Ruth went into the field of Boaz to pick the gleanings after it had been reaped (Ruth 2:3). She sought the leftovers from those reaping, but what she found was so much more - her redeemer himself. Boaz, for Ruth, was a type of Christ; he represented the one who saves us.

Likewise, we should be going out into our Redeemer’s field, not to reap what is left behind, but to bring in His bounty. Jesus informed His disciples, “lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest” (Jn. 4:35). This He spoke regarding those whose hearts were prepared to receive the gospel, as He continued, “already he who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for life eternal” (Jn. 4:36).

Ruth did not sow, but she received of the harvest, and also received redemption. So too, we who have received redemption should be going out to harvest that which we did not sow (Jn. 4:37-38).

Brethren, are you working to harvest the Lord’s field? Or even to reap the gleanings? If not, why not? Are you ashamed of the gospel? Is it not God’s power for salvation? (Rom. 1:16) Did not God choose “the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (1 Cor. 1:21)?

Let us then, as His workers, work to bring in His harvest as He commanded those who would follow (Mt. 28:18-20).

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, October 25

"She gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech." Ruth 2:3

Her hap was. Yes, it seemed nothing but an accident, but how divinely was it overruled! Ruth had gone forth with her mother's blessing, under the care of her mother's God, to humble but honourable toil, and the providence of God was guiding her every step. Little did she know that amid the sheaves she would find a husband, that he should make her the joint owner of all those broad acres, and that she a poor foreigner should become one of the progenitors of the great Messiah. God is very good to those who trust in Him, and often surprises them with unlooked for blessings. Little do we know what may happen to us tomorrow, but this sweet fact may cheer us, that no good thing shall be withheld. Chance is banished from the faith of Christians, for they see the hand of God in everything. The trivial events of today or tomorrow may involve consequences of the highest importance. O Lord, deal as graciously with Thy servants as Thou didst with Ruth.

How blessed would it be, if, in wandering in the field of meditation tonight, our hap should be to light upon the place where our next Kinsman will reveal Himself to us! O Spirit of God, guide us to Him. We would sooner glean in His field than bear away the whole harvest from any other. O for the footsteps of His flock, which may conduct us to the green pastures where He dwells! This is a weary world when Jesus is away- we could better do without sun and moon that without Him- but how divinely fair all things become in the glory of His presence! Our souls know the virtue which dwells in Jesus, and can never be content without Him. We will wait in prayer this night until our hap shall be to light on a part of the field belonging to Jesus wherein He will manifest Himself to us.

Christian, when God saved you, He did not leave you as a mushroom to grow without light, to figure all things out for yourself. He gives us His word, which reveals God to us, and just as importantly, He gives us His Spirit to dwell within us (1 Cor. 13:6), to teach us (1 Jn. 2:27), to guide us into all truth (Jn. 16:13), and who reveals that which is Jesus’ to us (Jn. 16:15).

We need not walk in darkness. His word is a lamp for our steps, a light that illuminates our way (Ps. 119:105). And His Spirit is there to guide us the entire time. It is He who washes us with regeneration and renewal (Tit. 3:5), who gives us the new birth (Jn. 3:5-8), who seals us and is our promise of redemption (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13-14), who informs us of the things freely given us by God (1 Cor. 2:12).

He empowers us to bear witness about Jesus (Acts 1:8), He helps us in our weakness, and He intercedes for us when we know not how to pray (Rom. 8:26). What’s more, He reveals the thoughts and wisdom of God to us, which the man without God’s Spirit can neither understand nor accept (1 Cor. 2:13-15).

Brethren, you are not walking alone. Through the Spirit we have fellowship with one another and with God. Let us not grieve Him (Eph. 4:30), but lean on Him, walk by Him, live by Him (Gal. 5:16,25), and bear the fruit He causes to grow in our lives (Gal. 5:22-23).

Do not stress or be anxious; receive strength and comfort from the Comforter who now lives in you.

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, October 22

"He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you." John 16:15

There are times when all the promises and doctrines of the Bible are of no avail, unless a gracious hand shall apply them to us. We are thirsty, but too faint to crawl to the water-brook. When a soldier is wounded in battle it is of little use for him to know that there are those at the hospital who can bind up his wounds, and medicines there to ease all the pains which he now suffers: what he needs is to be carried thither, and to have the remedies applied. It is thus with our souls, and to meet this need there is one, even the Spirit of truth, who takes of the things of Jesus, and applies them to us. Think not that Christ hath placed His joys on heavenly shelves that we may climb up to them for ourselves, but He draws near, and sheds His peace abroad in our hearts. O Christian, if thou art tonight labouring under deep distresses, thy Father does not give thee promises and then leave thee to draw them up from the Word like buckets from a well, but the promises He has written in the Word He will write anew on your heart. He will manifest His love to you, and by His blessed Spirit, dispel your cares and troubles. Be it known unto thee, O mourner, that it is God's prerogative to wipe every tear from the eye of His people. The good Samaritan did not say, "Here is the wine, and here is the oil for you"; he actually poured in the oil and the wine. So Jesus not only gives you the sweet wine of the promise, but holds the golden chalice to your lips, and pours the life-blood into your mouth. The poor, sick, way-worn pilgrim is not merely strengthened to walk, but he is borne on eagles' wings. Glorious gospel! which provides everything for the helpless, which draws nigh to us when we cannot reach after it- brings us grace before we seek for grace! Here is as much glory in the giving as in the gift. Happy people who have the Holy Ghost to bring Jesus to them.

Oh Christian, do you agonize over the evil by which we’re surrounded? Do not despair. There is nothing to fear from man. God promises redemption for His chosen. He spoke through the prophet Jeremiah saying, “ I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible” (Jer. 15:21).

Do you trust God? Why should you not? For “God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Num. 23:19)

We have nothing to fear from evil men. The “worst” they can do to us is hasten our entrance into glory. Thus Jesus exhorts, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt. 10:28).

This body is a mere tent, a temporary dwelling. One way or another, our deliverance is assured. We should, therefore, look forward to the day we enter His presence, as did Paul when he exclaimed that “we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8).

Evil men hold no trepidation for those who know God. He is our deliverer, and He will, according to His will, deliver us from the hand of the wicked.

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, October 10

"And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible." Jeremiah 15:21

Note the glorious personality of the promise. I will, I will. The Lord Jehovah Himself interposes to deliver and redeem His people. He pledges Himself personally to rescue them. His own arm shall do it, that He may have the glory. Here is not a word said of any effort of our own which may be needed to assist the Lord. Neither our strength nor our weakness is taken into the account, but the lone I, like the sun in the heavens, shines out resplendent in all-sufficience. Why then do we calculate our forces, and consult with flesh and blood to our grievous wounding? Jehovah has power enough without borrowing from our puny arm. Peace, ye unbelieving thoughts, be still, and know that the Lord reigneth. Nor is there a hint concerning secondary means and causes. The Lord says nothing of friends and helpers: He undertakes the work alone, and feels no need of human arms to aid Him. Vain are all our lookings around to companions and relatives; they are broken reeds if we lean upon them- often unwilling when able, and unable when they are willing. Since the promise comes alone from God, it would be well to wait only upon Him; and when we do so, our expectation never fails us. Who are the wicked that we should fear them? The Lord will utterly consume them; they are to be pitied rather than feared. As for terrible ones, they are only terrors to those who have no God to fly to, for when the Lord is on our side, whom shall we fear? If we run into sin to please the wicked, we have cause to be alarmed, but if we hold fast our integrity, the rage of tyrants shall be overruled for our good. When the fish swallowed Jonah, he found him a morsel which he could not digest; and when the world devours the church, it is glad to be rid of it again. In all times of fiery trial, in patience let us possess our souls.

Psalms
Chapter 111

1 Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

2 The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

3 His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4 He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

6 He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.



Psalms
Chapter 112

1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

5 A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.

8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.

9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

10 The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.





Psalms
Chapter 113

1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.

2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.

3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.

4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,

6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.

9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.



Psalms
Chapter 114

1 When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;

2 Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.

3 The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.

4 The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.

5 What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?

6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?

7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;

8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

Christian, where do you find wisdom? Do you look within? Or do you find it in the One who created you?

Wisdom, true wisdom, is found in God and God alone. For “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps. 111:10; Pr. 9:10), and the beginning of knowledge (Pr. 1:7).

Man’s wisdom is foolishness (1 Cor. 1:20; 3:19), and through the foolish things of the world, God puts the wise to shame (1 Cor. 1:27).

What does God say? “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isa. 55:9). Why then depend on the wisdom of flesh, o man? Do you believe yourself greater than the One who made you?

Nay. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Pr. 3:5-6).

God gave us wisdom when He gave us Christ. For Christ is become for us “wisdom from God,” as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30), and if we are indeed in Christ, then we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16).

Next time you feel you lack or need wisdom, remember that Christ is our wisdom, and instead of looking within, ask God “who gives to all generously and without reproach” (Jas. 1:5).

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, September 25

"Who of God is made unto us wisdom." 1 Corinthians 1:30

Man's intellect seeks after rest, and by nature seeks it apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. Men of education are apt, even when converted, to look upon the simplicities of the cross of Christ with an eye too little reverent and loving. They are snared in the old net in which the Grecians were taken, and have a hankering to mix philosophy with revelation. The temptation with a man of refined thought and high education is to depart from the simple truth of Christ crucified, and to invent, as the term is, a more intellectual doctrine. This led the early Christian churches into Gnosticism, and bewitched them with all sorts of heresies. This is the root of Neology, and the other fine things which in days gone by were so fashionable in Germany, and are now so ensnaring to certain classes of divines. Whoever you are, good reader, and whatever your education may be, if you be the Lord's, be assured you will find no rest in philosophizing divinity. You may receive this dogma of one great thinker, or that dream of another profound reasoner, but what the chaff is to the wheat, that will these be to the pure word of God. All that reason, when best guided, can find out is but the A B C of truth, and even that lacks certainty, while in Christ Jesus there is treasured up all the fulness of wisdom and knowledge. All attempts on the part of Christians to be content with systems such as Unitarian and Broad-church thinkers would approve of, must fail; true heirs of heaven must come back to the grandly simple reality which makes the ploughboy's eye flash with joy, and glads the pious pauper's heart- "Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." Jesus satisfies the most elevated intellect when He is believingly received, but apart from Him the mind of the regenerate discovers no rest. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." "A good understanding have all they that do His commandments."

Behold how great a love God has bestowed upon us that we should be called His children (1 Jn. 3:1). How privileged are we? We did not earn this. We could not. All we ever earned prior to God, in His mercy, granting us grace, was condemnation.

All our good deeds were as filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). But God demonstrated His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were yet sinners (Rom. 5:8).

Praise be to God who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Eph. 1:3). He chose us in Christ before even the world was created (Eph. 1:4). He predestined us to be adopted as His children, according to His will, for His good pleasure (Eph. 1:5). And this so that He might receive praise (Eph. 1:6).

Shall we not then praise Him, by brethren, for the grace He has given us in Christ, the redemption we have found in His blood, and the forgiveness of our sins (Eph. 1:6-7)?
Let us sing praise to the Lord and give thanks to His holy name (Ps. 30:4)! For He has sealed us with His Holy Spirit as a pledge that, to the praise of His glory, He will redeem us, His own possession which He purchased with the blood of His Son (Eph. 1:13-14)!

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, September 23

"Accepted in the beloved." Ephesians 1:6

What a state of privilege! It includes our justification before God, but the term "acceptance" in the Greek means more than that. It signifies that we are the objects of divine complacence, nay, even of divine delight. How marvellous that we, worms, mortals, sinners, should be 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 but 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, in One who 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 honour the Saviour! Rejoice then, believer, in this: thou art accepted "in the beloved." Thou lookest within, and thou sayest, "There is nothing acceptable here!" But look at Christ, and see if there is not everything acceptable there. Thy sins trouble thee; but God has cast thy sins behind His back, and thou art accepted in the Righteous One. Thou hast to fight with corruption, and to wrestle with temptation, but thou art already accepted in Him who has overcome the powers of evil. The devil tempts thee; be of good cheer, he cannot destroy thee, for thou art accepted in Him who has broken Satan's head. Know by full assurance thy glorious standing. Even glorified souls are not more accepted than thou art. They are only accepted in heaven "in the beloved," and thou art even now accepted in Christ after the same manner.

King David often warned of being counted among sinners, and pleaded with God that He might instead be redeemed. “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Ps. 1:1-2). This should be our plea as well.

Let us not walk as do the lost, neither feeling aimlessly in the dark nor lusting after that against which God warns. This is often difficult, as though we are no longer of world, we must yet live in the world. Paul himself faced this treacherous battle, lamenting that he often did what he did not want, and did not do what he wanted (Rom. 7:15,19).

The flesh is constantly at war with the spirit (Gal. 5:17). So, how may we keep ourselves pure? By keeping our lives according to God’s word. By seeking God with all our heart. By hiding God’s word in our heart (Ps. 119:9-11).

Meditating upon God’s word is a critical aspect of the Christian life, and exhortations to this in Scripture abound.

So, as did David, let us give ourselves wholeheartedly to God and His word. Let us not be found to be walking as the sinners, but instead, let us cry out to God for His redemption (Ps. 26:1,4,11), that our souls not be gathered with those of sinners.


——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, September 21

"Gather not my soul with sinners." Psalm 26:9

Fear made David pray thus, for something whispered, "Perhaps, after all, thou mayst be gathered with the wicked." That fear, although marred by unbelief, springs, in the main, from holy anxiety, arising from the recollection of past sin. Even the pardoned man will enquire, "What if at the end my sins should be remembered, and I should be left out of the catalogue of the saved?" He recollects his present unfruitfulness- so little grace, so little love, so little holiness, and looking forward to the future, he considers his weakness and the many temptations which beset him, and he fears that he may fall, and become a prey to the enemy. A sense of sin and present evil, and his prevailing corruptions, compel him to pray, in fear and trembling, "Gather not my soul with sinners." Reader, if you have prayed this prayer, and if your character be rightly described in the Psalm from which it is taken, you need not be afraid that you shall be gathered with sinners. Have you the two virtues which David had- the outward walking in integrity, and the inward trusting in the Lord? Are you resting upon Christ's sacrifice, and can you compass the altar of God with humble hope? If so, rest assured, with the wicked you never shall be gathered, for that calamity is impossible. The gathering at the judgment is like to like. "Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn." If, then, thou art like God's people, thou shalt be with God's people. You cannot be gathered with the wicked, for you are too dearly bought. Redeemed by the blood of Christ, you are His for ever, and where He is, there must His people be. You are loved too much to be cast away with reprobates. Shall one dear to Christ perish? Impossible! Hell cannot hold thee! Heaven claims thee! Trust in thy Surety and fear not!

Intro to ‘In Christ’ Insights…
https://slantedright2.blogspot.com/2025/09/intro-to-in-christ-insights.html

SUMMARY: The Rev. Tony Cooke was one of my favorite Instructors in my Bible School days at RHEMA Bible Training Center between 1982-84… Rev. Cooke shares insights under the title ““In Christ” Insights from the 1800s”. Christian history buffs will love this. If you are not a Christian, prayerfully these ‘In Christ’ insights will lead you to the Roman Road to Redemption (Romans 10: 9-13). …TAKE A LOOK!
#InChrist #TonyCooke

Brethren, we have been set free! Free from the law. Free from our bondage to sin. Free to obey God from a sincere heart.

Now that we are loosed from our previous bonds, shall we turn back to them? May it never be! For we being freed from our slavery to sin are now purchased (1 Cor. 7:22-23) slaves of God (Rom. 6:22). Shall the slave disobey His master? No, we are to obey.

But we are told “it was for freedom that Christ set us free” (Gal. 5:1). Yes, this is true. But we are not to use our freedom as an excuse for sin (1 Pet. 2:16). We have liberty, but it should be used in pursuit of God and His purpose, and in that liberty, we should be sure we don’t cause others to stumble (1 Cor. 8:9). Just as Christ sacrificed Himself, and His personal will, to that of the Father, so should we; He set an example for us that we should follow in His steps (1 Pet. 2:21).

Brothers and sisters, let us not use our liberty to indulge selfishness and fleshly desires, but instead let us serve one another (Gal. 5:13). For “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify” (1 Cor. 10:23).

Let us use our liberty to do those things which are profitable, which are edifying, not only for ourselves, but for others as is our calling.

——————
Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, September 19

"The liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." Galatians 5:1

This "liberty" makes us free to heaven's charter- the Bible. Here is a choice passage, believer, "When thou passest through the rivers, I will be with thee." You are free to that. Here is another: "The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee"; you are free to that. You are a welcome guest at the table of the promises. Scripture is a never-failing treasury filled with boundless stores of grace. It is the bank of heaven; you may draw from it as much as you please, without let or hindrance. Come in faith and you are welcome to all covenant blessings. There is not a promise in the Word which shall be withheld. In the depths of tribulations let this freedom comfort you; amidst waves of distress let it cheer you; when sorrows surround thee let it be thy solace. This is thy Father's love-token; thou art free to it at all times. Thou art also free to the throne of grace. It is the believer's privilege to have access at all times to His heavenly Father. Whatever our desires, our difficulties, our wants, we are at liberty to spread all before Him. It matters not how much we may have sinned, we may ask and expect pardon. It signifies nothing how poor we are, we may plead His promise that He will provide all things needful. We have permission to approach His throne at all times- in midnight's darkest hour, or in noontide's most burning heat. Exercise thy right, O believer, and live up to thy privilege. Thou art free to all that is treasured up in Christ- wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It matters not what thy need is, for there is fulness of supply in Christ, and it is there for thee. O what a "freedom" is thine! freedom from condemnation, freedom to the promises, freedom to the throne of grace, and at last freedom to enter heaven!

Our God is able to do far more than we ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20). So then, brethren, do we not come before Him with our every need? While Jesus walked the earth, the infirm, the afflicted, the weak all came to Him seeking the solution to their woes.

We just need to remember, as Jesus taught us to pray, "Your will be done" (Mt. 6:10) and in the garden in His own prayer said the same (Mt. 26:42). Even the leper, when He approached the Lord in Mark 1:40 fell before Him and said, "if You are willing..."

He will hear and answer our prayers, when they are according to His will: "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him: (1 Jn. 5:14-15).

Most importantly, He grants us cleansing, not from illness (though He can grant that as well), but from sin, from spiritual sickness. As He tells us in 1 Pet. 2:24-25, "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls."

He died to provide our spiritual healing, so that we might "die to sin and live to righteousness." Like sheep we had gone astray (Isa. 53:6; 1 Pet. 2:25), but the Good Shepherd has gathered us back to Himself.

Brethren, we are saved because it was His will. Let us now conform ourselves further to His will through prayer and supplication.
--------

Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, September 4

"I will; be thou clean." Mark 1:41

Primeval darkness heard the Almighty fiat, "light be," and straightway light was, and the word of the Lord Jesus is equal in majesty to that ancient word of power. Redemption like Creation has its word of might. Jesus speaks and it is done. Leprosy yielded to no human remedies, but it fled at once at the Lord's "I will." The disease exhibited no hopeful signs or tokens of recovery, nature contributed nothing to its own healing, but the unaided word effected the entire work on the spot and for ever. The sinner is in a plight more miserable than the leper; let him imitate his example and go to Jesus, "beseeching Him and kneeling down to Him." Let him exercise what little faith he has, even though it should go no further than "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean"; and there need be no doubt as to the result of the application. Jesus heals all who come, and casts out none. In reading the narrative in which our morning's text occurs, it is worthy of devout notice that Jesus touched the leper. This unclean person had broken through the regulations of the ceremonial law and pressed into the house, but Jesus so far from chiding him broke through the law Himself in order to meet him. He made an interchange with the leper, for while He cleansed him, He contracted by that touch a Levitical defilement. Even so Jesus Christ was made sin for us, although in Himself He knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. O that poor sinners would go to Jesus, believing in the power of His blessed substitutionary work, and they would soon learn the power of His gracious touch. That hand which multiplied the loaves, which saved sinking Peter, which upholds afflicted saints, which crowns believers, that same hand will touch every seeking sinner, and in a moment make him clean. The love of Jesus is the source of salvation. He loves, He looks, He touches us, WE LIVE.

Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, August 28

"Sing, O barren." Isaiah 54:1

Though we have brought forth some fruit unto Christ, and have a joyful hope that we are "plants of His own right hand planting," yet there are times when we feel very barren. Prayer is lifeless, love is cold, faith is weak, each grace in the garden of our heart languishes and droops. We are like flowers in the hot sun, requiring the refreshing shower. In such a condition what are we to do? The text is addressed to us in just such a state. "Sing, O barren, break forth and cry aloud." But what can I sing about? I cannot talk about the present, and even the past looks full of barrenness. Ah! I can sing of Jesus Christ. I can talk of visits which the Redeemer has aforetimes paid to me; or if not of these, I can magnify the great love wherewith He loved His people when He came from the heights of heaven for their redemption. I will go to the cross again. Come, my soul, heavy laden thou wast once, and thou didst lose thy burden there. Go to Calvary again. Perhaps that very cross which gave thee life may give thee fruitfulness. What is my barrenness? It is the platform for His fruit-creating power. What is my desolation? It is the black setting for the sapphire of His everlasting love. I will go in poverty, I will go in helplessness, I will go in all my shame and backsliding, I will tell Him that I am still His child, and in confidence in His faithful heart, even I, the barren one, will sing and cry aloud.

Sing, believer, for it will cheer thine own heart, and the hearts of other desolate ones. Sing on, for now that thou art really ashamed of being barren, thou wilt be fruitful soon; now that God makes thee loath to be without fruit He will soon cover thee with clusters. The experience of our barrenness is painful, but the Lord's visitations are delightful. A sense of our own poverty drives us to Christ, and that is where we need to be, for in Him is our fruit found.

In Old Testament times, the first fruits were offered to God as an offering, giving thanks for the coming harvest. In Romans, Paul tells us we have the "first fruits of the Spirit" and await our "adoption," which is symbolically spoken of as the coming harvest of His children (Rev. 14:15,16). Praise God for the coming harvest and our entrance into his kingdom!
----------

Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, August 16

"Ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit." Romans 8:23

Present possession is declared. At this present moment we have the first fruits of the Spirit. We have repentance, that gem of the first water; faith, that priceless pearl; hope, the heavenly emerald; and love, the glorious ruby. We are already made "new creatures in Christ Jesus," by the effectual working of God the Holy Ghost. This is called the firstfruit because it comes first. As the wave-sheaf was the first of the harvest, so the spiritual life, and all the graces which adorn that life, are the first operations of the Spirit of God in our souls. The firstfruits were the pledge of the harvest. As soon as the Israelite had plucked the first handful of ripe ears, he looked forward with glad anticipation to the time when the wain should creak beneath the sheaves. So, brethren, when God gives us things which are pure, lovely, and of good report, as the work of the Holy Spirit, these are to us the prognostics of the coming glory. The firstfruits were always holy to the Lord, and our new nature, with all its powers, is a consecrated thing. The new life is not ours that we should ascribe its excellence to our own merit; it is Christ's image and creation, and is ordained for His glory. But the firstfruits were not the harvest, and the works of the Spirit in us at this moment are not the consummation- the perfection is yet to come. We must not boast that we have attained, and so reckon the wave-sheaf to be all the produce of the year: we must hunger and thirst after righteousness, and pant for the day of full redemption. Dear reader, this evening open your mouth wide, and God will fill it. Let the boon in present possession excite in you a sacred avarice for more grace. Groan within yourself for higher degrees of consecration, and your Lord will grant them to you, for He is able to do exceeding abundantly above what we ask or even think.

Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, July 31

"And these are the singers... they were employed in that work day and night." 1 Chronicles 9:33

Well was it so ordered in the temple that the sacred chant never ceased: for evermore did the singers praise the Lord, whose mercy endureth for ever. As mercy did not cease to rule either by day or by night, so neither did music hush its holy ministry. My heart, there is a lesson sweetly taught to thee in the ceaseless song of Zion's temple, thou too art a constant debtor, and see thou to it that thy gratitude, like charity, never faileth. God's praise is constant in heaven, which is to be thy final dwelling-place, learn thou to practise the eternal hallelujah. Around the earth as the sun scatters his light, his beams awaken grateful believers to tune their morning hymn, so that by the priesthood of the saints perpetual praise is kept up at all hours, they swathe our globe in a mantle of thanksgiving, and girdle it with a golden belt of song.

The Lord always deserves to be praised for what He is in Himself, for His works of creation and providence, for His goodness towards His creatures, and especially for the transcendent act of redemption, and all the marvellous blessing flowing therefrom. It is always beneficial to praise the Lord; it cheers the day and brightens the night; it lightens toil and softens sorrow; and over earthly gladness it sheds a sanctifying radiance which makes it less liable to blind us with its glare. Have we not something to sing about at this moment? Can we not weave a song out of our present joys, or our past deliverances, or our future hopes? Earth yields her summer fruits: the hay is housed, the golden grain invites the sickle, and the sun tarrying long to shine upon a fruitful earth, shortens the interval of shade that we may lengthen the hours of devout worship. By the love of Jesus, let us be stirred up to close the day with a psalm of sanctified gladness.

Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, June 29

"Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." 1 Thessalonians 4:14

Let us not imagine that the soul sleeps in insensibility. "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise," is the whisper of Christ to every dying saint. They "sleep in Jesus," but their souls are before the throne of God, praising Him day and night in His temple, singing hallelujahs to Him who washed them from their sins in His blood. The body sleeps in its lonely bed of earth, beneath the coverlet of grass. But what is this sleep? The idea connected with sleep is "rest", and that is the thought which the Spirit of God would convey to us. Sleep makes each night a Sabbath for the day. Sleep shuts fast the door of the soul, and bids all intruders tarry for a while, that the life within may enter its summer garden of ease. The toil-worn believer quietly sleeps, as does the weary child when it slumbers on its mother's breast. Oh! happy they who die in the Lord; they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them. Their quiet repose shall never be broken until God shall rouse them to give them their full reward. Guarded by angel watchers, curtained by eternal mysteries, they sleep on, the heritors of glory, till the fulness of time shall bring the fulness of redemption. What an awaking shall be theirs! They were laid in their last resting place, weary and worn, but such they shall not rise. They went to their rest with the furrowed brow, and the wasted features, but they wake up in beauty and glory. The shrivelled seed, so destitute of form and comeliness, rises from the dust a beauteous flower. The winter of the grave gives way to the spring of redemption and the summer of glory. Blessed is death, since it, through the divine power, disrobes us of this work-day garment, to clothe us with the wedding garment of incorruption. Blessed are those who "sleep in Jesus."

From Good Friday to Resurrection Life in Christ Jesus
https://slantedright2.blogspot.com/2025/04/from-good-friday-to-resurrection-life.html

SUMMARY: Traditionally in Christendom this is day (in 2025 anyway) is celebrated as Good Friday. The day the Lord Jesus the Christ and Son of God was nailed to a Cross and died. ONLY two arise bodily on the first day of the week – a Sunday – to Resurrection Life. … Redemption then is simple. Yet there is some action of repentance that seals a New Creation Life in Christ Jesus. … great read that I believe dives into the meaning of living a New Creation Resurrection Life that I pray speaks to you. It’s entitled, “The Resurrection Beyond the Cross”. …TAKE A LOOK!
#ResurrectionLife #NewCreation

He was led away as a lamb to the slaughter. Not like a farmer taking his sheep to be butchered for meat, but like the Old Testament priest taking the scapegoat to the tabernacle so the sins of the nation could be laid on its head. Our sins were laid upon Jesus so that, on the cross, He could carry them away. Only through faith in Him can you receive the redemption found in having Him take your sin upon Himself.

Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, April 3

"They took Jesus, and led Him away." John 19:16

He had been all night in agony, He had spent the early morning at the hall of Caiaphas, He had been hurried from Caiaphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, and from Herod back again to Pilate; He had, therefore, but little strength left, and yet neither refreshment nor rest were permitted Him. They were eager for His blood, and therefore led Him out to die, loaded with the cross. O dolorous procession! Well may Salem's daughters weep. My soul, do thou weep also.

What learn we here as we see our blessed Lord led forth? Do we not perceive that truth which was set forth in shadow by the scapegoat? Did not the high-priest bring the scapegoat, and put both his hands upon its head, confessing the sins of the people, that thus those sins might be laid upon the goat, and cease from the people? Then the goat was led away by a fit man into the wilderness, and it carried away the sins of the people, so that if they were sought for they could not be found. Now we see Jesus brought before the priests and rulers, who pronounce Him guilty; God Himself imputes our sins to Him, "the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all;" "He was made sin for us;" and, as the substitute for our guilt, bearing our sin upon His shoulders, represented by the cross; we see the great Scapegoat led away by the appointed officers of justice. Beloved, can you feel assured that He carried your sin? As you look at the cross upon His shoulders, does it represent your sin? There is one way by which you can tell whether He carried your sin or not. Have you laid your hand upon His head, confessed your sin, and trusted in Him? Then your sin lies not on you; it has all been transferred by blessed imputation to Christ, and He bears it on His shoulder as a load heavier than the cross.

Let not the picture vanish till you have rejoiced in your own deliverance, and adored the loving Redeemer upon whom your iniquities were laid.

25-088 Beauty from Ashes: How God Uses Pain for His Glory
TODAY'S FOCUS IS: Redemption Through Trials
https://myr2b.substack.com/p/25-088-beauty-from-ashes-how-god?publication_id=1361476&post_id=158783984&isFreemail=false&r=1maoyr&triedRedirect=true&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

VIDEOS: The Christian Collection For Your Opinion
https://johnhouk.substack.com/p/videos-the-christian-collection-for

SUMMARY: It is that time when I share past videos I found interesting. This particular collection has a Christian oriented outlook. Watch a few or all and let me know your opinion. Creepy-haters will undoubtedly be ignored. Ultimately, the Resurrection power of Christ’s Redemption Delivers and Saves ALL that Believe (Romans 10: 8-11 NKJV). …TAKE A LOOK!
#RedeemedInChrist

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
This is the state of all who do not know Jesus as Savior.
This is what God has done for us who believe on Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
“being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭24‬-‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/114/rom.3.24-26.NKJV

The Real Christmas vs Santa Claus Myths and Legends
https://oneway2day.com/2024/12/22/the-real-christmas-vs-santa-claus-myths-and-legends/

SUMMARY: What do you think about when you read “Santa Claus”? … I suspect these memory suggestions are perhaps the mere tip of the iceberg… The traditional view of the jolly fat man with a white beard has evolved from legends, myths, European pagan cultural traditions and only a smattering of history… Christmas is about God Almighty being born in human form to accomplish the Redemption of humanity cursed by the bad choice of Adam and Eve… The Birth of Jesus from Father God and from Mary became the first step of Redeeming the descendants of Adam and Eve from the bequeathed Fallen Nature…READ IT ALL!
#Christmas #Redemption #StNicholas

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬