Earthly friend, Heavens foe!

“I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword.”
- Matthew_10:34

[A devotional by Charles Spurgeon]

Better a brief warfare and eternal rest, than false peace and everlasting torment! I like this last statement from Charles Spurgeon at the end of this devotional. How true it is to use the word "brief"! That is exactly what this life of ours, this earthly life is, brief. Our Christian battle for Christ to us may seem long in suffering but I can't imagine what is awaiting the non-believers. Please read as Charles Spurgeon writes in today's devotional.

[The Christian will be sure to make enemies. It will be one of his objects to make none; but if to do the right, and to believe the true, should cause him to lose every earthly friend, he will count it but a small loss, since his great Friend in heaven will be yet more friendly, and reveal himself to him more graciously than ever. O ye who have taken up his cross, know ye not what your Master said? “I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother; and a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Christ is the great Peacemaker; but before peace, he brings war. Where the light cometh, the darkness must retire. Where truth is, the lie must flee; or, if it abideth, there must be a stern conflict, for the truth cannot and will not lower its standard, and the lie must be trodden under foot. If you follow Christ, you shall have all the dogs of the world yelping at your heels. If you would live so as to stand the test of the last tribunal, depend upon it the world will not speak well of you. He who has the friendship of the world is an enemy to God; but if you are true and faithful to the Most High, men will resent your unflinching fidelity, since it is a testimony against their iniquities.]

For a long time in my life I found it easier to lie my way out of certain situations. Isn't it strange how it always has a way to come back at you. You may be a convincing liar, but it never wins in the end. I now tell my family and friends, "I won't lie, don't ask me too!" I do not want to be in that life of darkness. Read on as Charles Spurgeon speaks of this.

[Fearless of all consequences, you must do the right. You will need the courage of a lion unhesitatingly to pursue a course which shall turn your best friend into your fiercest foe; but for the love of Jesus you must thus be courageous. For the truth’s sake to hazard reputation and affection, is such a deed that to do it constantly you will need a degree of moral principle which only the Spirit of God can work in you; yet turn not your back like a coward, but play the man. Follow right manfully in your Master’s steps, for he has traversed this rough way before you. Better a brief warfare and eternal rest, than false peace and everlasting torment.]

In Matthew 10:37 (CEV) Jesus tells His disciples, "If you love your father or mother or even your sons and daughters more than me, you are not fit to be my disciples." As human beings we must understand that this is the true love that will sustain us until we are united with our Savior above. How important it is to remain faithful to Him. How important it is to reach out to those that do not understand this love that Jesus was asking of Simon Peter, 3 times, in John 21:15-17, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" When Simon said he did Jesus replied, "Feed My sheep!"

Each year the God's Love Outreach Ministry presents programs from the "Seeds for Christ" series. Today the Lord blessed me with this poem titled "Planting Seeds".

Planting Seeds

I am His little gardener,
whom God chose me to be.
He said, “Little gardener of Mine
go plant these love seeds for Me”

I said, “Lord where do I plant,
these seeds of Your love?”
God said, “Just listen to your heart,
as I speak to you from above.

Do not be surprised
if rejected now and then,
these seeds are the beginning
that will spiritually nourish them to the end.

So I reached deep into my heart,
and grabbed one of His special love seeds.
From my mouth they were planted as I said,
“This is from God’s love, and also they are from me!”

E. P. Shagott
12/28/09

Thank you Lord for the opportunity to "Feed Your sheep!"


From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott