The Highway Forums Active Threads This Week

08/20/AM

"The sweet psalmist of Israel."

—2 Samuel 23:1-2 (KJV) "1 Now these [be] the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man [who was] raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, 2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my tongue."

Among all the saints whose lives are recorded in Holy Writ, David possesses an experience of the most striking, varied, and instructive character. In his history we meet with trials and temptations not to be discovered, as a whole, in other saints of ancient times, and hence he is all the more suggestive a type of our Lord. David knew the trials of all ranks and conditions of men. Kings have their troubles, and David wore a crown: the peasant has his cares, and David handled a shepherd's crook: the wanderer has many hardships, and David abode in the caves of Engedi: the captain has his difficulties, and David found the sons of Zeruiah too hard for him. The psalmist was also tried in his friends, his counsellor Ahithophel forsook him, "He that eateth bread with me, hath lifted up his heel against me." His worst foes were they of his own household: his children were his greatest affliction. The temptations of poverty and wealth, of honour and reproach, of health and weakness, all tried their power upon him. He had temptations from without to disturb his peace, and from within to mar his joy. David no sooner escaped from one trial than he fell into another; no sooner emerged from one season of despondency and alarm, than he was again brought into the lowest depths, and all God's waves and billows rolled over him. It is probably from this cause that David's psalms are so universally the delight of experienced Christians. Whatever our frame of mind, whether ecstasy or depression, David has exactly described our emotions. He was an able master of the human heart, because he had been tutored in the best of all schools--the school of heart-felt, personal experience. As we are instructed in the same school, as we grow matured in grace and in years, we increasingly appreciate David's psalms, and find them to be "green pastures." My soul, let David's experience cheer and counsel thee this day.

- Charles H. Spurgeon

08/19/AM

"He shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord."

—Micah 5:2-4 (KJV) " 2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting. 3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time [that] she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth."

Christ's reign in His Church is that of a shepherd-king. He has supremacy, but it is the superiority of a wise and tender shepherd over his needy and loving flock; He commands and receives obedience, but it is the willing obedience of the well-cared-for sheep, rendered joyfully to their beloved Shepherd, whose voice they know so well. He rules by the force of love and the energy of goodness.

His reign is practical in its character. It is said, "He shall stand and feed." The great Head of the Church is actively engaged in providing for His people. He does not sit down upon the throne in empty state, or hold a sceptre without wielding it in government. No, He stands and feeds. The expression "feed," in the original, is like an analogous one in the Greek, which means to shepherdize, to do everything expected of a shepherd: to guide, to watch, to preserve, to restore, to tend, as well as to feed.

His reign is continual in its duration. It is said, "He shall stand and feed"; not "He shall feed now and then, and leave His position"; not, "He shall one day grant a revival, and then next day leave His Church to barrenness." His eyes never slumber, and His hands never rest; His heart never ceases to beat with love, and His shoulders are never weary of carrying His people's burdens.

His reign is effectually powerful in its action; "He shall feed in the strength of Jehovah." Wherever Christ is, there is God; and whatever Christ does is the act of the Most High. Oh! it is a joyful truth to consider that He who stands to-day representing the interests of His people is very God of very God, to whom every knee shall bow. Happy are we who belong to such a shepherd, whose humanity communes with us, and whose divinity protects us. Let us worship and bow down before Him as the people of His pasture.

- Charles H. Spurgeon

Holy comfort leads the believer to regularly examine themselves honestly, while false joy encourages the hypocrite to avoid such self-examination. True consolation is lasting, fixed in the heart by the Holy Spirit so that it is never completely lost, and it is so strong that it overcomes almost all fear and sorrow. If a believer loses sight of their relationship with Christ, they may lose the sense of joy, but the root of that joy still remains. On the other hand, the hypocrite’s sense of comfort vanishes even if they still think they have God’s favor—the joy itself turns empty. The more a believer experiences holy comfort, the more their duty becomes their delight. Renewed in mind and heart, the clearer they see God’s beauty in Christ, and the more firmly they believe in his love for them, the more they love and delight in God. As they recognize the infinite goodness and holiness of God, and truly believe in His redeeming love, their approval and joy in God grows. The more they are able to trust that God loves them in Christ, the richer their spiritual comfort. And the more they rejoice in God, the more they delight in Him as their own Father.

~ John Colquhoun

True consolation is glorious; it is both the beginning and the promise of future glory. Counterfeit joy is base and fleeting. True comfort is holy—it promotes holiness and a willingness to obey God. It energizes and motivates believers in their pursuit of holiness. The joy of the hypocrite is not holy. It leaves the heart just as worldly and the life just as unholy as before—sometimes even strengthening selfish desires and encouraging laziness or secret wrongdoing. True comfort humbles the sincere Christian, bringing them low before God’s holiness and grace, while counterfeit joy only makes the hypocrite proud and self-satisfied. Real consolation is always accompanied by a reverent fear of displeasing God; fake joy only fears God’s punishment, not His displeasure. Spiritual comfort cannot be maintained without a sensitive conscience and a continual struggle against sin, but hypocritical joy needs neither. True comfort makes every sin more hateful, while false joy allows the hypocrite to continue loving sin, especially their favorite hidden sins.

~ John Colquhoun

The distinguishing qualities of true spiritual comfort, as opposed to the fleeting joy of the hypocrite, are these: True consolation is real and solid; even when the believer’s sadness seems deep, his joy is deeper and more genuine. The hypocrite’s joy is only on the surface and quickly fades. True joy is rooted in the beauty and excellence of Christ Himself, not just in the experience of joy. The true Christian delights most in who Christ is, not merely in the benefits received. A hypocrite delights more in his own experience or supposed interest in Christ than in Christ Himself. True comfort usually comes along with, or after, genuine sorrow for sin. The hypocrite’s joy appears quickly and without repentance. If the hypocrite tries to mourn for sin, it takes away his joy, but the believer finds joy even in repentance and a softened heart. True comfort is hidden from those who are not born again. The world cannot understand or interfere with the spiritual joy of a true Christian. The comfort of the sincere Christian is deep and inexpressible, while the joy of the hypocrite and worldling is shallow and easily explained.

~ John Colquhoun

We have turned everyone to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6) describes the course which we all follow by nature. Before conversion every soul lives to please self. Of old it was written, “every man did that which was right in his own eyes,” and why? “In those days there was no King in Israel” (Jdg 21:25). Ah! that is the point we desire to make clear to the reader. Until Christ becomes your King (1Ti 1:17; Rev 15:3), until you bow to His scepter, until His will becomes the rule of your life, self dominates, and thus Christ is disowned.

~ Arthur Pink, "Is Christ Your Lord?"

08/18/AM

"Strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the Lord's house."

—Jeremiah "51:50-52 (KJV) 50 Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind. 51 We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD'S house. 52 Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan."

In this account the faces of the Lord's people were covered with shame, for it was a terrible thing that men should intrude into the Holy Place reserved for the priests alone. Everywhere about us we see like cause for sorrow. How many ungodly men are now educating with the view of entering into the ministry! What a crying sin is that solemn lie by which our whole population is nominally comprehended in a National Church! How fearful it is that ordinances should be pressed upon the unconverted, and that among the more enlightened churches of our land there should be such laxity of discipline. If the thousands who will read this portion shall all take this matter before the Lord Jesus this day, He will interfere and avert the evil which else will come upon His Church. To adulterate the Church is to pollute a well, to pour water upon fire, to sow a fertile field with stones. May we all have grace to maintain in our own proper way the purity of the Church, as being an assembly of believers, and not a nation, an unsaved community of unconverted men.

Our zeal must, however, begin at home. Let us examine ourselves as to our right to eat at the Lord's table. Let us see to it that we have on our wedding garment, lest we ourselves be intruders in the Lord's sanctuaries. Many are called, but few are chosen; the way is narrow, and the gate is strait. O for grace to come to Jesus aright, with the faith of God's elect. He who smote Uzzah for touching the ark is very jealous of His two ordinances; as a true believer I may approach them freely, as an alien I must not touch them lest I die. Heartsearching is the duty of all who are baptized or come to the Lord's table. "Search me, O God, and know my way, try me and know my heart."

- Charles H. Spurgeon

None will experimentally appreciate the righteousness of Christ until they have been experimentally stripped by the Spirit.

Not until the Lord puts us in the fire and burns off our filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), and makes us stand naked before Him, trembling from head to foot as we view the sword of His justice suspended over our heads, will any truly value "the best robe."

Not until the condemning sentence of the law has been applied by the Spirit to the conscience does the guilty soul cry, "Lost, lost!" (Rom. 7:9, 10).

Not until there is a personal apprehension of the requirements of God’s Law, a feeling sense of our total inability to perform its righteous demands, and an honest realization that God would be just in banishing us from His presence forever, is the necessity for a precious Christ perceived by the soul.

~ Arthur Pink, "The Doctrine of Justification"

08/17/AM

"The mercy of God."

—Psalms 52:6-9 (KJV) "6 The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: 7 Lo, [this is] the man [that] made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, [and] strengthened himself in his wickedness. 8 But I [am] like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. 9 I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done [it]: and I will wait on thy name; for [it is] good before thy saints."

Meditate a little on this mercy of the Lord. It is tender mercy. With gentle, loving touch, He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He is as gracious in the manner of His mercy as in the matter of it. It is great mercy. There is nothing little in God; His mercy is like Himself--it is infinite. You cannot measure it. His mercy is so great that it forgives great sins to great sinners, after great lengths of time, and then gives great favours and great privileges, and raises us up to great enjoyments in the great heaven of the great God. It is undeserved mercy, as indeed all true mercy must be, for deserved mercy is only a misnomer for justice. There was no right on the sinner's part to the kind consideration of the Most High; had the rebel been doomed at once to eternal fire he would have richly merited the doom, and if delivered from wrath, sovereign love alone has found a cause, for there was none in the sinner himself. It is rich mercy. Some things are great, but have little efficacy in them, but this mercy is a cordial to your drooping spirits; a golden ointment to your bleeding wounds; a heavenly bandage to your broken bones; a royal chariot for your weary feet; a bosom of love for your trembling heart. It is manifold mercy. As Bunyan says, "All the flowers in God's garden are double." There is no single mercy. You may think you have but one mercy, but you shall find it to be a whole cluster of mercies. It is abounding mercy. Millions have received it, yet far from its being exhausted; it is as fresh, as full, and as free as ever. It is unfailing mercy. It will never leave thee. If mercy be thy friend, mercy will be with thee in temptation to keep thee from yielding; with thee in trouble to prevent thee from sinking; with thee living to be the light and life of thy countenance; and with thee dying to be the joy of thy soul when earthly comfort is ebbing fast.

- Charles H. Spurgeon

Profile photo of Harris Rigby
Harris Rigby
Aug 15, 2026

https://notthebee.com/article/famil...m_medium=email&utm_campaign=08162026

08/16/AM

"Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name."

—Psalms 29:1-2 (KJV) "1 <<A Psalm of David.>> Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."

God's glory is the result of His nature and acts. He is glorious in His character, for there is such a store of everything that is holy, and good, and lovely in God, that He must be glorious. The actions which flow from His character are also glorious; but while He intends that they should manifest to His creatures His goodness, and mercy, and justice, He is equally concerned that the glory associated with them should be given only to Himself. Nor is there aught in ourselves in which we may glory; for who maketh us to differ from another? And what have we that we did not receive from the God of all grace? Then how careful ought we to be to walk humbly before the Lord! The moment we glorify ourselves, since there is room for one glory only in the universe, we set ourselves up as rivals to the Most High. Shall the insect of an hour glorify itself against the sun which warmed it into life? Shall the potsherd exalt itself above the man who fashioned it upon the wheel? Shall the dust of the desert strive with the whirlwind? Or the drops of the ocean struggle with the tempest? Give unto the Lord, all ye righteous, give unto the Lord glory and strength; give unto Him the honour that is due unto His name. Yet it is, perhaps, one of the hardest struggles of the Christian life to learn this sentence--"Not unto us, not unto us, but unto Thy name be glory." It is a lesson which God is ever teaching us, and teaching us sometimes by most painful discipline. Let a Christian begin to boast, "I can do all things," without adding "through Christ which strengtheneth me," and before long he will have to groan, "I can do nothing," and bemoan himself in the dust. When we do anything for the Lord, and He is pleased to accept of our doings, let us lay our crown at His feet, and exclaim, "Not I, but the grace of God which was with me!"

- Charles H. Spurgeon

The Spiritual Profit in Understanding God's Provision for Meeting His Demands

~ A. W. Pink

A man profits from the Word when he is taught therefrom that God, in His infinite grace, has fully provided for His people's meeting His own demands. At this point, too, practically all present-day preaching is seriously defective. There is being given forth what may loosely be termed a "half Gospel," but which in reality is virtually a denial of the true Gospel.

Christ is brought in, yet only as a sort of make-weigh [something added to a scale to complete the required weight, i.e., the false gospel of salvation by faith in Christ plus our works]. That Christ has vicariously met every demand of God upon all who believe upon Him is blessedly true, yet it is only a part of the truth. The Lord Jesus has not only vicariously satisfied for His people the requirements of God's righteousness, but He has also secured that they shall personally satisfy them too. Christ has procured the Holy Spirit to make good in them what the Redeemer wrought for them.

The grand and glorious miracle of salvation is that the saved are regenerated. A transforming work is wrought within them: their understandings are illuminated, their hearts are changed, their wills are renewed. They are made "new creatures in Christ Jesus" (2 Corinthians 5:17). God refers to this miracle of grace thus: "I will put My laws into their mind and write them in their hearts" (Hebrews 8:10). The heart is now inclined to God's law; a disposition has been communicated to it which answers to its demands; there is a sincere desire to perform it. And thus the quickened soul is able to say, "When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek" (Psalm 27:8).

Christ not only rendered a perfect obedience unto the Law for the justification of His believing people, but He also merited for them those supplies of His Spirit which were essential unto their sanctification, and which alone could transform carnal creatures and enable them to render acceptable obedience unto God. Though Christ died for the "ungodly" (Romans 5:6), though He finds them ungodly (Romans 4:5) when He justifies them, yet He leaves them not in that abominable state. On the contrary, He effectually teaches them by His Spirit to deny ungodliness and worldly lust (Titus 2:12). Just as weight cannot be separated from a stone, or heat from fire, so cannot justification and sanctification.

When God really pardons a sinner in the court of his conscience, under the sense of that amazing grace the heart is purified, the life is rectified, and the whole man is sanctified. Christ "gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, [not "careless about" but] zealous of good works" (Titus 2:19). Just as a substance and its properties, causes and their necessary effects are inseparably connected, so are a saving faith and conscientious obedience unto God. Hence we read of "the obedience of faith" (Romans 16:26).

Said the Lord Jesus, "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me" (John 14:21). Not in the Old Testament, the Gospels or the Epistles does God own anyone as a lover of Him save he who keeps His commandments. Love is something more than sentiment or emotion: it is a principle of action, and it expresses itself in something more than honeyed expressions, namely by deeds which please the object loved. "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments" (1 John 5:3). Oh, my reader, you are deceiving yourself if you think you love God and yet have no deep desire and make no real effort to walk obediently before Him.

But what is obedience to God? It is far more than a mechanical performance of certain duties. I may have been brought up by Christian parents, and under them acquire certain moral habits, and yet my abstaining from taking the Lord's name in vain, and being guiltless of stealing, may be disobedience to the third and eighth commandments. Again, obedience to God is far more than conforming to the conduct of His people. I may board in a home where the Sabbath is strictly observed, and out of respect for them, or because I think it is good and wise course to rest one day in seven, I may refrain from all unnecessary labor on that day, and yet not keep the fourth commandment at all!
Obedience is not only subjection to an external law, but it is the surrendering of my will to the authority of another. Thus, obedience to God is the heart's recognition of His lordship: of His right to command, and my duty to comply. It is the complete subjection of the soul to the blessed yoke of Christ.

That obedience which God requires can proceed only from a heart which loves Him. "Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord" (Colossians 3:23). That obedience which springs from a dread of punishment is servile. That obedience which is performed in order to procure favors from God is selfish and carnal. But spiritual and acceptable obedience is cheerfully given: it is the heart's free response to and gratitude for the unmerited regard and love of God for us.

- Arthur W. Pink Profiting From the Word - Chapter 6: The Scriptures and Obedience

08/15/AM

"Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide."

—Genesis 24:62-64 (KJV) "62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country. 63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels [were] coming. 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel."

Very admirable was his occupation. If those who spend so many hours in idle company, light reading, and useless pastimes, could learn wisdom, they would find more profitable society and more interesting engagements in meditation than in the vanities which now have such charms for them. We should all know more, live nearer to God, and grow in grace, if we were more alone. Meditation chews the cud and extracts the real nutriment from the mental food gathered elsewhere. When Jesus is the theme, meditation is sweet indeed. Isaac found Rebecca while engaged in private musings; many others have found their best beloved there.

Very admirable was the choice of place. In the field we have a study hung round with texts for thought. From the cedar to the hyssop, from the soaring eagle down to the chirping grasshopper, from the blue expanse of heaven to a drop of dew, all things are full of teaching, and when the eye is divinely opened, that teaching flashes upon the mind far more vividly than from written books. Our little rooms are neither so healthy, so suggestive, so agreeable, or so inspiring as the fields. Let us count nothing common or unclean, but feel that all created things point to their Maker, and the field will at once be hallowed.

Very admirable was the season. The season of sunset as it draws a veil over the day, befits that repose of the soul when earthborn cares yield to the joys of heavenly communion. The glory of the setting sun excites our wonder, and the solemnity of approaching night awakens our awe. If the business of this day will permit it, it will be well, dear reader, if you can spare an hour to walk in the field at eventide, but if not, the Lord is in the town too, and will meet with thee in thy chamber or in the crowded street. Let thy heart go forth to meet Him.

- Charles H. Spurgeon

Article re-edited from ten years ago:


One of the many encouraging Scriptural doctrines much needed today is that God makes Christians “worthy” of His enumerable blessings—esp. that of salvation (Mat 10:37, 38; 1Co 11:27, 29; Rev 3:4). Let us not confuse the humility of preaching of past sinners, with the condemnation of present sinners! Though saints still sin they are not considered as such by Scripture. Never do see the Word relate a Christian as a “sinner” (Jhn 3:6; Rom 8:9). -NC

“The Enemy condemns us when we sin, and seeks to crush us under the weight of guilt. But the Comforter does not condemn; He convicts so that we might confess and be cleansed from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9).
-MJS



“

Walk Worthy of the Lord

”

Concerning the believer’s walk, it is to “walk worthy of the Lord” (Ephesians 4:1. How seldom we find such a standard of walk contended for. We hear much as to a “consistent walk,” but such a loose, indefinite character of walk is not found in Scripture—it is rather “worthy of the Lord,” Who loves us, and gave Himself for us. This is a different thought, and silences a thousand questions as to going here and there, doing this or that. The whole point is, is it “worthy of the Lord”? But more than this; His heart’s desire by the Holy Spirit is, that they may honor the Father as they ought to far having made them fit for glory— “Giving thanks to the Father, Who have made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light (Col 1:12).

The verses which follow declare that they now have present redemption: “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins: (Col 1:14). Present deliverance: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness” (vs 13a). And present translation: “Who hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (vs 13b). But there is something more than the other blessings: “made meet” (vs 12) for the inheritance. And how can it be otherwise if we are “in Christ,” yea, “complete in Him, who is the Head of all principality and power”?

And yet how many Christians in the present day while really in Christ and having His atoning work as the foundation of all their hope of glory, are nevertheless looking for something yet to be done in their souls to make them meet for glory (confirmed for heaven—NC). Hence, it is not uncommon to hear some speak of affliction and trial as squaring and fitting them as stones for the heavenly temple. Others talk of the present sufferings purifying them for glory; or of ripening them, until they become like a stock of corn ready for the garner. Their souls have never entered in that precious declaration of the Holy Spirit, that the Father hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, and that our privilege now is thanking Him for it.

That affliction does afterward yield peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that are exercised thereby; and that through the trials we profit and are made partakers of His holiness, are most assuredly true; but being made meet for heaven is something not to be done, but has been done. The idea of saints getting by their trials, etc., more and more meet for glory, denies the truth of man’s total ruin in the flesh, sets aside the workmanship of God in the new creation, and questions the value of the redemptive work of the Savior; for “by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Heb 10:14).

Scripture tells us that Christ is “made of God unto us righteousness” (1Cor 1:30), that “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes.” He is also spoken of as our life—“Christ, who is our life” (Col 3:4). If then we are regarded by the Father now as not in the flesh, but in Christ, complete in Him who is our life and righteousness; and further, that He now speaks of us as accepted in the Beloved, and that “as Christ is, so are we in this world,” it becomes simple enough.

It was the Father who loved us and chose us in His Son; it is the Father who now welcomes us through Him, accepts us in Him, assures us that His Cross has judicially rolled away all our sin and guilt; so that now we are in the new creation, and brought into the new relationship of children, and are partakers of the divine nature.

- Hugh Henry Snell (1817-1892)





MJS daily devotional for August 14:


“At first the heart hunger for maturity in the Lord Jesus is personal, subjective—and necessarily so. Later, when the path to maturity is known and entered upon, this hunger is projected to His Body, and becomes sacrificially objective.” -MJS

“The great lack in servants is not having a sufficiently self-less walk, because you cannot lead anyone beyond where you have been led yourself. Moses was himself many years in the wilderness before he led the people. I cannot ask anyone to leave anything that I have not left myself. It is not the man who sees defects, but the man who removes them who is being used of God.”

“Will you choose the path of death that others may have life? Will you choose to ‘fill up the afflictions of Christ for His Bride’s sake’? But what does it mean? It means living, weeping, suffering, loving with infinite patience, infinite tenderness, unwearyingly love for every member of the Body of Christ. It means the whole being bound up, not in your own progress, but in the progress of the Body of Christ. It means sinking all the personal element into the service of God, wanting neither credit, nor notice, nor recognition. It means an utter dropping of yourself, and a handing over of yourself to God to be poured out for His Body’s sake, the Church.”

“The unwearied care of our Father for us, His patient grace, His gentleness, His leading us on from the world nearer, in spirit, to Himself, indicate what should be the character of our love’s activity towards one another. Our joy in the Father’s presence, as He Himself and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, are made manifest to our hearts, gives us the character of the joy of true fellowship one with another.” -Henry Forbes Witherby (1836-1907)
http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/

08/14/AM

"Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Thy work."

—Psalms 92:1-6 (KJV) " 1 <<A Psalm [or] Song for the sabbath day.>> [It is a] good [thing] to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: 2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, 3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. 4 For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. 5 O LORD, how great are thy works! [and] thy thoughts are very deep. 6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this."

Do you believe that your sins are forgiven, and that Christ has made a full atonement for them? Then what a joyful Christian you ought to be! How you should live above the common trials and troubles of the world! Since sin is forgiven, can it matter what happens to you now? Luther said, "Smite, Lord, smite, for my sin is forgiven; if Thou hast but forgiven me, smite as hard as Thou wilt"; and in a similar spirit you may say, "Send sickness, poverty, losses, crosses, persecution, what Thou wilt, Thou hast forgiven me, and my soul is glad." Christian, if thou art thus saved, whilst thou art glad, be grateful and loving. Cling to that cross which took thy sin away; serve thou Him who served thee. "I beseech you therefore, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Let not your zeal evaporate in some little ebullition of song. Show your love in expressive tokens. Love the brethren of Him who loved you. If there be a Mephibosheth anywhere who is lame or halt, help him for Jonathan's sake. If there be a poor tried believer, weep with him, and bear his cross for the sake of Him who wept for thee and carried thy sins. Since thou art thus forgiven freely for Christ's sake, go and tell to others the joyful news of pardoning mercy. Be not contented with this unspeakable blessing for thyself alone, but publish abroad the story of the cross. Holy gladness and holy boldness will make you a good preacher, and all the world will be a pulpit for you to preach in. Cheerful holiness is the most forcible of sermons, but the Lord must give it you. Seek it this morning before you go into the world. When it is the Lord's work in which we rejoice, we need not be afraid of being too glad.

- Charles H. Spurgeon