Christian Daily Devotionals

Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon.. Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2009.

“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”
Psalm 34:8

Faith in scripture is described as being known through all the senses:

• Faith is sight: “Look unto me, and be ye saved.” (Isaiah 45:22, KJV)

• Faith is hearing: “Hear me, that your soul may live.” (Isaiah 55:3)

• Faith is smelling: “All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia” (Psalm 45:8); “your name is like perfume poured out.” (Song of Solomon 1:3)

• Faith is spiritual touch. By this faith the woman came behind and touched the edge of Christ’s cloak (Luke 8:43-48) and likewise we handle the things of the good word of life.

• Faith is equally the spirit’s taste. “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103) “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man,” says Jesus, “and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53) This “taste” is faith in one of its highest qualities.

One of the first experiences of faith is hearing. We hear the voice of God, not with the outward ear alone, but with the inward ear. We hear it as God’s Word, and we believe it to be so; that is the “hearing” of faith.

Then our mind looks on the truth as it is presented to us. We understand it and perceive its meaning; that is the “seeing” of faith.

Next we discover its preciousness. We begin to admire it, and find how fragrant it is; that is faith in its “smell.”

Then we embrace the mercies which are prepared for us in Christ; that is faith in its “touch.”

Therefore what follows from all of these enjoyments? Peace, delight, communion … which are faith in its “taste.”

Any one of these paths to faith is saving. To hear Christ’s voice as the sure voice of God in the soul will save us. But true enjoyment is the aspect of faith where Christ, by holy taste, is received into us, and made, by inward and spiritual understanding of His sweetness and preciousness, to be the food of our souls. It is then we sit “under His shadow with great delight,” (Song of Solomon 2:3, KJV) and find His fruit sweet to our taste.

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2:2-3

Question: Which way of “perceiving faith” is most effective for you, and why?

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/03/18/cs_taste-see/

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by John Grant

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD"  Joshua 24:15

Recently, I was touring through a school, being shown around by the principal when a poster on the wall caught my eye.

You are not born a winner, You are not born a loser, You are born a chooser!

It really got my attention and I thought what a great message for students…. No a great reminder for everyone. Life is full of choices. Every day brings new challenges and decisions for you and me and everyone around us. Every day is a new day, and every day means we either choose to live for God, by the standards He lays down in the Holy Bible, or we live for ourselves by our own standards of right and wrong, as in the days when, ". . . every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25).

We are free to make choices and we have to live with the consequences of those choices. Whether it is the career we select or the mate we choose or what we order from a menu. We experience the consequences of our choices.

I thought of this question: How does the Christian learn to make right choices and live in the center of God's will every day? These choices are not new. The people of Joshua’s time had to make choices as they took the promised land, but they made a choice, the right choice, declaring “but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD"

Too many people today want to have a foot on each side of the fence. They want the path to heaven but want it to wander through the streets of the world.

Jesus said:
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (money)" (Matthew 6:24).

So remember that the choices are yours and may we all decide we and our house will serve the LORD. Think about it. It’s your choice!
(a thought from John Grant)

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/03/15/jg_choices/
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

by Vonette Bright

“For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.”
Psalm 22:24

Susie Davis loved God with all the enthusiasm of a bubbly child.
But then at fourteen, she saw a fellow student shoot and kill their teacher in front of the entire class.
The incident left her feeling abandoned by God.
And that sense was far more frightening than the violence she witnessed.
Susie admitted, “On the outside I was very Christian in my behavior and attitudes,
(But) deep in my heart, I was fearful and sad.”

Meanwhile, she prayed to understand God’s Word.
She read in Psalm 22 the reference to Christ on the cross.
Jesus, in the midst of suffering and feeling abandoned, recognized His Father’s perfect will.
When Susie acknowledged God’s holiness, healing began to take place.
She once again trusted God.

Friend, you may feel far from the Lord, but God never abandons you.

Loving Your Man Without Losing Your Mind (Regal Books) by Susie Davis www.susiedavisministries.com

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/03/12/vb_not-abandoned/

By Katherine Kehler

“You are the salt of the earth. . .”  Matthew 5:13

"Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."  Mark 9:50

After I read these verses during my Quiet Time one evening, I began to think about the reasons for salt being good thing.

1. Salt enhances the flavor of food,
2. Salt is used to preserve meat.
3. Salt is used to thaw ice.
4. Salt is a water softener.

So how can we apply these “salty” things to our lives because Jesus said we are the salt of the earth?

We can enhance our surroundings. For example our behavior must be based on Biblical values—integrity, truthfulness, peace, joy and love. Our yards and houses can set a standard of excellence and enhance the neighborhood.

We can preserve by being there to help neighbors, co-workers and family when they need someone to comfort them (be like a healing ointment).  We can share the gospel
http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/4laws/law0.html with them so they can come to know the power of Christ within them.

We can melt icy relationships by being kind and loving to those around us even when they are cold to us.  In time they will melt. Love never fails.

We can soften the world around us by smiling and being gentle and kind.  We must make an effort to be friendly to all people—regardless of their race, religion, color, or lifestyle.

So, let me ask you, are you a salty Christian? Are you a nice person? Or have you lost it?  You can become a salty Christian again by repenting and asking the Lord to be in control of your life http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/biblestudies/spiritfilledlife.htm once again.  He will produce salt in your life.

Father, thank you that when you ask anything of us you will always provide the resources. We love you—enable us to love others like you do.  Amen

You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2010/03/07/kk_salt/

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