debt. But, at the same time, the chief reward of the righteous lies in the next life.

Meanwhile, on a large scale, we mark the presence of the great ruler among the nations. He breaks oppressive thrones in pieces and punishes guilty peoples. No one can study the history of the rise and fall of empires without perceiving that there is a power which makes for righteousness and, in the end, brings iniquity before its judgment seat and condemns it with unsparing justice. Sin will not go unpunished and goodness will not remain unrewarded. The judge of all the earth must do right. Therefore, let us fear before him, and no longer dread the power of the wicked.

Something to think about today if you’re feeling afraid of what others might do to you: God is a powerful judge.