Morning By Morning #299

Because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever…

2 John 2

From the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Once the truth of God makes an entrance into the human heart and subdues the complete person to its power, no human power on earth or demonic power from hell can dislodge it. We entertain God’s truth, not as a guest in us but as the master of the house.

This is a Christian necessity, for someone who does not believe this is not a Christian. Those who feel the living power of the gospel and who know the power of the Holy Spirit as He teaches, applies, and seals the Lord’s Word in them would sooner be torn to pieces than be torn away from “the gospel of [their] salvation” (Eph. 1:13). A thousand godly blessings are bundled together with the assurance that the truth will be with us forever, and that it will be our living support, our dying comfort, our rising song, and our eternal glory!

This is a Christian privilege, for without these gifts of mercy our faith would have little value. Some earthly rudimentary truths are simply lessons for beginners we ultimately outgrow and leave behind, but we must not treat God’s divine truth in the same way, for although it may be sweet food for babies, it is also powerful meat for adults in the highest sense imaginable. The truth that we are sinners is always painfully with us to make us humble and vigilant, while the more blessed truth that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Rom. 10:13) is continually with us as our hope and joy.

The experiences of life, rather than loosening our hold on the doctrines of grace, instead have bound them to us more and more firmly. Our motives and reasons for believing have only been strengthened and are more numerous than ever. And we have reason to expect that will continue until, in death, we will finally embrace the Savior in our arms.

Once this abiding love of truth is discovered in us, we are then obligated to exercise that love. And the circle of our gracious sympathy must not be narrow, for the loving communion of our hearts should flow far and wide, extending as widely as God’s gift of election. As the truth we share is received by others, we must realize they may mix it with a great deal of error. Thus, may we make war on the error while still loving our brother for whatever level of truth we have seen in him. Above all, may we love others while dedicating ourselves to spread God’s truth.

From the pen of Jim Reimann:

Spurgeon ends today’s devotion with an admonition reminiscent of Paul’s encouragement to speak “the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). If we are mature, seasoned believers, we will have more discernment than new Christians because we will have been trained through the “constant use” of God’s Word “to distinguish good from evil” (Heb. 5:14). While we must never tolerate error, we must be careful not to alienate baby Christians, remembering we were once as they are.

Make time this morning to read Ephesians 4:11–16. Take careful note that God’s ultimate goal is that we be “prepare[d]…for works of service,” “built up,” “reach unity,” “become mature,” “attaining…the fullness of Christ.”