Daily Devotionals
Monday, September 23, 2024 (Mary Ann)
God’s playlist
Thanks to the book table at a conference weekend before last, I have a new daily devotional containing the writings of Charles Haddon Spurgeon who, more than 100 years after his death, is still one of the best-known preachers of all time.
Needless to say, the writings of this 19th century Brit can be hard for a lightweight mind like mine to grasp at times, but last Friday morning’s devo cut through my brain fog. Plus it echos some of what we considered this week in our RCC Bible study. So let’s get our Spurgeon on.
Our beginning dive into Ephesians reminded us that by believing in Jesus and accepting his gift of salvation, we are officially saints, and God is delighted in us.
Maybe you’re like me, but I don’t feel saintly or worthy of delight to fellow believers, much less to God. Like the Apostle Paul, I am more than aware of my sinfulness and I know other believers are on to my failures too. So for all of us, Spurgeon points to what he calls a glorious mystery: that the Lord rejoices over us just like a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.
That degree of delight isn’t recorded for anything that God created anywhere else in scripture. But, in Spurgeon’s words, God does delight in “poor fallen creatures like ourselves, debased and depraved by sin, but saved, exalted and glorified by his grace. In what strong language he expresses his delight in his people! Who could have conceived of the eternal One as bursting forth into a song?”
Wait. What?!?
Yes Ladies, our Creator loves us so much, he sings! Zephaniah 3:17 reads: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Spurgeon explains: “As he looked upon the world he had made, God said, ‘It is very good,’ but when he beheld those who are the purchase of Jesus’ blood, his own chosen ones, it seemed as if the great heart of the Infinite could restrain itself no longer, but overflowed in divine exclamations of joy.”
Wow.
So how do we respond to such love? Deuteronomy 10:12-13 puts it this way: “…what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul.”
Remember, Sisters, when God looks at us, he doesn’t see our past, or our doubts, or our sins. HE SEES SAINTS. And out of his unfathomable love, God sings. We are stars in God’s playlist!
I can’t wait to hear it.
Mary Ann
Thanks to the book table at a conference weekend before last, I have a new daily devotional containing the writings of Charles Haddon Spurgeon who, more than 100 years after his death, is still one of the best-known preachers of all time.
Needless to say, the writings of this 19th century Brit can be hard for a lightweight mind like mine to grasp at times, but last Friday morning’s devo cut through my brain fog. Plus it echos some of what we considered this week in our RCC Bible study. So let’s get our Spurgeon on.
Our beginning dive into Ephesians reminded us that by believing in Jesus and accepting his gift of salvation, we are officially saints, and God is delighted in us.
Maybe you’re like me, but I don’t feel saintly or worthy of delight to fellow believers, much less to God. Like the Apostle Paul, I am more than aware of my sinfulness and I know other believers are on to my failures too. So for all of us, Spurgeon points to what he calls a glorious mystery: that the Lord rejoices over us just like a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.
That degree of delight isn’t recorded for anything that God created anywhere else in scripture. But, in Spurgeon’s words, God does delight in “poor fallen creatures like ourselves, debased and depraved by sin, but saved, exalted and glorified by his grace. In what strong language he expresses his delight in his people! Who could have conceived of the eternal One as bursting forth into a song?”
Wait. What?!?
Yes Ladies, our Creator loves us so much, he sings! Zephaniah 3:17 reads: “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Spurgeon explains: “As he looked upon the world he had made, God said, ‘It is very good,’ but when he beheld those who are the purchase of Jesus’ blood, his own chosen ones, it seemed as if the great heart of the Infinite could restrain itself no longer, but overflowed in divine exclamations of joy.”
Wow.
So how do we respond to such love? Deuteronomy 10:12-13 puts it this way: “…what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul.”
Remember, Sisters, when God looks at us, he doesn’t see our past, or our doubts, or our sins. HE SEES SAINTS. And out of his unfathomable love, God sings. We are stars in God’s playlist!
I can’t wait to hear it.
Mary Ann
