M&E Tuesday

Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
by C. H. Spurgeon
Tuesday Morning, January 17

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion.

Revelation 14:1

The apostle John was privileged to look within the gates of heaven, and in describing what he saw, he begins by saying, I looked, and, lo, a Lamb! This teaches us that the chief object of contemplation in the heavenly state is the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world. Nothing else attracted the apostle's attention so much as the person of that Divine Being, who hath redeemed us by his blood. He is the theme of the songs of all glorified spirits and holy angels. Christian, here is joy for thee; thou hast looked, and thou hast seen the Lamb. Through thy tears thine eyes have seen the Lamb of God taking away thy sins. Rejoice, then. In a little while, when thine eyes shall have been wiped from tears, thou wilt see the same Lamb exalted on his throne. It is the joy of thy heart to hold daily fellowship with Jesus; thou shalt have the same joy to a higher degree in heaven; thou shalt enjoy the constant vision of his presence; thou shalt dwell with him for ever. I looked, and, lo, a Lamb! Why, that Lamb is heaven itself; for as good Rutherford says, Heaven and Christ are the same thing; to be with Christ is to be in heaven, and to be in heaven is to be with Christ. That prisoner of the Lord very sweetly writes in one of his glowing letters--O my Lord Jesus Christ, if I could be in heaven without thee, it would be a hell; and if I could be in hell, and have thee still, it would be a heaven to me, for thou art all the heaven I want. It is true, is it not, Christian? Does not thy soul say so?

Not all the harps above Can make a heavenly place, If God his residence remove, Or but conceal his face.

All thou needest to make thee blessed, supremely blessed, is to be with Christ.

Evening, January 17

And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house.

2 Samuel 11:2

At that hour David saw Bathsheba. We are never out of the reach of temptation. Both at home and abroad we are liable to meet with allurements to evil; the morning opens with peril, and the shades of evening find us still in jeopardy. They are well kept whom God keeps, but woe unto those who go forth into the world, or even dare to walk their own house unarmed. Those who think themselves secure are more exposed to danger than any others. The armour-bearer of Sin is Self-confidence.

David should have been engaged in fighting the Lord's battles, instead of which he tarried at Jerusalem, and gave himself up to luxurious repose, for he arose from his bed at eventide. Idleness and luxury are the devil's jackals, and find him abundant prey. In stagnant waters noxious creatures swarm, and neglected soil soon yields a dense tangle of weeds and briars. Oh for the constraining love of Jesus to keep us active and useful! When I see the King of Israel sluggishly leaving his couch at the close of the day, and falling at once into temptation, let me take warning, and set holy watchfulness to guard the door.

Is it possible that the king had mounted his housetop for retirement and devotion? If so, what a caution is given us to count no place, however secret, a sanctuary from sin! While our hearts are so like a tinder-box, and sparks so plentiful, we had need use all diligence in all places to prevent a blaze. Satan can climb housetops, and enter closets, and even if we could shut out that foul fiend, our own corruptions are enough to work our ruin unless grace prevent. Reader, beware of evening temptations. Be not secure. The sun is down but sin is up. We need a watchman for the night as well as a guardian for the day. O blessed Spirit, keep us from all evil this night. Amen.

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Overview

Is it possible for a Christian to be relevant in the 21st century in the United States of America? If religion is simply a personal choice that individuals can practice as they wish in their home or church, but cannot be expressed in relation to the issues of the day, how can it really be meaningful? How can a book that is at least 2000 years old have any bearing today? So many in America identify themselves as Christians, so why does Christianity seem to mean so little? In, Not Of tackles all these questions and more by addressing the existence of God, the legitimacy of the Christian religion, what it really means to be a Christian and how Biblical principles answer contemporary culture's questions on topics like government, the environment and love.

In, Not Of is a lighthouse on the shore of a sea of competing ideas, beckoning those in search of true meaning and direction of safety. The lighthouse is built on the foundation of the confidence in the existence of God. In a concise and thought-provoking first three chapters that pulls a preponderance of apologetic material to bear, the cogency of the Biblical Christian position is established. Next, the topic of what it means to be a Christian is addressed. Based on Biblical principles and the powerful writings of a Christian martyr, a challenge is issued to all who make a claim to Christianity. Finally, topics of current interest are discussed from a Biblical Christian position that will both encourage and challenge believer and non-believer alike.

Whether a rigorous apologetic for the Biblical Christian worldview, a challenging theological perspective on the true meaning of Christianity, or an insightful critique of contemporary culture and the Christian counter-perspective, In, Not Of is a must-read and will surely provide meaningful commentary over a range of topics.

http://www.amazon.com/Not-Jeremy-D-Troxler/dp/1619047950

 

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