Pray with Spurgeon

Daily Newsletter from SpurgeonBooks

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“And be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15)

That is a nice little text, “Be thankful.” When you are grumbling at your plain food, put this as a sandwich between your bread and butter, “Be thankful.” When you are complaining of the east wind, just try if you cannot spell this little sentence, “Be thankful.” When you are murmuring about those sharp pains and that long sickness, this is the kind of tune for the little bird to whistle at your window, “Be thankful.” We have all much for which we should be thankful, however sad we may think our lot to be. Look on the bright side, rejoice in God: “Be thankful.”

PRAY FOR THE NATIONS

This week, we’re praying for the Aimaq of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan is an Islamic Emirate, ruled by the Taliban. There is no real religious freedom, missionaries are not welcome, churches are not allowed, and conversion to Christianity could result in death.

Pray that missionaries would count the cost and know that Christ is worth it.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

Celebrate Christmas with Spurgeon’s best sermons.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the United States, which means that in 48 hours, no one will be able to judge you for listening to Christmas music and reading Christmas books. I want to recommend one resource to you — Spurgeon on Christmas. 

This book is a compilation of 14 classic Spurgeon sermons on Christmas, the incarnation, and the birth of our Lord. Read this book before Christmas to remember (and celebrate) the reason for the season.

Reading Spurgeon’s classic Christmas and Christmas Eve sermons has become one of my favorite family Christmas traditions. These sermons are so rich and help us all remember the wonderful gift of God’s Son that came down at Christmas.

Buy Spurgeon on Christmas today on Amazon. (Paperback or Kindle editions)

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.

“You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy.” (John 16:20)

The disciples’ particular sorrow when this promise was spoken was the death and absence of their Lord and it was turned into joy when he rose from the dead and revealed himself in their midst. All the sorrows of saints shall be transformed in this way; even the worst of them, which look as if they will remain fountains of bitterness forever.

If this is true, then the more sorrow we experience, the more joy we will have. If we have loads of sorrow, then the Lord’s power will turn them into tons of joy. The bitterer the trouble, the sweeter the pleasure; the swinging of the pendulum far to the left will cause it to go all the farther to the right. The remembrance of the grief shall heighten the flavor of the delight — we shall put one in contrast with the other and the brilliance of the diamond shall be more clearly seen because of the black foil behind it.

Come, my heart, cheer up! In a little while I shall be as glad as I am now gloomy. Jesus tells me that, by a heavenly alchemy, my sorrow will be turned into joy. I do not see how it is to be, but I believe it, and I begin to sing by way of anticipation. This depression of spirit is not for long; I shall soon be up among the happy ones who praise the Lord day and night and there I shall sing of the mercy which delivered me out of great afflictions.

Something to think about today if you’re feeling sorrowful: Our risen Savior will turn all sorrows to joy.