Truth For Life Program
Alistair Begg Devotional
C. H. Spurgeon Devotional
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
The Bible is clear that God carries His people through trials—even if it’s not how you’d expect. But what does He do when we’re reluctant to risk personal security to stand up for His people? Find out when you listen to Truth For Life with Alistair Begg.
From the Sermon
Fasting, Weeping, Lamenting
Esther 4:1–11 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 39:15 • ID: 2973
Life Is Sacred
If you want to cut to the chase in learning how someone views the world, ask him or her why it’s wrong to murder. The question gets at the issue of human life and its value—which is the issue addressed in the sixth commandment. It also gets past political differences and reveals what people think about life’s meaning, purpose, and origin.
A vast number of people functionally think that life has no inherent value beyond someone’s usefulness. So long as an individual contributes to society, his or her value remains intact. But this means that some deaths—abortion and euthanasia, for example—are deemed less tragic and perhaps even “good” because that person is unwanted or perceived as a drain on society and therefore, in the final analysis, of inferior worth.
This is not the way the Bible speaks. Scripture could not be clearer about the fact that men and women are valuable because they are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26; Psalm 8:5-6). Such value does not move along a spectrum but is fixed and immovable. Only when we see human life in this way, as God does, do we understand all that is implied in the simple command “You shall not murder.”
Here are three ways unfortunately common ways we might violate the vision of life in the sixth commandment. First is homicide. God is the Giver of life, and He alone has the authority to take it. To wrongfully take someone’s life is to make an assault on the divine image (Genesis 9:5-6). Second is suicide, the act of willfully causing one’s own death. God says, “All souls are mine” (Ezekiel 18:4); we do not have the right to take our own life (though that is not to say that this cannot be forgiven). A third is abortion. From the moment of conception, the fetus in the womb is a human being (Psalm 139:13). The fact that for several months that child cannot survive outside the womb does not affect his or her right to the same protection given to other human beings (though again, there is forgiveness available for violating the sixth commandment in this way).
Perhaps you’ve made it this far and think you’re doing fine. Not so fast! Jesus does not let us off that easily, for He says that the judgment the murderer deserves is also deserved by the one with unchecked anger (Matthew 5:21-22). All of us, if we’re honest, have known murder in our hearts. We’ve harbored thoughts of contemptuous anger and its ugly bedfellows—animosity, malice, hostility, and gossip—whereby we kill people in our hearts all the time. Perhaps we are doing so right now. And so we stand condemned.
But here is the encouragement: if you are feeling the weight of guilt as you grasp the scope and gravity of this commandment, that is precisely the point! You will never conform perfectly to the perfect law of God—but He has still offered forgiveness that will wash away your sin and your guilt. Beyond that, He offers transformation—the kind that can take angry, murderous hearts and transform them into hearts of love and grace. Of what do you need to repent? For what do you need to be forgiven? In what way do you need the Spirit to change you?
How is God calling me to think differently?
How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?
What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?
Anger
21y“You have heard that it was said to those of old, z‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable ato judgment.’ 22But I say to you that beveryone who is angry with his brother3 will be liable ato judgment; whoever insults4 his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to cthe hell5 of fire. 23dSo if eyou are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25fCome to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26Truly, I say to you, gyou will never get out until you have paid the last penny.6
Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg, published by The Good Book Company, thegoodbook.com. Used by Truth For Life with permission. Copyright © 2021, 2022, The Good Book Company.
Chosen for Affliction
I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.
Comfort yourself, tried believer, with this thought: God says, “I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction” [KJV]. Does not the Word come like a soft shower, assuaging the fury of the flame? Yea, is it not a protective shield, against which the heat has no power? Let affliction come—God has chosen me. Poverty, you may stride in at my door, but God is in the house already, and He has chosen me. Sickness, you may intrude, but I have balsam ready—God has chosen me. Whatever befalls me in this vale of tears, I know that He has “chosen” me.
If, believer, you require still greater comfort, remember that you have the Son of Man with you in the furnace. In that silent chamber of yours, there sits by your side One whom you have not seen, but whom you love; and often when you do not know it, He comforts you in your affliction and softens the place of rest. You are in poverty; but in your lovely house the Lord of life and glory is a frequent visitor. He loves to come into these desolate places, that He may visit you. Your friend sticks closely to you. You cannot see Him, but you may feel the pressure of His hands. Do you not hear His voice? Even in the valley of the shadow of death He says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.”1
Remember that noble speech of Caesar: “Fear not, you carry Caesar and all his fortune.” Fear not, Christian; Jesus is with you. In all your difficult trials, His presence is both your comfort and safety. He will never leave one whom He has chosen for His own. “Fear not, for I am with you” is His sure word of promise to His chosen ones in the “furnace of affliction.” Will you not, then, take hold of Christ and say:
Through floods and flames, if Jesus lead,
I’ll follow where He goes.
1) Isaiah 41:10
Devotional material is taken from Morning and Evening, written by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003, Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.org. Used by Truth For Life with written permission.
Daily Bible Reading for March 3
Crossing the Red Sea
1Then the Lord said to Moses, 2“Tell the people of Israel to tturn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between uMigdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea. 3For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4And vI will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will wget glory over Pharaoh and all his host, xand the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.
5When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the ymind of Pharaoh and his servants was changed toward the people, and they said, “What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6So he made ready his chariot and took his army with him, 7and took zsix hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over all of them. 8And vthe Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the people of Israel while athe people of Israel were going out defiantly. 9The bEgyptians pursued them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and his horsemen and his army, and overtook them cencamped at the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of Baal-zephon.
10When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel dcried out to the Lord. 11They esaid to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? 12Is not this what fwe said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” 13And Moses said to the people, g“Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For hthe Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. 14iThe Lord will fight for you, and you have only jto be silent.”
15The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. 16kLift up your staff, and kstretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. 17And lI will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they shall go in after them, and mI will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18And the Egyptians nshall know that I am the Lord, mwhen I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
19oThen the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, 20coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night1 without one coming near the other all night.
21Then Moses kstretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by pa strong east wind all night and qmade the sea dry land, and the waters were rdivided. 22And sthe people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being ta wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24And in the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, 25clogging2 their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the uLord fights for them against the Egyptians.”
26Then the Lord said to Moses, v“Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.” 27wSo Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea xreturned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord ythrew3 the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. 28The zwaters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, anot one of them remained. 29But the bpeople of Israel walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
30Thus the Lord csaved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31dIsrael saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they ebelieved in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
Temptations to Sin
1And he said to his disciples, u“Temptations to sin1 are vsure to come, but wwoe to the one through whom they come! 2xIt would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.2 3Pay attention to yourselves! yIf your brother sins, zrebuke him, and if he repents, aforgive him, 4and if he sins against you bseven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Increase Our Faith
5cThe apostles said to the Lord, d“Increase our faith!” 6And the Lord said, e“If you had faith like fa grain of mustard seed, you could say to this gmulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Unworthy Servants
7“Will any one of you who has a servant3 plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and hdress properly,4 and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are iunworthy servants;5 we have only done what was our duty.’”
Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers
11jOn the way to Jerusalem khe was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,6 lwho stood at a distance 13and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14When he saw them he said to them, “Go and mshow yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, npraising God with a loud voice; 16and ohe fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was pa Samaritan. 17Then Jesus answered, “Were not qten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18Was no one found to return and rgive praise to God except this sforeigner?” 19And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; tyour faith has tmade you well.”7
The Coming of the Kingdom
20Being asked by the Pharisees uwhen the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God vis not coming in ways that can be observed, 21nor wwill they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”8
22And he said to the disciples, x“The days are coming when you will desire yto see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23zAnd they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 24aFor as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be bin his day.9 25But first che must suffer many things and cbe rejected by this generation. 26dJust as it was in the days of eNoah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27fThey were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28Likewise, just as it was in the days of gLot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29hbut on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— 30so will it be ion the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31On that day, jlet the one who is on kthe housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32lRemember Lot's wife. 33mWhoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will nkeep it. 34I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35oThere will be two women pgrinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”10 37And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, q“Where the corpse11 is, there the vultures12 will gather.”
Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends
1So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was vrighteous in his own eyes. 2Then Elihu the son of Barachel wthe Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself xrather than God. 3He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had ydeclared Job to be in the wrong. 4Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.
6And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said:
“I am young in years,
and you are zaged;
therefore I was timid and afraid
to declare my opinion to you.
7I said, ‘Let days speak,
and many years teach wisdom.’
8But it is athe spirit in man,
bthe breath of the Almighty, that makes him cunderstand.
9dIt is not the old1 who are wise,
nor the aged who understand what is right.
10Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;
let me also declare my opinion.’
11“Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened for your wise sayings,
while you searched out what to say.
12I gave you my attention,
and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job
or who answered his words.
13Beware elest you say, ‘We have found wisdom;
God may vanquish him, not a man.’
14He has not directed his words against me,
and I will not answer him with your speeches.
15“They are dismayed; they answer no more;
they have not a word to say.
16And shall I wait, because they do not speak,
because they stand there, and answer no more?
17I also will answer with my share;
I also will declare my opinion.
18For I am full of words;
the spirit within me constrains me.
19Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent;
like new fwineskins ready to burst.
20gI must speak, that I may find hrelief;
I must open my lips and answer.
21I will not ishow partiality to any man
or use flattery toward any person.
22For I do not know how to flatter,
else my Maker would soon take me away.
1For I made up my mind unot to make another painful visit to you. 2For vif I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, wfor I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4For xI wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.
Forgive the Sinner
5Now yif anyone has caused pain, zhe has caused it not to me, but ain some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6For such a one, bthis punishment by the majority is enough, 7so cyou should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9For this is why I wrote, that I might dtest you and know ewhether you are obedient in everything. 10Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for fwe are not ignorant of his designs.
Triumph in Christ
12When gI came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though ha door was opened for me in the Lord, 13my spirit iwas not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.
14But jthanks be to God, who in Christ always kleads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads lthe fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15For we are the aroma of Christ to God among mthose who are being saved and among nthose who are perishing, 16oto one a fragrance from death to death, oto the other a fragrance from life to life. pWho is sufficient for these things? 17For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.
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