Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
by C. H. Spurgeon
Tuesday Morning, January 31
The Lord our Righteousness.
Jeremiah 23:6
It will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease, and peace, to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. How often are the saints of God downcast and sad! I do not think they ought to be. I do not think they would if they could always see their perfection in Christ. There are some who are always talking about corruption, and the depravity of the heart, and the innate evil of the soul. This is quite true, but why not go a little further, and remember that we are perfect in Christ Jesus. It is no wonder that those who are dwelling upon their own corruption should wear such downcast looks; but surely if we call to mind that Christ is made unto us righteousness, we shall be of good cheer. What though distresses afflict me, though Satan assault me, though there may be many things to be experienced before I get to heaven, those are done for me in the covenant of divine grace; there is nothing wanting in my Lord, Christ hath done it all. On the cross he said, It is finished! and if it be finished, then am I complete in him, and can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. You will not find on this side heaven a holier people than those who receive into their hearts the doctrine of Christ's righteousness. When the believer says, I live on Christ alone; I rest on him solely for salvation; and I believe that, however unworthy, I am still saved in Jesus; then there rises up as a motive of gratitude this thought--Shall I not live to Christ? Shall I not love him and serve him, seeing that I am saved by his merits? The love of Christ constraineth us, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him which died for them. If saved by imputed righteousness, we shall greatly value imparted righteousness.
Evening, January 31
Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
2 Samuel 18:23
Running is not everything, there is much in the way which we select: a swift foot over hill and down dale will not keep pace with a slower traveller upon level ground. How is it with my spiritual journey, am I labouring up the hill of my own works and down into the ravines of my own humiliations and resolutions, or do I run by the plain way of Believe and live? How blessed is it to wait upon the Lord by faith! The soul runs without weariness, and walks without fainting, in the way of believing. Christ Jesus is the way of life, and he is a plain way, a pleasant way, a way suitable for the tottering feet and feeble knees of trembling sinners: am I found in this way, or am I hunting after another track such as priestcraft or metaphysics may promise me? I read of the way of holiness, that the wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err therein: have I been delivered from proud reason and been brought as a little child to rest in Jesus' love and blood? If so, by God's grace I shall outrun the strongest runner who chooses any other path. This truth I may remember to my profit in my daily cares and needs. It will be my wisest course to go at once to my God, and not to wander in a roundabout manner to this friend and that. He knows my wants and can relieve them, to whom should I repair but to himself by the direct appeal of prayer, and the plain argument of the promise. Straightforward makes the best runner. I will not parlay with the servants, but hasten to their master.
In reading this passage, it strikes me that if men vie with each other in common matters, and one outruns the other, I ought to be in solemn earnestness so to run that I may obtain. Lord, help me to gird up the loins of my mind, and may I press forward towards the mark for the prize of my high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
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The Stupendous Reality of Being "in Christ Jesus"
by John Piper | January 25, 2012
Being "in Christ Jesus" is a stupendous reality. It is breathtaking what it means to be in Christ.
United to Christ. Bound to Christ. If you are "in Christ" listen to what it means for you:
- In Christ Jesus you were given grace before the world was created. 1 Timothy 1:9, "He gave us grace in Christ Jesus before the ages began."
- In Christ Jesus you were chosen by God before creation. Ephesians 1:4, "God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world."
- In Christ Jesus you are loved by God with an inseparable love. Romans 8:38–39, "I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
- In Christ Jesus you were redeemed and forgiven for all your sins. Ephesians 1:7, "In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses."
- In Christ Jesus you are justified before God and the righteousness of God in Christ is imputed to you. 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For our sake God made Christ to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
- In Christ Jesus you have become a new creation and a son of God. 2 Corinthians 5:17, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." Galatians 3:26, "In Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith."
- In Christ Jesus you have been seated in the heavenly places even while he lived on earth. Ephesians 2:6, "God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
- In Christ Jesus all the promises of God are Yes for you. 2 Corinthians 1:20, "All the promises of God find their Yes in Christ."
- In Christ Jesus you are being sanctified and made holy. 1 Corinthians 1:2, "To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus."
- In Christ Jesus everything you really needed will be supplied. Philippians 4:19, "My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
- In Christ Jesus the peace of God will guard your heart and mind. Philippians 4:7, "The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
- In Christ Jesus you have eternal life. Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
- And in Christ Jesus you will be raised from the dead at the coming of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:22, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." All those united to Adam in the first humanity die. All those united to Christ in the new humanity rise to live again
How do we get into Christ?
At the unconscious and decisive level it is God's sovereign work: "From God are you in Christ Jesus" (1 Corinthians 1:30).
But at the conscious level of our own action, it is through faith. Christ dwells in our hearts "through faith" (Ephesians 3:17). The life we live in union with his death and life "we live by faith in the Son of God" (Galatians 2:20). We are united in his death and resurrection "through faith" (Colossians 2:12).
This is a wonderful truth. Union with Christ is the ground of everlasting joy, and it is free.
Hey Saints!
Gotta love that word STUPENDOUS! It really is STUPENDOUS!
Being 'in Christ Jesus' is STUPENDOUS!
Shalom, Robert
When we cannot do what and where we would,
we must do what and where we can.
----Matthew Henry----
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