Are you willing to bear His “shame” that you might also receive His blessing?

““Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” - Mt. 5:11

Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, April 6

"Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp." Hebrews 13:13

Jesus, bearing His cross, went forth to suffer without the gate. The Christian's reason for leaving the camp of the world's sin and religion is not because he loves to be singular, but because Jesus did so"; and the disciple must follow his Master. Christ was "not of the world:" His life and His testimony were a constant protest against conformity with the world. Never was such overflowing affection for men as you find in Him; but still He was separate from sinners. In like manner Christ's people must "go forth unto Him." They must take their position "without the camp," as witness-bearers for the truth. They must be prepared to tread the straight and narrow path. They must have bold, unflinching, lion-like hearts, loving Christ first, and His truth next, and Christ and His truth beyond all the world. Jesus would have His people "go forth without the camp" for their own sanctification. You cannot grow in grace to any high degree while you are conformed to the world. The life of separation may be a path of sorrow, but it is the highway of safety; and though the separated life may cost you many pangs, and make every day a battle, yet it is a happy life after all. No joy can excel that of the soldier of Christ: Jesus reveals Himself so graciously, and gives such sweet refreshment, that the warrior feels more calm and peace in his daily strife than others in their hours of rest. The highway of holiness is the highway of communion. It is thus we shall hope to win the crown if we are enabled by divine grace faithfully to follow Christ "without the camp." The crown of glory will follow the cross of separation. A moment's shame will be well recompensed by eternal honour; a little while of witness-bearing will seem nothing when we are "forever with the Lord."

It is easy to be proud. Perhaps too easy. But pride is a problem - it is a symptom of sin and can lead to further sin. This is eminently evident in "pride" parades. God, however, calls us to be humble, to have an honest opinion of ourselves. This is often difficult, especially in a culture where so much is based upon competition. Yet no one has anything of which to boast before God. Pride only gets in the way of having a fulfilling relationship with Him. So set aside your pride, and humble yourself before the Lord; then the Lord will honor you.

Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotions

Evening, April 5

"Before honour is humility." Proverbs 15:33

Humiliation of soul always brings a positive blessing with it. If we empty our hearts of self God will fill them with His love. He who desires close communion with Christ should remember the word of the Lord, "To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word." Stoop if you would climb to heaven. Do we not say of Jesus, "He descended that He might ascend"? so must you. You must grow downwards, that you may grow upwards; for the sweetest fellowship with heaven is to be had by humble souls, and by them alone. God will deny no blessing to a thoroughly humbled spirit. "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," with all its riches and treasures. The whole exchequer of God shall be made over by deed of gift to the soul which is humble enough to be able to receive it without growing proud because of it. God blesses us all up to the full measure and extremity of what it is safe for Him to do. If you do not get a blessing, it is because it is not safe for you to have one. If our heavenly Father were to let your unhumbled spirit win a victory in His holy war, you would pilfer the crown for yourself, and meeting with a fresh enemy you would fall a victim; so that you are kept low for your own safety. When a man is sincerely humble, and never ventures to touch so much as a grain of the praise, there is scarcely any limit to what God will do for him. Humility makes us ready to be blessed by the God of all grace, and fits us to deal efficiently with our fellow men. True humility is a flower which will adorn any garden. This is a sauce with which you may season every dish of life, and you will find an improvement in every case. Whether it be prayer or praise, whether it be work or suffering, the genuine salt of humility cannot be used in excess.

Adeja Shivonne - Driver strikes rideshare with mother, 3 children, then hits mom, 3 kids at crosswalk:

https://www.fox5ny.com/news/ocean-parkway-crash-brooklyn

#Brooklyn #NewYork #AssaultCar #Tragedy #NotOneMore #ThinkOfTheChildren #BanCarsNow #StopCrashing #StopCars #CarExtremism #EndCarViolence #CarViolence #Terrorism #PedestrianSafety #TrafficSafety

It is so easy to turn our backs on Him, though He never will do so to us.

Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotions

Morning, March 27

"Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled." Matthew 26:56

He never deserted them, but they in cowardly fear of their lives, fled from Him in the very beginning of His sufferings. This is but one instructive instance of the frailty of all believers if left to themselves; they are but sheep at the best, and they flee when the wolf cometh. They had all been warned of the danger, and had promised to die rather than leave their Master; and yet they were seized with sudden panic, and took to their heels. It may be, that I, at the opening of this day, have braced up my mind to bear a trial for the Lord's sake, and I imagine myself to be certain to exhibit perfect fidelity; but let me be very jealous of myself, lest having the same evil heart of unbelief, I should depart from my Lord as the apostles did. It is one thing to promise, and quite another to perform. It would have been to their eternal honour to have stood at Jesus' side right manfully; they fled from honour; may I be kept from imitating them! Where else could they have been so safe as near their Master, who could presently call for twelve legions of angels? They fled from their true safety. O God, let me not play the fool also. Divine grace can make the coward brave. The smoking flax can flame forth like fire on the altar when the Lord wills it. These very apostles who were timid as hares, grew to be bold as lions after the Spirit had descended upon them, and even so the Holy Spirit can make my recreant spirit brave to confess my Lord and witness for His truth.

What anguish must have filled the Saviour as He saw His friends so faithless! This was one bitter ingredient in His cup; but that cup is drained dry; let me not put another drop in it. If I forsake my Lord, I shall crucify Him afresh, and put Him to an open shame. Keep me, O blessed Spirit, from an end so shameful.

At 6 am in New Orleans officers found an explosive device near the Cathedral in the French Quarter. They discovered two devices and safety detonated both. Today is a Holy day of obligation for Catholics, cathedral was packed...the carnage would have been unimaginable

Kelly Hayes - 10 killed, 30 hurt after vehicle plows into crowd on New Orleans’ Bourbon Street:

fox26houston.com/news/new-orleans-bourbon-street-multiple-fatalities-vehicle-crowd

#NewOrleans #Louisiana #AssaultCar #NotOneMore #StopCrashing #StopCars #CarExtremism #EndCarViolence #CarViolence #Terrorism #PedestrianSafety #TrafficSafety

DW - Trucker leaves trail of destruction after amok ride:

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-trucker-leaves-trail-of-destruction-after-amok-ride/a-70930479

#NorthRhineWestphalia #Intoxication #TrafficCrash #TrafficSafety #Transportation

James R. Hood - Rising traffic deaths are a public health crisis, federal safety officials warn:

https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/rising-traffic-deaths-are-a-public-health-crisis-federal-safety-officials-warn-112024.html

#TrafficDeaths #PublicHealthCrisis #PublicHealth #NTSB #StopTheBias #Bias #NotOneMore #StopCrashing #StopCars #CarExtremism #BanCarsNow #EndCarViolence #CarViolence #TrafficSafety #Transportation

Foster Wong & Josh Xiao - Chinese driver kills 35 in deadliest attack in at least a decade:

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2024/11/chinese-driver-kills-35-in-deadliest-attack-in-at-least-a-decade/

#Zhuhai #VehicleAttack #AssaultCar #CarExtremism #StopCars #EndCarViolence #CarViolence #Insanity #NotOneMore #PedestrianDeath #PedestrianSafety #Terrorism #Transportation

I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health. The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country. Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!

https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113483366471340943

This is another reason why we must stay on our toes when it comes to the safety and protection of our children. Psychos like this depraved pig should never see the light of day. 25 years is not enough.

And Disney is not a happy place.
https://x.com/GenFlynn/status/1855370818722910507

Stunning: Men have won 900 medals in WOMEN'S athletic competitions!
'As patriarchal structures continue to evolve, women and girls in sport are experiencing new forms of discrimination based on their sex. One glaring example is opening the female category of sports to males, further undermining their access to equal opportunities and the right to participate in safety, dignity, and fairness'
https://www.wnd.com/2024/11/stunning-men-have-won-900-medals-in-womens-athletic-competitions/

https://local12.com/news/nation-world/hyundai-recall-recalls-recalled-hydrogen-fuel-cell-fire-risk-owners-urged-park-outdoors-cincinnati-danger-dangerous-products-consumer-alerts-possible-risks-leak-repairs-united-states-safety-regulators-pressure-relief-device-break-global-effect-dealers#