Truth For Life Program
Alistair Begg Devotional
C. H. Spurgeon Devotional
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Who is Jesus? He’s been considered a prophet, a philosopher, a revolutionary—even a madman! Discover how Christ actually fulfilled Old Testament prophecy as our perfect King, Prophet, and Priest. That’s our focus on Truth For Life with Alistair Begg.
From the Sermon
He Breathed His Last
The simplicity of these words points us to truths that lie too deep for tears.
Luke, with his eye for detail, gives us an “orderly account” of Jesus’ crucifixion—an account which, he explains at the start of his Gospel, is the result of careful investigation and has been written in order that his readers “may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (Luke 1:3-4). He doesn’t seek to bathe his writing in pathos. Instead, he writes in order that we may understand truth. And so Jesus’ dying breath is recounted for us in a simple phrase: “He breathed his last.”
What Luke does want us to linger on is Jesus’ control over His final breath. He chose to commit His spirit into His Father’s loving hands. He knew that His work was done. Sin was paid for, the curtain was torn, and His people could come into His Father’s presence eternally. Coupled with everything Jesus said prior to His crucifixion, His final words refute the notion that His death was simply that of a helpless victim being overwhelmed by cruel circumstances. He had told His disciples months before that He was going up to Jerusalem and that “the Son of Man must suffer many things and be … killed” (Luke 9:22). John tells us that He had explained to them, “I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:17-18).
Jesus went to the cross not helplessly but willingly. In accord with the Father’s purpose, He chose the exact moment that He would lay down his life for His sheep (John 10:11). Here, then, we see the very Author of life willingly taking His final breaths and reminding us of His absolute authority as well as His inexhaustible love. “He breathed his last” so that you might breathe in the fresh, purified air that was made available to you the moment you were born again. “He breathed his last” so that one day you will stand in a restored creation and breathe air into lungs that will never decay or perish. He who is sovereign over the air you breathe sovereignly breathed His last. He is worthy of nothing less than your praise and adoration.
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?
The Scroll and the Lamb
1Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne ha scroll written within and on the back, isealed with seven seals. 2And jI saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, kthe Lion lof the tribe of Judah, mthe Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw na Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with oseven eyes, which are pthe seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders qfell down before the Lamb, reach holding a harp, and sgolden bowls full of incense, twhich are the prayers of the saints. 9And they sang ua new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for vyou were slain, and by your blood wyou ransomed people for God
from xevery tribe and language and people and nation,
10and you have made them ya kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
11Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering zmyriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice,
a“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
13And I heard bevery creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14And the four living creatures csaid, “Amen!” and the elders dfell down and worshiped.
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.
Outside the Camp
Therefore let us go to him outside the camp.
Jesus, bearing His cross, went to suffer outside the gate. The Christian’s reason for leaving the camp of the world’s sin and religion is not because he loves to be isolated, but because Jesus did so; and the disciple must follow his Master. Christ was “not of the world.” His life and His testimony were a constant protest against conformity with the world. Although He displayed overflowing affection for men, He was still separate from sinners.
In the same way Christ’s people must “go to him.” They must take their position “outside the camp,” as witness-bearers for the truth. They must be prepared to walk the straight and narrow path. They must have bold, unflinching, lion-like hearts, loving Christ first, and His truth next, and Christ and His truth more than all the world. Jesus desires His people to “go . . . outside the camp” for their own sanctification.
You cannot grow in grace to any high degree while you are conformed to the world. The life of separation may be a path of sorrow, but it is the highway of safety; and though the separated life may be painful and make every day a battle, yet it is a happy life after all. No joy can excel that of the soldier of Christ: Jesus reveals Himself so graciously and gives such sweet refreshment that the warrior feels more calm and peace in his daily strife than others in their hours of rest.
The highway of holiness is the highway of communion. It is in this way we shall hope to win the crown if we are enabled by divine grace faithfully to follow Christ “outside the camp.” The crown of glory will follow the cross of separation. A moment’s shame will be well rewarded by eternal honor; a little while of witness-bearing will seem nothing when we are forever with the Lord.
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 April 6
The Lord Accepts Aaron's Offering
1rOn the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel, 2and he said to Aaron, s“Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and ta ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the Lord. 3And say to the people of Israel, u‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish, for a burnt offering, 4and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord, and va grain offering mixed with oil, for wtoday the Lord will appear to you.’” 5And they brought what Moses commanded in front of the tent of meeting, and all the congregation drew near and stood before the Lord. 6And Moses said, “This is the thing that the Lord commanded you to do, that the glory of the Lord may appear to you.” 7Then Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar and xoffer your sin offering and your burnt offering and ymake atonement for yourself and for the people, and bring the offering of the people and make atonement for them, as the Lord has commanded.”
8So Aaron drew near to the altar and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. 9zAnd the sons of Aaron presented the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood and aput it on the horns of the altar and poured out the blood at the base of the altar. 10bBut the fat and the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver from the sin offering he burned on the altar, cas the Lord commanded Moses. 11dThe flesh and the skin he burned up with fire outside the camp.
12Then he killed the burnt offering, and Aaron's sons handed him the blood, and he ethrew it against the sides of the altar. 13fAnd they handed the burnt offering to him, piece by piece, and the head, and he burned them on the altar. 14gAnd he washed the entrails and the legs and burned them with the burnt offering on the altar.
15hThen he presented the people's offering and took the goat of the sin offering that was for the people and killed it and ioffered it as a sin offering, jlike the first one. 16And he presented the burnt offering and offered it kaccording to the lrule. 17And he presented the mgrain offering, took a handful of it, and burned it on the altar, nbesides the burnt offering of the morning.
18Then he killed the ox and the ram, othe sacrifice of peace offerings for the people. And Aaron's sons handed him the blood, and he threw it against the sides of the altar. 19But the fat pieces of the ox and of the ram, the fat tail and that which covers pthe entrails and the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver— 20they put the fat pieces on the breasts, qand he burned the fat pieces on the altar, 21but the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved rfor a wave offering before the Lord, as Moses commanded.
22Then Aaron slifted up his hands toward the people and tblessed them, and he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. 23And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and uthe glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. 24And vfire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, wthey shouted and xfell on their faces.
Why Do You Hide Yourself?
1Why, O Lord, do you stand kfar away?
Why ldo you hide yourself in mtimes of trouble?
2In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
let them nbe caught in the schemes that they have devised.
3For the wicked oboasts of the desires of his soul,
and the one greedy for gain pcurses1 and qrenounces the Lord.
4In the pride of his face2 the wicked does not qseek him;3
all his thoughts are, r“There is no God.”
5His ways prosper at all times;
your judgments are on high, sout of his sight;
as for all his foes, he tpuffs at them.
6He usays in his heart, “I shall not be moved;
throughout all generations I vshall not meet adversity.”
7wHis mouth is filled with cursing and xdeceit and yoppression;
zunder his tongue are amischief and biniquity.
8He sits in ambush in the villages;
in chiding places he murders the innocent.
His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
9he lurks in ambush like da lion in his ethicket;
he flurks that he may seize the poor;
he seizes the poor when he draws him into his gnet.
10The helpless are crushed, sink down,
and fall by his might.
11He says in his heart, “God has forgotten,
he has hhidden his face, he iwill never see it.”
12jArise, O Lord; O God, klift up your hand;
lforget not the afflicted.
13Why does the wicked mrenounce God
and say in his heart, “You will not ncall to account”?
14But you do see, for you onote mischief and vexation,
that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless pcommits himself;
you have been qthe helper of the fatherless.
15rBreak the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
scall his wickedness to account till you find none.
16tThe Lord is king forever and ever;
the unations perish from his land.
17O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will vstrengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
18to wdo justice to the fatherless and xthe oppressed,
so that yman who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
1Be not uenvious of evil men,
nor desire to be vwith them,
2for their hearts wdevise violence,
and their lips xtalk of trouble.
3By ywisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
4by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all zprecious and pleasant riches.
5aA wise man is full of strength,
and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
6for by bwise guidance you can wage your war,
and in cabundance of counselors there is victory.
7Wisdom is dtoo high for a fool;
in ethe gate he does not open his mouth.
8Whoever fplans to do evil
will be called a schemer.
9gThe devising1 of folly is sin,
and hthe scoffer is an abomination to mankind.
10If you ifaint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small.
11jRescue those who are being taken away to death;
hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
kdoes not he who lweighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who mkeeps watch over your soul know it,
and will he not repay man naccording to his work?
13My son, oeat honey, for it is good,
and pthe drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it, there will be qa future,
and your hope will not be cut off.
15rLie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;
do no violence to his home;
16sfor the righteous falls tseven times and rises again,
but uthe wicked stumble in times of calamity.
17vDo not rejoice when your enemy falls,
and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18lest the Lord see it and be displeased,
and turn away his anger from him.
19wFret not yourself because of evildoers,
and be not xenvious of the wicked,
20for the evil man has no qfuture;
ythe lamp of the wicked will be put out.
21My son, zfear the Lord and the king,
and do not join with those who do otherwise,
22for disaster will arise suddenly from them,
and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?
More Sayings of the Wise
23These also are sayings of athe wise.
bPartiality in judging is not good.
24Whoever csays to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
dwill be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
25but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will come upon them.
26Whoever gives an honest answer
kisses the lips.
27ePrepare your work outside;
get everything ready for yourself in the field,
and after that build your house.
28fBe not a witness against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your lips.
29Do not say, g“I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
30hI passed by the field of a sluggard,
by the vineyard of a man ilacking sense,
31and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;
the ground was covered with nettles,
and its stone jwall was broken down.
32Then I saw and kconsidered it;
I looked and received instruction.
33lA little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
34and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.
1Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing dto be left behind at Athens alone, 2and we esent Timothy, four brother and God's coworker1 in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that gwe are destined for this. 4For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, hjust as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5For this reason, iwhen I could bear it no longer, iI sent to learn about your faith, jfor fear that somehow kthe tempter had tempted you and lour labor would be in vain.
Timothy's Encouraging Report
6But mnow that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of nyour faith and love and reported othat you always remember us kindly and plong to see us, as we long to see you— 7for this reason, brothers,2 in all our distress and affliction qwe have been comforted about you through your faith. 8For now we live, if you rare standing fast in the Lord. 9For swhat thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10as we pray most earnestly tnight and day uthat we may see you face to face and vsupply what is lacking in your faith?
11Now may wour God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, xdirect our way to you, 12and may the Lord ymake you increase and abound in love zfor one another and for all, as we do for you, 13so that he may aestablish your hearts blameless in holiness before wour God and Father, at bthe coming of our Lord Jesus cwith all his saints.
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