Tag Archives: good cheer

Alistair Begg

Alistair Begg – Objects of Divine Satisfaction

Leave a comment

Alistair Begg

He has blessed us in the beloved.  Ephesians 1:6

What a state of privilege! It includes our justification before God, but the term “blessed” in the Greek means more than that. It signifies that we are the objects of divine satisfaction, even of divine delight. How marvelous that we-worms, mortals, sinners-should be made the objects of divine love!

But it is only “in the Beloved.” Some Christians seem to be accepted in their own experience-at least that is their apprehension. When their spirit is lively and their hopes bright, they think God accepts them, for they feel so high, so heavenly-minded, so drawn above the earth! But when their souls cleave to the dust, they are the victims of the fear that they are no longer accepted. If they could only see that all their high joys do not exalt them, and all their low despondencies do not really depress them in their Father’s sight, but that they stand accepted in One who never alters. This One is always the beloved of God, always perfect, always without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. How much happier they would be, and how much more they would honor the Savior if they could grasp Him!

Rejoice then, believer, in this: You are blessed “in the Beloved.” You look within, and you say, “There is nothing acceptable here!” But look at Christ, and see if everything is not acceptable there. Your sins trouble you; but God has cast your sins behind His back, and you are accepted and blessed in the Righteous One. You have to fight with corruption and wrestle with temptation, but you are already accepted in Him who has overcome the powers of evil. The devil tempts you, but be of good cheer-he cannot destroy you, for you are accepted in Him who has broken Satan’s head.

Know by full assurance your glorious standing. Even glorified souls are not more accepted than you are. They are only blessed in heaven “in the Beloved,” and you are even now blessed in Christ after the same manner.

 

 

Uncategorized

Presidential Prayer Team; C.P. – Just Passing Through

Leave a comment

 

All through history people have traveled hundreds, if not thousands, of miles in all manner of transportation. From Abraham and his camels, to the pioneers and their covered wagons, to contemporaries and their rental trucks, all look for a better place to live than where they resided at the time.

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Hebrews 11:16

The writer of Hebrews tells about a people looking for a better a place. They endured all kinds of suffering while faithfully clinging to God’s promises. Today, you have an assurance of eternal life in Christ. “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

You pray for your country and rightly so (I Timothy 2:1-4). But don’t forget that you’re just passing through. Hebrews 10:25 says to encourage each other all the more when you see The Day approaching. When today’s headlines appear to be taken directly from prophetic scripture, be of good cheer. You are destined for a better place.

Recommended Reading: II Corinthians 5:1-10

Uncategorized

Alistair Begg – Serve Where He Set You

Leave a comment

 

These were the potters [who] lived there in the king’s service.  1 Chronicles 4:23

Potters were among the ranks of manual workers, but the king needed potters, and therefore they were elevated to royal service, although the material upon which they worked was nothing but clay. In the same way we also may be engaged in the most menial part of the Lord’s work, but it is a great privilege to do anything for the King; and therefore we will play our part, hoping that, although we live among the pots, we will soar in the service of our Master.

These people dwelt among plants and hedges and had rough, rustic hedging and ditching work to do. They may have wanted to live in the city, amid its life, society, and refinement, but they kept their assigned places because they were doing the king’s work. There is no ideal place for us to serve God except the place He sets us down. We are not to run from it on a whim or sudden notion, but we should serve the Lord in it by being a blessing to those among whom we live. These potters and gardeners had royal company, for they lived with the king, and although among hedges and plants, they lived with the king there. No lawful place or gracious occupation, however menial, can keep us from communion with our Lord. In hovels, run-down neighborhoods, and jails, we may keep company with the King. In all works of faith we can count upon Jesus’ fellowship. It is when we are in His work that we may reckon on His smile.

You unknown workers who are serving the Lord amid the dirt and wretchedness of the lowest of the low, be of good cheer, for jewels have often been found among rubbish, earthen pots have been filled with heavenly treasure, and ugly weeds have been transformed into precious flowers. Dwell with the King and do His work, and when He writes His chronicles, your name shall be recorded.

Uncategorized

Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

Leave a comment

 

Morning  “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  “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.