Morning, June 28 Go To Evening Reading
“Looking unto Jesus.”
—Hebrews 12:2
It is ever the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus, but Satan’s work is the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ. He insinuates, “Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of his children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus.” All these are thoughts about self; we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: he tells us that we are nothing but that “Christ is all in all.” Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that keeps thee—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument—it is Christ’s blood and merits; therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author, and finisher of thy faith. We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, doings, or feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by “looking unto Jesus.” Keep thine eye on him; let his death, sufferings, merits, glories, intercession be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning, look to him; when thou wakest in the morning liest down at night, look to him. Oh! Let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after him, and he will never fail thee.
“My hope is built on nothing less
Then Jesus’ blood and righteousness:
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”
Go To Morning Reading Evening, June 28
“But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.”
—Exodus 7:12
This incident is an instructive emblem of the sure victory of the divine handiwork over all opposition. Whenever a divine principle is cast into the heart, though the devil may fashion a counterfeit and produce swarms of opponents, as sure as ever God is in work, it will swallow up all its foes. If God’s grace takes possession of a man, the world’s magicians may throw down all their rods; and every rod may be as cunning and poisonous as a serpent, but Aaron’s rod will swallow up their rods. The sweet attractions of the cross will woo and win the man’s heart, and he who lived only for this deceitful earth will now have an eye for the upper spheres and a wing to mount into celestial heights. When grace has won the day, the worldling seeks the world to come. The same fact is to be observed in the life of the believer. What multitudes of foes has our faith had to meet! Our old sins—the devil threw them down before us, and they turned to serpents. What hosts of them! Ah, but the cross of Jesus destroys them all. Faith in Christ makes short work of all our sins.
Then the devil has launched another host of serpents in worldly trials, temptations, and unbelief, but faith in Jesus is more than a match for them and overcomes them all. The same absorbing principle shines in the faithful service of God! With an enthusiastic love for Jesus, difficulties are surmounted, sacrifices become pleasures, and sufferings are honors. But if religion is thus a consuming passion in the heart, then it follows that many persons profess religion but have it not, for what they have will not bear this test. Examine yourself, my reader, on this point. Aaron’s rod proved its heaven-given power. Is your religion doing so? If Christ is anything, he must be everything. O rest not till love and faith in Jesus be the master passions of your soul!
Spurgeon, C. H. Morning and Evening: Daily Readings. London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1896. Print.
June 28: Meet and Greet
Esther 1:1–2:23; 2 John 7–13; Psalm 116:1–19
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not speak a greeting to him, because the one who speaks to him shares in his evil deeds” (2 John 9–11).
This passage is sometimes used as support for forming exclusive communities—ones that don’t interact with people who don’t believe in the gospel or have a different faith. Based on this passage, some believe we as Christians are not permitted to interact with nonbelievers. Is that what John is really teaching?
John issued this warning during a time when false teachers were spreading confusing doctrines about Christ. He exhorted believers to “test the spirits” to see if these teachers were actually from God (1 John 4:1). They would know if these teachers were from God if they confessed the valid message of Jesus Christ—specifically that He had come in the flesh and was from God (1 John 2:1).
John wanted the community to be aware of false teachings so they wouldn’t become confused or weakened in their faith. We, too, need to be intentional about the learning we adhere to. If we are weak and troubled in our faith, we should seek mature believers who can teach and minister to us. However, if we are confident in our faith, we should be ready and willing to share the message of salvation with those who need to hear it—inside and outside our communities.
How are you sharing the gospel with those who need to receive it?
Rebecca Van Noord
Barry, John D., and Rebecca Kruyswijk. Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan. Print. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012.
June 28
Apprehended by God
If that, I may apprehend that for which also I am known. Phil. 3:12.
Never choose to be a worker, but once God has put His call on you, woe is to you if you turn to the right hand or to the left. We are not here to work for God because we have chosen to do so, but because God has apprehended us. There is never any thought of—‘Oh well, I am not fitted for this.’ What you are to preach is determined by God, not by your own natural inclinations. Keep your soul steadfastly related to God, and remember that you are called not to bear testimony only but to preach the gospel. Every Christian must testify, but when it comes to the call to preach, there must be the agonizing grip of God’s hand on you. Your life is in the grip of God for that one thing. How many of us are held like that?
Never water down the word of God; preach it in its undiluted sternness. There must be unflinching loyalty to the word of God, but when you deal personally with your fellow men, remember who you are—not a special being made up in heaven, but a sinner saved by grace.
“I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do ….”
Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest: Selections for the Year. Grand Rapids, MI: Oswald Chambers Publications; Marshall Pickering, 1986. Print.
June 28
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect
Matt 5:48
Seeking the aid of the Holy Spirit, let us aim at perfection. Let every day see some sin crucified, some battle fought, some good done, some victory won; let every fall be followed by a rise, and every step gained become not a resting place but a new starting point for further and higher progress.
Guthrie
Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour. Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.
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