Pray with Spurgeon

Daily Newsletter from SpurgeonBooks

VERSE OF THE DAY (COMMENTARY BY SPURGEON)

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.” (John 15:5)

He does not say “you will do less without,” but you can do nothing—nothing good, nothing spiritual, nothing acceptable, if disconnected from Jesus.

PRAY FOR THE NATIONS

This week, we’re praying for the Ampanang of Indonesia.

The Ampanang worship their ancestors, not realizing that the dead cannot save them — they need a risen Savior to rescue them from death.

Pray that the gospel would be proclaimed to the Ampanang soon.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

How God’s grace helps you grow

This week, as we think about our need for God, we need to remember that we need him for EVERY step of the Christian life. As you make plans to fight sin, do not slide into self-reliance. God saved you by grace, and he is going to help you grow by grace too.

We ask God to help us grow in holiness, because we know that God’s grace doesn’t just save us from sin, it also gives us the power that we need to slay sin. The work of growing in godliness is a work of cooperation between us and God’s grace.

One of my all-time favorite books is The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges. This book explains how God’s grace empowers Christians to slay sin and grow in godliness. It is one of the helpful, practical, and encouraging books that I have ever read! If you want to grow in godliness, start with The Discipline of Grace.

Buy The Discipline of Grace:

• Amazon (Paperback or Kindle editions)

• ChristianBook (Paperback or ebook 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.

“Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame.” (Isaiah 54:4)

We shall not be ashamed of our faith. Complaining critics may attack the Scriptures upon which we build our belief, but every year the Lord will make it more and more clear that in his book there is no error, no excess, and no omission. It is no discredit to be a simple believer; the faith which looks to Jesus alone is a crown of honor on any man’s head and better than a star on his shirt.

We shall not be ashamed of our hope; it shall be just as the Lord has said. We shall be fed, led, blessed and rested. Our Lord will come and then the days of our mourning will be over. We will glory in the Lord who first gave us living hope and then gave us that which we hoped for!

We shall not be ashamed of our love. Jesus is altogether lovely to us, and we will never, never have to be embarrassed that we have yielded our hearts to him. The sight of our glorious beloved will justify the most enthusiastic attachment to him. None will blame the martyrs for dying for him. When the enemies of Christ are clothed with everlasting contempt, the lovers of Jesus shall find themselves honored by all holy beings because they chose the reproach of Christ rather than the treasures of Egypt.

Something to think about today if you’re feeling ashamed of your faith: Others may attack you, but God sees the truth in Christ.