Pray with Spurgeon

Daily Newsletter from SpurgeonBooks

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.

PRAY FOR THE NATIONS

This week, we’re praying for the Ashtiani of Iran.

Iran’s educational system is not strong. Minority groups like the Ashtiani living outside of major cities have very little support or access to education.

Pray that Christians would go to the Ashtiani to give them a good education and point them to Christ.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Showing our kids the love of God

In a hate-filled world, the love of God is a counter-cultural, hope-filled message. And it’s one that we have to point our kids to every day. They need it desperately.

If you’re a parent and you desire to point your kids to the life-changing message of God’s love every day, check out God Centered Family, my series of family devotionals through the entire Bible.

These devotionals show the love of God in Christ from every chapter of Scripture. Each day’s devotional has a one paragraph explanation (“The Jesus Connection”), demonstrating how this passage points us to Jesus and our need for him.

Your kids need to know the love of God — show it to them in his word. God Centered Family will give you everything you need to do so confidently.

Learn more and subscribe today here.

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.

“... and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the LORD saves, for the battle is the LORD’s. He will hand you over to us.” (1 Samuel 17:47)

Let this point be settled, that the battle is the Lord’s and we may be quite sure of the victory. Specifically, we can be quite sure of the victory to come in such a way that will best display the power of God. The Lord is too much forgotten by all men, yes, even by the assemblies of Israel; and when there is an opportunity to make men see that the God who made all things can achieve his purposes without the power of man, it is a priceless occasion which should be well-employed. Even Israel looks to sword and spear for salvation too often. It is a grand thing to have no sword in the hand of David and yet for David to know that his God will overthrow a whole army of aliens.

If we are indeed contending for truth and righteousness, let us not delay until we have our own talent, wealth, or any other form of visible power at our disposal; but with stones like the ones David found in the stream and with our own usual sling, let us run to meet the enemy. If it were our own battle we might not be confident; but if we are standing up for Jesus and fighting in his strength alone, who can withstand us? Without a trace of hesitancy let us face the Philistines for the Lord of Hosts is with us and who can be against us?

Something to think about today if you’re feeling weak: God’s grace is sufficient for you. His power is made perfect in weakness.