GOD’S WORD FOR OCTOBER 5

We are using Charles Spurgeon book, “The Risen King.”  It’s a collection of well chosen excerpts from Spurgeon’s  “Easter” sermons in devotional form, put together by Jeff Medders.   Pastor Spurgeon lived from 1834 to 1892  in London, England, and had a unique gift of understanding and showing the depth of our faith.  Thus, his reverential title as the Prince of Preachers.   Even though we’re not in or near that season, every day is a good day to focus on Christ’s sacrifice and victory for us!

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ONLY JESUS

Matthew 17:1-8

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;  and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.  And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.  Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.  But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.”  When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

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When Peter saw our Lord with Moses and Elijah, he exclaimed, “Lord, it is good that we are here,”  as if he was implying that it was better to be with Jesus and Moses and Elijah than to be with Jesus only.  Now it was certainly good that once in his life he should see Christ transfigured with the representatives of the Law an the Prophets, but depend on it, that ravishing and exciting experiences, though they may be useful as occasional refreshments, are not so good for every day as that quiet but delightful ordinary fellowship with “Jesus only” – which ought to be the distinguishing mark of every Christian life.

I desire, for my fellow Christians and for myself, that more and more the great object of our thoughts, motives and acts may be “Jesus only.”  I believe that whenever our religion is most lively, it is most full of Christ.  Moreover, when it is most practical, absolute, and common sense, it always gets nearest to Jesus.  I can bear witness that whenever I am in deep sorrow, nothing will do for me but “Jesus only.”  I retreat to the innermost citadel of our holy faith – namely, to the very heart of Christ – when my spirit is assailed by temptation or gripped with anguish.

What is more, my witness is that whenever I have high spiritual enjoyment – rich, rare, celestial – they are always connected with “Jesus only.”  Other religious things may give some kind of joy, and joy that is healthy too, but the sublimest, the most inebriating, the most divine of all joys must be found in “Jesus only.”

For “Jesus only” shall be our reward; to be with Him where He is, to behold His glory, to be like Him when we shall see Him as He is – we ask no other heaven.  Our souls can conceive of no other happiness.  May the Lord grant that we have a fullness of this,  and that “Jesus only” shall be our delight throughout eternity.

I find if I want to labor much, I must live on Jesus only.

If I desire to suffer patiently, I must feed on Jesus only.

If I wish to wrestle with God successfully, I  must plead Jesus only. 

If I aspire to conquer sin, I must use the blood of Jesus only.

If I long to learn the mysteries of heaven, I must seek the teachings of Jesus only.

I believe that anything which we add to Christ lowers our position:  that the more elevated our soul becomes – the closer to what it will be when it shall enter the region of the perfect – the more completely everything else will sink and die out; and Jesus, Jesus, Jesus only will be the first and last, the Alpha and Omega of every thought of our heads and pulse of our hearts.  May it be so with every Christian!

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2 Corinthians 1:3

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,”

1 Corinthians 2:2

“For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

Philippians 1:6

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

1 Corinthians 2:16

For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Matthew 7:22-24

 “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’    Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:”

1 Corinthians 8:3

“But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.”

John 17:10

“And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.”

John 17:23

“I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

Ephesians 1:17

“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,”

Romans 8:26

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

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