Waiting for Us

Philippians 3:20

Always remember that we have renounced the world and are living here as guests and strangers in the meantime. Anticipate the day assigned to each of us for our homecoming. This day will snatch us up, set us free from the snares of the world, and return us to Paradise and the king­dom.

Who, in foreign lands, wouldn't hurry to return to their own country? Who, when rushing to return to his friends, wouldn't eagerly want the winds at his back so that he could embrace those dear to him sooner? We consider paradise as our country. We already consider the patri­archs as our parents. Why don't we hurry and run, so that we can see our country and greet our par­ents?

A great number of our dear ones are waiting for us there. A dense crowd of parents, brothers, and children is longing for us, already assured of their own safe­ty and eager for our salvation. Beloved, let us hurry to these peo­ple eagerly. Let us long to be with them and to come to Christ quick­ly.

May God see our eager desire. May the Lord Jesus Christ look at the purpose of our mind and faith. He will give the larger rewards of His glory to those with a greater desire for Him!
—Cyprian

Readings taken from Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers

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Deep Riches: Augustine and Pelagius

Click on over to Deep Riches to learn who Augustine and Pelagius were and what in the world they have to do with today's theological debates.

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Augustine and Pelagius

As the true father of what is commonly referred to as Calvinism, Augustine properly emphasized the sovereign nature of God. While not tipping to the extreme position of certain over-zealous disciples of Calvin in accusing God of creating certain men solely for damnation, he did articulate an accurate framework concerning creation, the fall, and the nature of man. Conversely, Pelagius was every bit an Arminian as Jacobus (James) Arminius proved to be generations later--if not more. Their doctrinal differences began with their view of creation. While both men rightly saw Adam as originally created innocent and possessing a free will, Augustine correctly understood that he was immortal. Pelagius did not recognize the fact that death was brought about by the curse. He believed Adam was originally created to die--a belief clearly contrary to Scripture. It naturally follows that they disagreed on the scope of the fall. Pelagius, consistent with his view of man’s original mortality, saw the curse causing only the spiritual death of Adam--not his posterity. Physical death was already a created, inherent part of man. Spiritual death in Adam’s posterity was brought on by individual sinful actions. Augustine rightly disagreed. Both physical and spiritual death were placed on man as a curse. As such, both kinds of death are imputed to all subsequent generations. This is the basis for what later would be labeled, “The total depravity of man”—the refutation of the first point of Arminianisms’ Remonstrance. Augustine consistently held that since Adam’s sin is imputed to him, man is corrupt from his conception. Pelagius was consistent with his other views in believing all men are born innocent. It has been said that Pelagius’ beliefs were never tested in the crucible of parenthood.

While the contemporary debate rages in theological and denominational circles between Calvinism and Armenianism, it is good to remember its origin. Realizing the debate is certainly not new and seeing the ancient arguments and accusations sheds light on current posturing. It would seem helpful to highlight the historical context in public venues, but “Why I Am Predestined Not to be Augustinian” does not provocatively generate the same buzz as “Why I Am Predestined Not to be a Hyper-Calvinist.” As the years progress, Spurgeon’s treatment of the subject seems increasingly wise.

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Extreme Warmth

Jeremiah 20:9

Nadejda Sloboda could hardly contain her enthusiasm. She had just learned about Christ from a shortwave radio program broadcast from Europe. As the first Christian in her Russian village, she desperately wanted to tell all her friends about the God who had miraculously changed her heart. But she knew the local authorities strictly prohibited any talk of God or Christianity.

However, Nadejda was unable to contain her zeal, and soon a church was born. When the police were unable to squelch the church’s growth even with road blockades, they arrested Nadejda and sentenced her to four years in prison. Her five children were taken by force to an atheistic boarding school, which tormented Nadejda. But she felt nearer to God than ever before and persisted in sharing Christ even with her fellow prisoners.

Because of her refusal to stop talking about Christ, officials put her in a solitary, unheated cell for two months. It was in the middle of winter and Nadejda was not aloud any bedding whatsoever. She was forced to sleep on the cold concrete floor. After she was returned to the common cell, her fellow prisoners asked her how she was able to stand the treatment. She replied, “I fell asleep on the cold concrete floor trusting in God, and it became warm around me. I rested in the arms of God.”

Most Christians can recall a time in their spiritual journey when it seemed like they could never get enough of God and his Word. Spiritual zeal was second nature. Fervor was a constant friend. Yet, somehow our faith grew cold along the way. Perhaps it was persecution that squelched our enthusiasm. Perhaps it was personal tragedy. Or perhaps it was nothing in particular—just ordinary activities that dampened our spirits and reclaimed our priorities. Are the flames of spiritual fervor now merely smoldering ashes? Has your zeal grown dormant? It is possible to ignite a new relationship with God and fuel the fire within. Ask him to help you warm up to the idea today.

Readings taken from
Extreme Devotion: The Voice of the Martyrs

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Enduring Adversity

Psalm 39:5

I do not know of any one temptation that in all ages has more solicited and perplexed the minds of good men, than that which springs from the prosperity of the wicked; a scandal that the best of men have been ever apt to take against the dispensations of God Himself.

It has therefore pleased God, in compassion to the suffering, frequently to obviate this temptation, by causing many parts of holy Scripture to be written purposely upon this argument, among which the thirty-ninth Psalm is one, the main proposition of which is an exhortation that we, beholding the prosperity of the wicked, do not doubt of the divine care and providence.

We must not be broken in our minds, nor murmur against God, or fall away from Him, but patiently endure adversity, and hold fast our profession.
—Samuel Shaw

Readings taken from Day by Day with the English Puritans

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Spurgeon Saturday

Psalm 104:16

Without sap the tree cannot flourish or even exist. Vitality is essential to a Christian. There must be life —a vital principle infused into us by God the Holy Ghost, or we cannot be trees of the Lord. The mere name of being a Christian is but a dead thing, we must be filled with the spirit of divine life. This life is mysterious. We do not understand the circulation of the sap, by what force it rises, and by what power it descends again. So the life within us is a sacred mystery. Regeneration is wrought by the Holy Ghost entering into man and becoming man’s life; and this divine life in a believer afterwards feeds upon the flesh and blood of Christ and is thus sustained by divine food, but whence it cometh and whither it goeth who shall explain to us? What a secret thing the sap is! The roots go searching through the soil with their little spongioles, but we cannot see them suck out the various gases, or transmute the mineral into the vegetable; this work is done down in the dark. Our root is Christ Jesus, and our life is hid in him; this is the secret of the Lord. The radix of the Christian life is as secret as the life itself. How permanently active is the sap in the cedar! In the Christian the divine life is always full of energy—not always in fruit- bearing, but in inward operations. The believer’s graces, are not every one of them in constant motion? but his life never ceases to palpitate within. He is not always working for God, but his heart is always living upon him. As the sap manifests itself in producing the foliage and fruit of the tree, so with a truly healthy Christian, his grace is externally manifested in his walk and conversation. If you talk with him, he cannot help speaking about Jesus. If you notice his actions you will see that he has been with Jesus. He has so much sap within, that it must fill his conduct and conversation with life.

Readings taken from Logos Bible Software version of Morning and Evening: Daily Readings by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

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Devotional Christian

If you are in need of a one-stop site for all of your devotional reading, look no further than Devotional Christian. The site has been around for a while, but is now being re-launched. It is now cleaner and more managable with links to some the most popular daily devotionals. Check it out!

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Secret Sin

Proverbs 6:16-18

Most people think idolatry is only burning incense, sacrificing a victim, committing to sacred ceremonies or priesthoods. Similarly, some find adultery only in kisses, embraces, and actual fleshly contact, or murder only in the shedding of blood and the actual taking of life. But the Lord looks at these crimes in much broader terms.

He says adultery exists even in lust, "if one shall have cast an eye lustfully on" and stirred his soul with immodest excitement. He sees murder even in a curse or reproach, in every impulse of anger, and in the neglect of kindness toward a neighbor. As John teaches, he who hates his neighbor is a mur­derer.

If we were judged only by the faults even wicked nations consider punishable, then both the devil's schemes and the Lord's discipline by which He strengthens us against the devil would have little significance. For how, unless we have stood firm through an abundance of unrigh­teousness, will our "righteousness abound above that of the scribes and Pharisees," as the Lord commanded? So if the head of unrighteousness is idolatry, we must strengthen ourselves ahead of time against both secret and evident manifestations of sin.
—Tertullian

Readings taken from Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers

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Deep Riches: Spurgeon's Friends

Does man have free will or is God completely sovereign over all things? Find the answer on Deep Riches.

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Spurgeon's Friends

Theological discussions throughout history have often begun with the same question: Is man free or is God sovereign?

My answer to that question is simply, yes. In a sermon in 1884, Charles Spurgeon recalled a time when someone asked him about a perceived dichotomy between predestination and free will. “I was once asked to reconcile these two statements, and I answered, ‘No, I never reconcile friends.’”

Predestination and free will never need to be balanced, reconciled, or denied because they are inseparable friends, united in the plan and personality of God. Not only was Spurgeon the Prince of Preachers, he was a very wise man who understood the biblical doctrine of predestination and free will.

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