"With a perfect heart to make David King" (I. Chronicles. xii. 38).
[A. B. Simpson]
["What is the supreme purpose of our life? They were all of one heart to make David king." Is this our purpose, to prepare the Bride, to prepare the world, to prepare His way? Does it dwarf and dim all other ambitions, all other cares?]
The purpose statement of our church is "Knowing Him and making Him known!" As I read the first part of Mr. Simpson's devotional for today that is what came to mind. How devoted are you to Jesus?
[Does it fill and satisfy every capacity, every power, every desire? Does it absorb every moment, every energy, every resource? Does it give direction and tone to every plan and work of life?]
Now if your life fits into that category, wow! For me all I can say is I try, Lord I am trying. I think about Him all the time.
[Does it decide for us the education of our children]
What do you teach or let teach your children? Television is gradually poisoning their minds.
[, the investment of our means]
Do you give and tithe to the Lord? It's all His and He asks for 10% to be returned to His church so His work can be accomplished.
[, the friendships and associations of life,]
This is what our Pastor has been preaching about for a few Sundays, "Fellowship"! Just as the saying goes, "You are what you eat", you also live by whom you associate with!
[the whole activity, interest and outlook of our being? Are we in it, spirit, soul and body, all we are, all we do, all we hope for--OF ONE HEART TO MAKE JESUS KING?]
Yep, that is the question. For some they are a few steps closer or miles away, than others. In twenty more days we celebrate the birth of Christ. To me this little poem below should be our cry as Christian soldiers united in the army of Jesus!
[We're going forth united
With loyal heart and hand,
To bear His royal banner
Aboard o'er every land.
From every tribe and nation
We'll haste His Bride to bring.
And Oh, with what glad welcome
We'll make our Jesus King.]
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Jesus is my all in all!
“Behold, all is vanity.”
- Ecclesiastes 1:14 I have seen it all, and everything is just as senseless as chasing the wind.
[Charles Spurgeon]
[Nothing can satisfy the entire man but the Lord’s love and the Lord’s own self.]
I will always remember as a young man having a conversation with my oldest brother. I felt that there was something special that I was missing in my life. Now mind you I was saved as a teenager at 15 years of age but broke away from the church after coming finishing my military service. Please read as Charles Spurgeon speaks of the wisest man Solomon, and how he finally understood everything he did was vanity. Solomon finally understood that Christ is the only "all in all!"
[Saints have tried to anchor in other roadsteads, but they have been driven out of such fatal refuges. Solomon, the wisest of men, was permitted to make experiments for us all, and to do for us what we must not dare to do for ourselves. Here is his testimony in his own words: “So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” What! the whole of it vanity? O favoured monarch, is there nothing in all thy wealth? Nothing in that wide dominion reaching from the river even to the sea? Nothing in Palmyra’s glorious palaces? Nothing in the house of the forest of Lebanon? In all thy music and dancing, and wine and luxury, is there nothing? “Nothing,” he says, “but weariness of spirit.” This was his verdict when he had trodden the whole round of pleasure. To embrace our Lord Jesus, to dwell in his love, and be fully assured of union with him-this is all in all. Dear reader, you need not try other forms of life in order to see whether they are better than the Christian’s: if you roam the world around, you will see no sights like a sight of the Saviour’s face;]
Now read this last part of today's evening devotional as Charles Spurgeon describes if you lost everything but win Christ it is a paradise. Just as the lyrics for the song You Are My All In All states;
Your are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You like a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I'd be a fool
You are my all in all
Jesus, Lamb of God
Holy is Your name
Taking my cross, my sin, my shame
Raising again I praise Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down you pick me up
When I run dry you fill my cup
You are my all in all
[If you could have all the comforts of life, if you lost your Saviour, you would be wretched; but if you win Christ, then should you rot in a dungeon, you would find it a paradise; should you live in obscurity, or die with famine, you will yet be satisfied with favour and full of the goodness of the Lord.]
Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Praise Him!
Psalm 107:8 You should praise the LORD for his love and for the wonderful things he does for all of us.
[Charles Spurgeon]
[If we complained less, and praised more, we should be happier, and God would be more glorified.]
I love that first line of this evenings devotional. Charles Spurgeon really had a way with words. Now stop and think for a moment which do you do most of the day, complain or praise? If you are praising more, are you more happy? I know I am.
[Let us daily praise God for common mercies-common as we frequently call them, and yet so priceless, that when deprived of them we are ready to perish. Let us bless God for the eyes with which we behold the sun, for the health and strength to walk abroad, for the bread we eat, for the raiment we wear.]
For all those items Charles Spurgeon stated, items we take for granted and most of us don't even consider them blessings. No not until we lose one or all. Then its back to complaining!
[Let us praise him that we are not cast out among the hopeless, or confined amongst the guilty; let us thank him for liberty, for friends, for family associations and comforts; let us praise him, in fact, for everything which we receive from his bounteous hand, for we deserve little, and yet are most plenteously endowed.]
Yes, we deserve little but because of God's love for us, His children, we are so blessed. What do we do in return? Is there praise? Are you a one-day a week praise person? What if God blessed us according to our praises that we lift up to Him?
[But, beloved, the sweetest and the loudest note in our songs of praise should be of redeeming love. God’s redeeming acts towards his chosen are for ever the favourite themes of their praise. If we know what redemption means, let us not withhold our sonnets of thanksgiving. We have been redeemed from the power of our corruptions, uplifted from the depth of sin in which we were naturally plunged. We have been led to the cross of Christ-our shackles of guilt have been broken off; we are no longer slaves, but children of the living God, and can antedate the period when we shall be presented before the throne without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Even now by faith we wave the palm-branch and wrap ourselves about with the fair linen which is to be our everlasting array, and shall we not unceasingly give thanks to the Lord our Redeemer? Child of God, canst thou be silent? Awake, awake, ye inheritors of glory, and lead your captivity captive, as ye cry with David, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Let the new month begin with new songs.]
My friends, how can we be silent? How can we not daily sing the songs of praise and not just on Sunday in the house of God. That should be the day we gather in fellowship and sing, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above thee heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!"
Amen!!!!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
[Charles Spurgeon]
[If we complained less, and praised more, we should be happier, and God would be more glorified.]
I love that first line of this evenings devotional. Charles Spurgeon really had a way with words. Now stop and think for a moment which do you do most of the day, complain or praise? If you are praising more, are you more happy? I know I am.
[Let us daily praise God for common mercies-common as we frequently call them, and yet so priceless, that when deprived of them we are ready to perish. Let us bless God for the eyes with which we behold the sun, for the health and strength to walk abroad, for the bread we eat, for the raiment we wear.]
For all those items Charles Spurgeon stated, items we take for granted and most of us don't even consider them blessings. No not until we lose one or all. Then its back to complaining!
[Let us praise him that we are not cast out among the hopeless, or confined amongst the guilty; let us thank him for liberty, for friends, for family associations and comforts; let us praise him, in fact, for everything which we receive from his bounteous hand, for we deserve little, and yet are most plenteously endowed.]
Yes, we deserve little but because of God's love for us, His children, we are so blessed. What do we do in return? Is there praise? Are you a one-day a week praise person? What if God blessed us according to our praises that we lift up to Him?
[But, beloved, the sweetest and the loudest note in our songs of praise should be of redeeming love. God’s redeeming acts towards his chosen are for ever the favourite themes of their praise. If we know what redemption means, let us not withhold our sonnets of thanksgiving. We have been redeemed from the power of our corruptions, uplifted from the depth of sin in which we were naturally plunged. We have been led to the cross of Christ-our shackles of guilt have been broken off; we are no longer slaves, but children of the living God, and can antedate the period when we shall be presented before the throne without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Even now by faith we wave the palm-branch and wrap ourselves about with the fair linen which is to be our everlasting array, and shall we not unceasingly give thanks to the Lord our Redeemer? Child of God, canst thou be silent? Awake, awake, ye inheritors of glory, and lead your captivity captive, as ye cry with David, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Let the new month begin with new songs.]
My friends, how can we be silent? How can we not daily sing the songs of praise and not just on Sunday in the house of God. That should be the day we gather in fellowship and sing, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above thee heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!"
Amen!!!!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Keeping our mouth shut!
“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people ... Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.”
- Lev_19:16, Lev_19:17
This is a great devotional for all to read and understand. I read this just before going to church this morning. As always Charles Spurgeon was right on. So much damage is done in this life just by the tongue alone. Sometimes we don't even understand the consequence but the damage is done. Even in the house of God so many of His children, and even some of His soon to be children (non-believers).
I will always remember an commercial on TV about kids in a lunchroom. They started talking about what one brought for lunch and by the time it got around the long table it ended up as a boy having his first chest hair!
In the devotional below Charles Spurgeon states even if what we say is true we are forbidden to say it. May we each ask our Father to help us in this manner and also ask for His forgiveness for all the times we have spoken against or about someone else.
[Tale-bearing emits a threefold poison; for it injures the teller, the hearer, and the person concerning whom the tale is told. Whether the report be true or false, we are by this precept of God’s Word forbidden to spread it. The reputations of the Lord’s people should be very precious in our sight, and we should count it shame to help the devil to dishonour the Church and the name of the Lord. Some tongues need a bridle rather than a spur. Many glory in pulling down their brethren, as if thereby they raised themselves. Noah’s wise sons cast a mantle over their father, and he who exposed him earned a fearful curse. We may ourselves one of these dark days need forbearance and silence from our brethren, let us render it cheerfully to those who require it now. Be this our family rule, and our personal bond-SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN.
The Holy Spirit, however, permits us to censure sin, and prescribes the way in which we are to do it. It must be done by rebuking our brother to his face, not by railing behind his back. This course is manly, brotherly, Christlike, and under God’s blessing will be useful. Does the flesh shrink from it? Then we must lay the greater stress upon our conscience, and keep ourselves to the work, lest by suffering sin upon our friend we become ourselves partakers of it. Hundreds have been saved from gross sins by the timely, wise, affectionate warnings of faithful ministers and brethren. Our Lord Jesus has set us a gracious example of how to deal with erring friends in his warning given to Peter, the prayer with which he preceded it, and the gentle way in which he bore with Peter’s boastful denial that he needed such a caution.]
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
- Lev_19:16, Lev_19:17
This is a great devotional for all to read and understand. I read this just before going to church this morning. As always Charles Spurgeon was right on. So much damage is done in this life just by the tongue alone. Sometimes we don't even understand the consequence but the damage is done. Even in the house of God so many of His children, and even some of His soon to be children (non-believers).
I will always remember an commercial on TV about kids in a lunchroom. They started talking about what one brought for lunch and by the time it got around the long table it ended up as a boy having his first chest hair!
In the devotional below Charles Spurgeon states even if what we say is true we are forbidden to say it. May we each ask our Father to help us in this manner and also ask for His forgiveness for all the times we have spoken against or about someone else.
[Tale-bearing emits a threefold poison; for it injures the teller, the hearer, and the person concerning whom the tale is told. Whether the report be true or false, we are by this precept of God’s Word forbidden to spread it. The reputations of the Lord’s people should be very precious in our sight, and we should count it shame to help the devil to dishonour the Church and the name of the Lord. Some tongues need a bridle rather than a spur. Many glory in pulling down their brethren, as if thereby they raised themselves. Noah’s wise sons cast a mantle over their father, and he who exposed him earned a fearful curse. We may ourselves one of these dark days need forbearance and silence from our brethren, let us render it cheerfully to those who require it now. Be this our family rule, and our personal bond-SPEAK EVIL OF NO MAN.
The Holy Spirit, however, permits us to censure sin, and prescribes the way in which we are to do it. It must be done by rebuking our brother to his face, not by railing behind his back. This course is manly, brotherly, Christlike, and under God’s blessing will be useful. Does the flesh shrink from it? Then we must lay the greater stress upon our conscience, and keep ourselves to the work, lest by suffering sin upon our friend we become ourselves partakers of it. Hundreds have been saved from gross sins by the timely, wise, affectionate warnings of faithful ministers and brethren. Our Lord Jesus has set us a gracious example of how to deal with erring friends in his warning given to Peter, the prayer with which he preceded it, and the gentle way in which he bore with Peter’s boastful denial that he needed such a caution.]
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Saturday, November 28, 2009
He is the reason!
This poem has been getting a lot of circulation via email. So far I have received it 6 times. It was very well stated and I pray all who read it would agree.
**
******
******
**
**
**
*Twas the month before Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See the PC Police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*
*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
*December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.*
*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
*At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*
*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
*Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*
*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,not Happy Holiday !*
Christ is The Reason, for the Christ-mas Season!
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See the PC Police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*
*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*
*December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.*
*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
*At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*
*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*
*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
*Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*
*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,not Happy Holiday !*
Christ is The Reason, for the Christ-mas Season!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Forgive as He has forgiven us!
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace,
- Ephesians 1:7
Today, the day after Thanksgiving, I have just finished posting our church newsletter on our church website. In this December newsletter I posted an article by John William Smith titled "The Gift of Forgiveness" that I found on a Christian website. If you would like to read this article you can read it by clicking on this link that will take you to it www.upc4god.org/Board/INDEX2.PHP . Also this evenings devotional by Charles Spurgeon talked about forgiveness. Even a few days ago when I was talking with a church family member the word "forgiveness" came up again. The Lord is really trying to tell me, or maybe someone through me, about forgiveness.
[Could there be a sweeter word in any language than that word “forgiveness,” when it sounds in a guilty sinner’s ear, like the silver notes of jubilee to the captive Israelite? Blessed, for ever blessed be that dear star of pardon which shines into the condemned cell, and gives the perishing a gleam of hope amid the midnight of despair! Can it be possible that sin, such sin as mine, can be forgiven, forgiven altogether, and for ever? Hell is my portion as a sinner-there is no possibility of my escaping from it while sin remains upon me-can the load of guilt be uplifted, the crimson stain removed? Can the adamantine stones of my prison-house ever be loosed from their mortices, or the doors be lifted from their hinges? Jesus tells me that I may yet be clear. For ever blessed be the revelation of atoning love which not only tells me that pardon is possible, but that it is secured to all who rest in Jesus. I have believed in the appointed propitiation, even Jesus crucified, and therefore my sins are at this moment, and for ever, forgiven by virtue of his substitutionary pains and death.]
That is such an important paragraph that God shared with us through Charles Spurgeon. So many walk each day with the burden of something we did or said that consumes us to an extent that it becomes the driven force in our lives. Read further what Charles Spurgeon states about forgiveness.
[What joy is this! What bliss to be a perfectly pardoned soul! My soul dedicates all her powers to him who of his own unpurchased love became my surety, and wrought out for me redemption through his blood. What riches of grace does free forgiveness exhibit! To forgive at all, to forgive fully, to forgive freely, to forgive for ever! Here is a constellation of wonders; and when I think of how great my sins were, how dear were the precious drops which cleansed me from them, and how gracious was the method by which pardon was sealed home to me, I am in a maze of wondering worshipping affection. I bow before the throne which absolves me, I clasp the cross which delivers me, I serve henceforth all my days the Incarnate God, through whom I am this night a pardoned soul.]
In the Bible Jesus tells us this about forgiveness; Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; Matthew 6:15 but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Forgiveness is a very serious and necessary ingredient in our lives. Though non-believers may not understand but as believers we all should fully listen to the Word of our Lord and Savior and be thankful everyday that as Charles Spurgeon states, "we are pardoned souls!"
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
- Ephesians 1:7
Today, the day after Thanksgiving, I have just finished posting our church newsletter on our church website. In this December newsletter I posted an article by John William Smith titled "The Gift of Forgiveness" that I found on a Christian website. If you would like to read this article you can read it by clicking on this link that will take you to it www.upc4god.org/Board/INDEX2.PHP . Also this evenings devotional by Charles Spurgeon talked about forgiveness. Even a few days ago when I was talking with a church family member the word "forgiveness" came up again. The Lord is really trying to tell me, or maybe someone through me, about forgiveness.
[Could there be a sweeter word in any language than that word “forgiveness,” when it sounds in a guilty sinner’s ear, like the silver notes of jubilee to the captive Israelite? Blessed, for ever blessed be that dear star of pardon which shines into the condemned cell, and gives the perishing a gleam of hope amid the midnight of despair! Can it be possible that sin, such sin as mine, can be forgiven, forgiven altogether, and for ever? Hell is my portion as a sinner-there is no possibility of my escaping from it while sin remains upon me-can the load of guilt be uplifted, the crimson stain removed? Can the adamantine stones of my prison-house ever be loosed from their mortices, or the doors be lifted from their hinges? Jesus tells me that I may yet be clear. For ever blessed be the revelation of atoning love which not only tells me that pardon is possible, but that it is secured to all who rest in Jesus. I have believed in the appointed propitiation, even Jesus crucified, and therefore my sins are at this moment, and for ever, forgiven by virtue of his substitutionary pains and death.]
That is such an important paragraph that God shared with us through Charles Spurgeon. So many walk each day with the burden of something we did or said that consumes us to an extent that it becomes the driven force in our lives. Read further what Charles Spurgeon states about forgiveness.
[What joy is this! What bliss to be a perfectly pardoned soul! My soul dedicates all her powers to him who of his own unpurchased love became my surety, and wrought out for me redemption through his blood. What riches of grace does free forgiveness exhibit! To forgive at all, to forgive fully, to forgive freely, to forgive for ever! Here is a constellation of wonders; and when I think of how great my sins were, how dear were the precious drops which cleansed me from them, and how gracious was the method by which pardon was sealed home to me, I am in a maze of wondering worshipping affection. I bow before the throne which absolves me, I clasp the cross which delivers me, I serve henceforth all my days the Incarnate God, through whom I am this night a pardoned soul.]
In the Bible Jesus tells us this about forgiveness; Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; Matthew 6:15 but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Forgiveness is a very serious and necessary ingredient in our lives. Though non-believers may not understand but as believers we all should fully listen to the Word of our Lord and Savior and be thankful everyday that as Charles Spurgeon states, "we are pardoned souls!"
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
A Simple Lesson from Jesus
Silent Fellowship with the Father
November 25th, 2009 Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon. Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank You, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the sophisticated and cunning, and revealed them to babes.(MKJV)
I am always searching for devotionals that will inspire myself and also others that might read the blogs that the Lord has blessed me to write. As I was reading this one, I found myself again thanking God that through Jesus I can walk, talk and have a personal fellowship with Him.
[This is a very particular, and peculiar, way to start a verse: “At that time Jesus answered.” If you will look at the context you will notice that no one asked Him a question. He wasn't in conversation with any human being. Yet it is written, “Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father.”
When a man answers, he answers the person who has been speaking to him. Who, then, had spoken to Christ? His Father. Yet there is no record of it; and this should teach us that Jesus had constant fellowship with His Father, and that God spoke into His heart so often, so continually, that it was not a circumstance of enough importance to be recorded.
It was the habit and life of Jesus to talk with God. Even as Jesus was -in this world- so are we. So let’s learn the lesson this simple statement teaches us about Him. May we likewise have silent fellowship with the Father, so that often we may answer Him, and though the world will not know whom we’re speaking to, we will be responding to that secret voice unheard of any other ear. Our own ear, opened by the Spirit of God, recognizes His voice with joy. God has spoken to us, let us speak to God, either to set our seal that God is true and faithful to His promise, or to confess the sin of which the Spirit of God has convinced us, or to acknowledge the mercy which God’s providence has given, or to express humble acceptance of the great truths which God the Holy Spirit has opened to our understanding.
What a privilege it is to have intimate communion with the Father! It is a secret hidden from the world, a joy with which even our nearest friends cannot share. If we want to hear the whispers of God’s love, our ear must be purged and fitted to listen to His voice. Today, may our hearts be in such a state that when God speaks to us, we, like Jesus, are be prepared at once to answer Him.
Question: Are you often in “intimate communion” with God? Would you like to be?]
Please take time to read that last paragraph, slowly. These are the words that came to life as I read it; "privilege", "intimate communion", "joy", "whispers of God’s love", "like Jesus!" Through the God's Love Outreach Ministry I have meet several Christians that tell me the same thing, "I don't know how I could get through the day without God!"
Now reread that question again!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
November 25th, 2009 Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon. Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank You, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the sophisticated and cunning, and revealed them to babes.(MKJV)
I am always searching for devotionals that will inspire myself and also others that might read the blogs that the Lord has blessed me to write. As I was reading this one, I found myself again thanking God that through Jesus I can walk, talk and have a personal fellowship with Him.
[This is a very particular, and peculiar, way to start a verse: “At that time Jesus answered.” If you will look at the context you will notice that no one asked Him a question. He wasn't in conversation with any human being. Yet it is written, “Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father.”
When a man answers, he answers the person who has been speaking to him. Who, then, had spoken to Christ? His Father. Yet there is no record of it; and this should teach us that Jesus had constant fellowship with His Father, and that God spoke into His heart so often, so continually, that it was not a circumstance of enough importance to be recorded.
It was the habit and life of Jesus to talk with God. Even as Jesus was -in this world- so are we. So let’s learn the lesson this simple statement teaches us about Him. May we likewise have silent fellowship with the Father, so that often we may answer Him, and though the world will not know whom we’re speaking to, we will be responding to that secret voice unheard of any other ear. Our own ear, opened by the Spirit of God, recognizes His voice with joy. God has spoken to us, let us speak to God, either to set our seal that God is true and faithful to His promise, or to confess the sin of which the Spirit of God has convinced us, or to acknowledge the mercy which God’s providence has given, or to express humble acceptance of the great truths which God the Holy Spirit has opened to our understanding.
What a privilege it is to have intimate communion with the Father! It is a secret hidden from the world, a joy with which even our nearest friends cannot share. If we want to hear the whispers of God’s love, our ear must be purged and fitted to listen to His voice. Today, may our hearts be in such a state that when God speaks to us, we, like Jesus, are be prepared at once to answer Him.
Question: Are you often in “intimate communion” with God? Would you like to be?]
Please take time to read that last paragraph, slowly. These are the words that came to life as I read it; "privilege", "intimate communion", "joy", "whispers of God’s love", "like Jesus!" Through the God's Love Outreach Ministry I have meet several Christians that tell me the same thing, "I don't know how I could get through the day without God!"
Now reread that question again!
From God's heart, to mine, to yours,
Ed Shagott
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