Jason K. Allen's Blog, page 13

The Gospel and Your Mind

Christianity is a heart religion. In fact, the Bible refers
to conversion as the “circumcision of the heart” (Rom. 2:29). As believers, we
speak of inviting Jesus into our hearts. And, as more than one preacher has promised,
“Jesus will give you a new heart for a new start.”

Additionally, one way we know the power of a sermon is its
effect on the heart. At Pentecost, in Acts 2, after the apostle Peter delivered
one of the most powerful sermons in church history, the crowd was “pierced to
the heart” (Acts 2:37).

St. Augustine famously observed, “Thou hast made us for
thyself, Oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.”1 That
happens at conversion. Our hearts are satisfied, completely and eternally,
through Christ. We then enjoy the inner peace we feel as we worship, pray, and
draw near to God.

So, the gospel renews our heart, but it also renews our
mind—and more so than most Christians realize. Like every other aspect of our
lives, our minds are fallen, darkened by sin, and must be redeemed. The gospel
does just that.

The Greatest Commandment

Did you ever notice the “Greatest Commandment” includes your
mind? Recall the context. In the Gospels, the Pharisees repeatedly sought to
entrap Jesus. They tried to ensnare him in complex, unanswerable questions. The
Pharisees posed first-century versions of twenty-first-century trick questions,
like the famous, “Have you stopped beating your wife yet?” Either answer is
problematic, implying guilt.

One such trick question the Pharisees posed to Christ
pertained to the Greatest Commandment. The Pharisees were fascinated with the
law, frantically trying to keep it. As they did, they cultivated a polished,
external self-righteousness. To onlookers, they appeared righteous and in good
standing before God and man, yet their hearts were far from God.

One such question posed by the Pharisees is recorded in
multiple Gospels. It had to do with the Greatest Commandment. That is to say,
the commandment which ought to be prioritized above all others, the one most
urgently to be kept.

When the Pharisees heard that [Jesus] had silenced the
Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a
question to test him: “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” He
said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and most important command.”
(Matt. 22:34–38)

Interestingly, in Jesus’ answer, he synthesized much of the
Old Testament law. He rightly prioritizes the inner person, the heart. Yet, he
also calls us to love God with all of our minds. Jesus, who pulled no punches
when confronting the Pharisees, also called them to love God with their minds.
The Pharisees seemed to have this part down.

They zealously studied the law, fanatically reflecting on
its teaching. They read it, wrote it, recited it, memorized it, taught it, and
preached it. Their work, to a fault, was mental work. Yet, Jesus does not throw
out the baby with the bathwater. He instructs them to love the Lord with their
heart, soul, and mind.

If the Pharisees raced to the mind while passing over the
heart, twenty-first-century Christians tend toward the opposite. We tend to
race to the heart, bypassing the mind. Yet, Jesus—and all of Scripture— calls
us to glorify God with our minds as well as our hearts. However, due to our sin
nature, obedience in this requires significant effort.

A Renewed Mind

The good news is, when we become Christians, God redeems our
minds like the rest of our personhood. It does not mean that through conversion
we receive a higher I.Q., but it does mean that, for once, we can truly honor
God with our minds.

At conversion, we receive “the mind of Christ” (1 Cor.
2:16). Like other dimensions of the Christian life, this is something God does
in us, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, but it is also something we are
responsible to pursue and cultivate.

To this end, let’s reflect more closely on two passages.
First, writing to believers in Rome, the apostle Paul implores Christians, “do
not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God”
(Rom. 12:2).

Additionally, consider Paul’s counsel to the believers in
Colossae: “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. For you died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life,
appears, then you will also appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:2–4).

In other words, Christians are to think Christianly.

The post The Gospel and Your Mind appeared first on Jason K. Allen.

Lord’s Day Meditation: “Be Thankful Unto Him” by C.H. Spurgeon

Lord’s Day Meditation: “Be Thankful Unto Him by C.H. Spurgeon (Morning and Evening, November 5, Evening)

“Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.” (Psalm 100:4)

Our Lord would have all his people rich in high and happy
thoughts concerning his blessed person. Jesus is not content that his brethren
should think meanly of him; it is his pleasure that his espoused ones should be
delighted with his beauty. We are not to regard him as a bare necessary, like
to bread and water, but as a luxurious delicacy, as a rare and ravishing
delight. To this end he has revealed himself as the “pearl of great
price” in its peerless beauty, as the “bundle of myrrh” in its
refreshing fragrance, as the “rose of Sharon” in its lasting perfume,
as the “lily” in its spotless purity.

As a help to high thoughts of Christ, remember the estimation
that Christ is had in beyond the skies, where things are measured by the right
standard. Think how God esteems the Only Begotten, his unspeakable gift to us.
Consider what the angels think of him, as they count it their highest honour to
veil their faces at his feet. Consider what the blood-washed think of him, as
day without night they sing his well deserved praises. High thoughts of Christ
will enable us to act consistently with our relations towards him. The more
loftily we see Christ enthroned, and the more lowly we are when bowing before
the foot of the throne, the more truly shall we be prepared to act our part
towards him. Our Lord Jesus desires us to think well of him, that we may submit
cheerfully to his authority. High thoughts of him increase our love. Love and
esteem go together. Therefore, believer, think much of your Master’s
excellencies. Study him in his primeval glory, before he took upon himself your
nature! Think of the mighty love which drew him from his throne to die upon the
cross! Admire him as he conquers all the powers of hell! See him risen,
crowned, glorified! Bow before him as the Wonderful, the Counsellor, the mighty
God, for only thus will your love to him be what it should.

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The Gospel and Your Recreation

Many Christians do not enjoy rest and recreation because they
cannot. A host of factors contribute to this. For some, material excesses force
them to work nonstop to pay the bills. For others, an overdone drivenness
pushes them to work too much—compromising their health, family, and spiritual
lives.

Still others, seeking to raise perfect children, shuttle their
kids to and from sports leagues, practices, lessons, etc., disrupting norms of
family life. Ultimately parents are most responsible for stewarding their
children’s hearts, not their batting averages, violin proficiency, or GPA.

In light of this, how can we enjoy our recreation to the glory
of God? How does the gospel affect our recreation? Consider the following four
ways.

Recreate for the Glory of God

First, let’s reflect on these Scriptural charges:

“Whatever you do, in
word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God
the Father through him” (Col. 3:17).“So, whether you eat
or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God” (1 Cor.
10:31).

As John Piper argues, we glorify God through our recreation by
making him an explicit part of it. Piper observes:

“Therefore, as we
pursue our recreation, let’s pursue it to the glory of God. Since God wills
recreation, he also wills to be in on it. It is crazy to think that God would
create in us certain desires, ordain the innocent means of satisfying them and
then spoil the whole thing if we pause to ask his blessing on it. On the
contrary, he will not spoil the fun; he will enlarge it and purify it, so we
don’t go home feeling crummy about how we acted. He will transform the game
into a little slice of joyful life and turn the field into a diamond of grace.”[1]

Rightly Prioritize Your Recreation

As one wit observed,
the average American “worships his work, works at his play, and plays at his
worship.”[2] Our
recreation is not to be job-like, and it certainly is not to be worship-like.

Our recreation should not displace our families or our work, and
certainly not our worship. We can, however, pursue our recreation with joy,
understanding that God has given it to us for our health and wellbeing. And,
whether it is fishing, exercising, or some other sport or craft, how we engage
it reflects on our Christian life. As Joe Thorn observed,

“We abuse the gift of
recreation when we live for it, rather than use it to live. Recreation is
abused when it dominates our thoughts and time; when it overtakes its proper
boundaries. It is used well when it is received with thankfulness, enjoyed in
faith, and experienced as a means to a better end.”[3]

Think Evangelistically about Your Recreation

I am all for churches building Christian Life Centers and using
them for intercongregational activities, but our recreation can be a unique
arena for the gospel. For many of us, our recreation is our most consistent
interaction with unbelievers. How we conduct ourselves, how we engage people,
and the general witness we share and reflect can all be powerful gospel
witnesses.

This is when evangelism tends to be most effective, anyway.
Usually, it is not through cold calling a list of church prospects. Usually, it
is through engaging unbelievers, on their terms, as we go through our
day-to-day lives.

Rest from Your Striving

Moving more specifically to our spiritual lives, the author of
Hebrews teaches us that the Sabbath day had a typological dimension—it
foreshadowed the rest we have in Christ. When we become believers, we no longer
carry the burden of trying to earn our salvation through keeping the law,
through our personal morality, or through our religious works and good deeds.

On the contrary, Christ has accomplished our redemption for us.
We now serve out of love and unto love. We now practice our Christianity from a
position of acceptance, not in order to be accepted. Thus, we can rest in
Christ and be spiritually, eternally satisfied in him.

In Conclusion

One of the most driven and productive persons who ever lived was
the Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther. Luther was a titanic intellect, a lion
in the pulpit, and a relentless servant of Christ. Through his 95 Theses, his
fiery preaching, and tireless pen, Luther challenged the Roman Catholic Church,
ushered in biblical reformation and revival, and literally changed the world.

Yet, Luther’s secret, by his own admission, was not in his own
gifting or determination. It was not even long days and short nights. It was
the power of the Word and Spirit of God. Luther testified that he unleashed the
Word and then he rested. Luther wrote:

“Take me, for example.
I opposed indulgences and all papists, but never by force. I simply taught,
preached, wrote God’s Word: otherwise I did nothing. And then, while I slept or
drank Wittenberg beer with my [friends] Philip and Amsdorf, the Word so greatly
weakened the papacy that never a prince or emperor did such damage to it. I did
nothing: the Word did it all.”[4]

May we, like Luther, be content to fulfill what God has called us unto—nothing less, but nothing more— and then rest in his goodness and in the quiet confidence that he will take our meager efforts and multiply them to his ends. As we live with this confidence, we can work, rest, worship, and recreate, for his glory and for our own well-being.

[1] John Piper, in his article, “Softball, Sex, and AugustusStrong,” as found at http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/softball-sex-and-augustus-strong.

[2] As found in Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1997), 95.

[3] Joe Thorn, in his article, “Two Keys to Better Recreation,” as found at http://ftc.co/resource-library/blog-entries/two-keys-to-better-recreation.

[4] Timothy George, Reading Scripture with the Reformers (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press Academic, 2011), 20.

*This article was originally published on March 28, 2018

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Lord’s Day Meditation: “In Thy Light We Shall See Light” by C.H. Spurgeon

Lord’s Day Meditation: “In Thy Light We Shall See Light” by C.H. Spurgeon (Morning and Evening, November 4, Evening)

No lips can tell the love of Christ to the heart till Jesus himself shall speak within. Descriptions all fall flat and tame unless the Holy Ghost fills them with life and power; till our Immanuel reveals himself within, the soul sees him not. If you would see the sun, would you gather together the common means of illumination, and seek in that way to behold the orb of day? No, the wise man knoweth that the sun must reveal itself, and only by its own blaze can that mighty lamp be seen. It is so with Christ. “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona:” said he to Peter, “for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee.” Purify flesh and blood by any educational process you may select, elevate mental faculties to the highest degree of intellectual power, yet none of these can reveal Christ. The Spirit of God must come with power, and overshadow the man with his wings, and then in that mystic holy of holies the Lord Jesus must display himself to the sanctified eye, as he doth not unto the purblind sons of men. Christ must be his own mirror. The great mass of this blear-eyed world can see nothing of the ineffable glories of Immanuel. He stands before them without form or comeliness, a root out of a dry ground, rejected by the vain and despised by the proud. Only where the Spirit has touched the eye with eye-salve, quickened the heart with divine life, and educated the soul to a heavenly taste, only there is he understood. “To you that believe he is precious;” to you he is the chief corner-stone, the Rock of your salvation, your all in all; but to others he is “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” Happy are those to whom our Lord manifests himself, for his promise to such is that he will make his abode with them. O Jesus, our Lord, our heart is open, come in, and go out no more forever. Show thyself to us now! Favour us with a glimpse of thine all-conquering charms.

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Question and Answer Panel with Dr. D.A. Carson

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Lord’s Day Mediation: “For My Strength is Made Perfect in Weakness” by C.H. Spurgeon

Lord’s Day Mediation: “For My Strength is Made Perfect in Weakness” by C.H. Spurgeon (Morning and Evening, November 4, Morning)

“For my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

A primary qualification for serving God with any amount of
success, and for doing God’s work well and triumphantly, is a sense of our own
weakness. When God’s warrior marches forth to battle, strong in his own might,
when he boasts, “I know that I shall conquer, my own right arm and my
conquering sword shall get unto me the victory,” defeat is not far distant.
God will not go forth with that man who marches in his own strength. He who
reckoneth on victory thus has reckoned wrongly, for “it is not by might,
nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” They who go
forth to fight, boasting of their prowess, shall return with their gay banners
trailed in the dust, and their armour stained with disgrace. Those who serve
God must serve him in his own way, and in his strength, or he will never accept
their service. That which man doth, unaided by divine strength, God can never
own. The mere fruits of the earth he casteth away; he will only reap that corn,
the seed of which was sown from heaven, watered by grace, and ripened by the
sun of divine love. God will empty out all that thou hast before he will put
his own into thee; he will first clean out thy granaries before he will fill
them with the finest of the wheat. The river of God is full of water; but not
one drop of it flows from earthly springs. God will have no strength used in
his battles but the strength which he himself imparts. Are you mourning over
your own weakness? Take courage, for there must be a consciousness of weakness
before the Lord will give thee victory. Your emptiness is but the preparation
for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your
lifting up.

“When I am weak then am I strong,

Grace is my shield and Christ my song.”

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The Gospel and Your Money

Did you know that Jesus spoke
more about money than any other topic? That’s right. In fact, sixteen of
Christ’s thirty-eight parables reference our handling of earthly treasure. In
the Gospels, one out of every ten verses when Jesus is speaking addresses
money. As John Piper observed, “Jesus spoke more about money than he did about
sex, heaven, and hell. Money is a big deal to Jesus.”

I learned long ago that what is
important to Jesus ought to be important to me. If this principle is true, then
we must think intentionally about money, just as he did. If Jesus died to
redeem every aspect of us—as we mentioned before—then the gospel affects our
pocketbooks. As his gospel transforms our life, he transforms our view of
money—and its use.

So, why did Jesus focus on money?
Because money is a gauge, an indicator that reveals a thousand data points
about our hearts. Our view of money uncovers our motives, our ambitions, our
insecurities, our greed, and our internal value system. Few things reveal our
hearts like our money does.

Money can also be corrosive—at
least the love of money can be. The love of money will decay our hearts,
pollute our ambitions, and stain our Christian lives. Yet, money is also a
tool, when rightly utilized, that can bring about much good. Money rightly
stewarded can provide for our families, support our churches, bless Christian
ministries, care for the needy, and generate a host of other biblical and
practical goods.

How then, should we view money?
How should we evaluate earthly wealth? What does it mean for the gospel to
redeem our pocket books? How can you honor God with your earthly resources? As
we consider these questions, know the stakes are high. Remember Billy Graham’s
observation: “If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help
straighten out almost every other area in his life.”

Don’t Love the Provision,
Love the Provider

One of the reassuring realities
of the Christian life is God’s scrupulous care and lavish generosity on his
children. Not only is he able to care for us; he is committed to doing so. Not
only is he willing to bless us; he delights in it. As Jesus taught:

“Consider the birds of the sky:
They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds
them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add one moment to his
lifespan by worrying? And why do you worry about clothes? Observe how the
wildflowers of the field grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you
that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these. If
that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown
into the furnace tomorrow, won’t he do much more for you—you of little faith?
So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What
will we wear?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things, and your
heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and
his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” (Matt.
6:26–33)

The sparkling reality of the
Christian life is that God not only meets our needs but often far surpasses
them. As he provides, we must worship the Provider. As he  gives, sure, we
can enjoy the gift, but we should delight in the Giver most of all.

Pursue Contentment More
Than Gain

This is key, as the apostle Paul
teaches us: “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:6). The
reality is, discontentment is like a leaking basin that can never be filled
regardless of how much water you put into it. Conversely, contentment is like
an artesian well, never running dry regardless of how much you take out.

I love how Paul David Tripp
frames this reality. He writes, “Love of money is really about contentment.
Love of money is about humility. Love of money is about identity. Love of money
is about worship that really roots at deep issues. Maybe the most subtle of the
indications of love of money is an ongoing, chronic discontentment in me that,
no matter what I have, I am still not content.”

Realize that in Christ, you have
all you need. Be content in him.

View All That You Have
through the Prism of Stewardship

Stewardship is a concept we are
all familiar with, but perhaps not as much as we should be. To be a steward is
to recognize that we are not the owners of our possessions—just temporary
overseers. We will be judged by rightly stewarding—storing up for ourselves
treasure in heaven.

As we conclude, ask yourself: How are you doing with the love of money? Are you content in Christ? How are you stewarding your resources? How you answer these questions will reveal a lot about what you actually think of the gospel.

This article originally appeared on jasonkallen.com on March 14, 2018

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Lord’s Day Meditation: “Their Prayer Came up to His Holy Dwelling Place” by C.H. Spurgeon

Lord’s Day Meditation: “Their Prayer Came up to His Holy Dwelling Place” by C. H. Spurgeon (Morning and Evening, November 3, Evening)

“Their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, even unto heaven.” (2 Chronicles 30:27)

Prayer is the never-failing resort of the Christian in any
case, in every plight. When you cannot use your sword you may take to the
weapon of all-prayer. Your powder may be damp, your bow-string may be relaxed,
but the weapon of all-prayer need never be out of order. Leviathan laughs at
the javelin, but he trembles at prayer. Sword and spear need furbishing, but
prayer never rusts, and when we think it most blunt it cuts the best. Prayer is
an open door which none can shut. Devils may surround you on all sides, but the
way upward is always open, and as long as that road is unobstructed, you will
not fall into the enemy’s hand. We can never be taken by blockade, escalade,
mine, or storm, so long as heavenly succours can come down to us by Jacob’s
ladder to relieve us in the time of our necessities. Prayer is never out of
season: in summer and in winter its merchandize is precious. Prayer gains
audience with heaven in the dead of night, in the midst of business, in the
heat of noonday, in the shades of evening. In every condition, whether of
poverty, or sickness, or obscurity, or slander, or doubt, your covenant God
will welcome your prayer and answer it from His holy place. Nor is prayer ever
futile. True prayer is evermore true power. You may not always get what you
ask, but you shall always have your real wants supplied. When God does not
answer His children according to the letter, He does so according to the
spirit. If thou askest for coarse meal, wilt thou be angered because He gives
thee the finest flour? If thou seekest bodily health, shouldst thou complain if
instead thereof He makes thy sickness turn to the healing of spiritual
maladies? Is it not better to have the cross sanctified than removed? This
evening, my soul, forget not to offer thy petition and request, for the Lord is
ready to grant thee thy desires.

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Seven Years & Seven Leadership Lessons as Midwestern Seminary President

For
me, October 15th marks seven completed years as president of
Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College.  Annually, this season prompts personal and
institutional reflection and thanksgiving. This year, it’s been doubly so.

At
the personal level, I’m astonished how quickly the years have passed. We
arrived in Kansas City with five children, ages 9—4, in tow. Now those same
children are 16—11. For the Allen family, Kansas City has become our home, and
the seminary our life’s calling.

At
the institutional level, God has blessed beyond measure. In the fall of 2012,
we set forth a clear vision—that Midwestern Seminary would exist for the church,
an ambitious enrollment goal—2000 students by 2020, and we perceived an urgent
need—to build a sustainable business model. There was much more to do, but
these were the big three. 

Seven
years later, Midwestern’s vision is known to all who know the institution. We
are for the church. God has nearly quadrupled our enrollment, with our
2018/19 headcount hitting 4,000 students. And on the financial front, we’ve gone
from annual revenues approximating $8,000,000 to north of $25,000,000, all the
while more than doubling the seminary’s assets, growing them by nearly $40,000,000.

Yet,
I must confess, I’m less the mastermind of this institutional transformation as
I am a beholder of it. God’s answered prayers, kind providences, and the hard
work of the amazing team he’s given me have propelled us forward. And from this
institutional transformation, dozens of leadership lessons have emerged.
Consider with me these seven.

First,
vision matters. Vision is a biblical concept, but it is also a
practical one. You’ll never recruit the best team, much less retain them, if
they don’t know why the organization exists. The vision serves as a cohesive,
pulling the organization together. It’s also a propellant, hurtling it forward.
I’m convinced much of our institutional strength goes back to a vision that’s
clear and compelling—for the church.

Second, conviction matters. What you believe and why you believe it are defining aspects of any self-respecting institution. As a confessional seminary, we enjoy a sacred stewardship, a singular trust on behalf of the churches we serve. Thus, we are committed to the Baptist Faith & Message 2000. We also hold to guiding documents like the Danvers, Chicago, and Nashville statements. Our charge is to prove doctrinally sound and institutionally sturdy, articulating and defending these truths from one decade to the next.

Third, culture matters. At Midwestern
Seminary, we use words like stewardship, entrustment, conviction, and
faithfulness. We talk about channeled ambition, church service, and gospel
faithfulness. We foster an esprit de corp marked by a cheerful sobriety
in our work and a holy camaraderie as we go about it. We aspire to be
spiritually minded, to keep short accounts, and not to permit issues to fester.
We root out passive-aggressive behavior and stubbornly insist that concerns go
up and compliments go around.

Fourth, money matters. The Bible teaches
us that where there is no vision, the people perish. Experience has taught me
that where there is no money, the vision perishes. Seven years ago, the
seminary was absolutely broke. The early months were a financial wasteland. Through
generous supporters and enrollment growth, we’ve long since left the lean
years, but you never have enough money to be undisciplined. Stewardship is key.

Fifth, people matter.
We
treat every hire like the seminary’s future depends on it. Once individuals
join the team, we work hard to see them flourish both personally and
vocationally. I rejoice in their victories, take pride in their gifting, and delight
in their successes. Don’t resent it when their accomplishments overshadow your
own; instead work hard for that to be the case. By keeping our employee
headcount down, we’re able to pay well and provide generous benefits.  We truly are a special place at which to
serve.

Sixth, accountability matters.
Build
policies and procedures that clarify roles and goals. Know that if a person
chafes at accountability, that’s not a good sign. Ministers fall due to too
little accountability, not too much.  At
the broader, institutional level, we’ve built metrics of accountability too. We
track—in minute detail—key categories such as enrollment, faculty productivity,
revenues, expenditures, and the like. In leadership, you occasionally get what
you expect; you consistently get what you inspect.

Seventh, goodwill matters. Seven years
ago, Midwestern Seminary’s natural constituency was quite small. Our alumni
base was approximately 1/10th the size of sister institutions like
Southern and Southwestern Seminaries. We knew we needed to reach far beyond our
historic region and constituencies. One way to do that was to be an institution
of goodwill. Our churches wanted to root for us, we just had to give them a
reason to do so. To this end, walk humbly. Speak kindly. Practice altruism. Return
correspondence. Say please and thank you. Be servant minded. These things engender
goodwill.

There’s a sense in which every aspect of the seminary deserves my attention. But to lead is to triage, to prioritize, to choose to which you must give your main focus and best energies. That’s why we’re doubling down on these seven areas and trusting the Lord to continue to grow us as we do. Will you join me in praying for Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College, that the next seven years will be marked by greater faithfulness and even more fruitfulness?

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Lord’s Day Meditation: “Behold, He Prayeth” by C.H. Spurgeon

Lord’s Day Meditation: “Behold, He Prayeth” by C. H. Spurgeon (Morning and Evening, November 3, Morning)

“Behold, he prayeth.” (Acts 9:11)

Prayers are instantly noticed in heaven. The moment Saul
began to pray the Lord heard him. Here is comfort for the distressed but
praying soul. Oftentimes a poor broken-hearted one bends his knee, but can only
utter his wailing in the language of sighs and tears; yet that groan has made
all the harps of heaven thrill with music; that tear has been caught by God and
treasured in the lachrymatory of heaven. “Thou puttest my tears into thy
bottle,” implies that they are caught as they flow. The suppliant, whose
fears prevent his words, will be well understood by the Most High. He may only
look up with misty eye; but “prayer is the falling of a tear.” Tears
are the diamonds of heaven; sighs are a part of the music of Jehovah’s court,
and are numbered with “the sublimest strains that reach the majesty on
high.” Think not that your prayer, however weak or trembling, will be
unregarded. Jacob’s ladder is lofty, but our prayers shall lean upon the Angel
of the covenant and so climb its starry rounds. Our God not only hears prayer
but also loves to hear it. “He forgetteth not the cry of the humble.”
True, He regards not high looks and lofty words; He cares not for the pomp and
pageantry of kings; He listens not to the swell of martial music; He regards
not the triumph and pride of man; but wherever there is a heart big with
sorrow, or a lip quivering with agony, or a deep groan, or a penitential sigh,
the heart of Jehovah is open; He marks it down in the registry of His memory;
He puts our prayers, like rose leaves, between the pages of His book of
remembrance, and when the volume is opened at last, there shall be a precious
fragrance springing up therefrom.

“Faith asks no signal from the skies,

To show that prayers accepted rise,

Our Priest is in His holy place,



And answers from the throne of grace.”

The post Lord’s Day Meditation: “Behold, He Prayeth” by C.H. Spurgeon appeared first on Jason K. Allen.