Truth For Life Program
Alistair Begg Devotional
C. H. Spurgeon Devotional
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
The tongue’s hidden from sight most of the time, yet it has the power to destroy lives, damage relationships, and even bring down nations. Examine the often overlooked sin of slander as the study in James continues on Truth For Life with Alistair Begg.
From the Sermon
No Greater Victory
One of the perennial misconceptions about Christianity is that God views each of us as a sort of living scoreboard: one side lights up with our sins and failures, the other tallies our good deeds and victories, and so long as the good wins out in the final score, the results will be good enough for God—right?
But the fact of the matter is that if we tally up our sins and compare them to our obedience, we’re always losing. It’s not even a competition, really. Like when a pro team faces off against a junior varsity squad, it’ll be a blowout. Still, too many of us fool ourselves into thinking we have time for a comeback—we can fix ourselves up just enough before the final whistle blows or work hard enough to come out victorious.
Such thinking isn’t even on the same playing field as the gospel. And it misses grace entirely.
It is never our own score that helps our standing before God. No, it has to be Christ’s. In the words of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, your salvation “is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). The gift is Christ’s perfect tally in our place. Nothing less than His perfect righteousness will do.
When you really begin to understand the gospel, it sounds too good to be true. What person deserves such extravagant grace? But that is precisely the point. Our salvation is completely a gift, and it is utterly undeserved. We don’t deserve it now, nor could we ever. But God grants mercy to us regardless. He declares us victorious—no condemnation!—because of Jesus Christ, and only because of Him.
Being a Christian does not immunize you against taking a scoreboard approach to life. Paul’s entire letter to the Galatian church was to urge them not to give up on grace. We face a constant battle to remember that it is in Christ, and only ever in Christ and never in our performance, that we enjoy “no condemnation.” Have you lost the joy of your salvation? It is likely because you are looking too much at yourself and too little at Jesus. In the Christian life, there is no need for despair and no room for pride because it is never about you; it is always about Him.
In Christ Jesus, God gives you the win. There’s no greater gift, no greater victory, and no greater joy.
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?
Galatians 4:21–31
Example of Hagar and Sarah
21Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, eone by a slave woman and fone by a free woman. 23But gthe son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while hthe son of the free woman was born through promise. 24Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two icovenants. jOne is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;5 she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26But kthe Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written,
l“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband.”
28Now you,6 brothers, mlike Isaac, nare children of promise. 29But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh opersecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, pso also it is now. 30But what does the Scripture say? q“Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but rof the free woman.
Galatians 5:1–1
Christ Has Set Us Free
1For sfreedom Christ has tset us free; ustand firm therefore, and do not submit again to va yoke of wslavery.
Christ Has Set Us Free
1For sfreedom Christ has tset us free; ustand firm therefore, and do not submit again to va yoke of wslavery.
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.
Sick with Sin
“I will; be clean.”
The primeval darkness heard God say, “Let there be light,” and immediately there was light. The word of the Lord Jesus is equal in majesty to that ancient word of power. Redemption, like creation, has its word of might. Jesus speaks, and it is done. Leprosy yielded to no human remedies, but it fled at once at the Lord’s “I will.” The disease exhibited no hopeful signs or tokens of recovery; nature contributed nothing to its own healing. But the unaided word effected the entire work on the spot and forever. The sinner is in a more miserable plight than the leper; let him imitate his example and go to Jesus, “imploring him and kneeling [say] to him . . .” Let him exercise what little faith he has, even though it should go no further than “If you will, you can make me clean.”
There need be no doubt as to the result of the application. Jesus heals all who come and casts out none. In reading the narrative in which our morning’s text occurs, it is worthy of careful consideration that Jesus touched the leper. This unclean person had broken through the regulations of the ceremonial law and pressed into the house, but Jesus, far from chiding him, broke through the law Himself in order to meet him. He made an interchange with the leper, for while He cleansed him, He contracted by that touch a Levitical defilement.
Even so Jesus Christ was made sin for us, although in Himself He knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. If only poor sinners would go to Jesus, believing in the power of His blessed substitutionary work, they would soon learn the power of His gracious touch. The hand that multiplied the loaves, that saved sinking Peter, that upholds afflicted saints, that crowns believers—that same hand will touch every seeking sinner and in a moment make him clean. The love of Jesus is the source of salvation. He loves, He looks, He touches us, and we live.
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 September 4
Saul and the Medium of En-dor
1In those days ithe Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.” 2David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
3Now jSamuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him kin Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put lthe mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4The Philistines assembled and came and encamped mat Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped nat Gilboa. 5When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6And when Saul inquired of the Lord, othe Lord did not answer him, either pby dreams, or qby Urim, or by prophets. 7Then Saul said to his servants, r“Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at sEn-dor.”
8So Saul tdisguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, u“Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” 9The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, lhow he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” 10But Saul swore to her by the Lord, v“As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” 11Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” 13The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” 14He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped win a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.
15Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and xGod has turned away from me and yanswers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” 16And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for zthe Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18aBecause you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you band your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”
20Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 21And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. cI have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. 22Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” 23He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. 24Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.
Paul Surrenders His Rights
1jAm I not free? kAm I not an apostle? lHave I not seen Jesus our Lord? mAre not you my workmanship in the Lord? 2If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are nthe seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3This is my defense to those who would examine me. 4oDo we not have the right to eat and drink? 5pDo we not have the right to take along a believing wife,1 as do the other apostles and qthe brothers of the Lord and rCephas? 6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? 7sWho serves as a soldier at his own expense? tWho plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
8Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9For it is written in the Law of Moses, u“You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written vfor our sake, because wthe plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11xIf we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more?
Nevertheless, ywe have not made use of this right, but we endure anything zrather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13Do you not know that athose who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14In the same way, the Lord commanded that bthose who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
15But cI have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone ddeprive me of my ground for boasting. 16For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For enecessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with fa stewardship. 18What then is my reward? That in my preaching gI may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
19For hthough I am free from all, iI have made myself a servant to all, that I might jwin more of them. 20kTo the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21To lthose outside the law I became mas one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but nunder the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22oTo the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. pI have become all things to all people, that qby all means I might save some. 23I do it all for the sake of the gospel, rthat I may share with them in its blessings.
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives sthe prize? So trun that you may obtain it. 25Every uathlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we van imperishable. 26So I do not run aimlessly; I wdo not box as one xbeating the air. 27But I discipline my body and ykeep it under control,2 lest after preaching to others zI myself should be adisqualified.
The Day of the Wrath of the Lord
1The word of the Lord came to me: 2“And you, aO son of man, thus says the Lord God to the land of Israel: bAn end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land.1 3Now bthe end is upon you, and cI will send my anger upon you; dI will judge you according to your ways, and I will punish you for all your abominations. 4eAnd my eye will not spare you, nor will I have pity, but fI will punish you for your ways, while your abominations are in your midst. gThen you will know that I am the Lord.
5“Thus says the Lord God: Disaster hafter disaster!2 Behold, it comes. 6bAn end has come; the end has come; it has awakened against you. Behold, it comes. 7iYour doom3 has come to you, O inhabitant of the land. jThe time has come; the day is near, a day of tumult, and not kof joyful shouting on the mountains. 8Now I will soon lpour out my wrath upon you, and mspend my anger against you, dand judge you according to your ways, and I will punish you for all your abominations. 9eAnd my eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. I will punish you according to your ways, while your abominations are in your midst. nThen you will know that I am the Lord, who strikes.
10o“Behold, the day! Behold, it comes! pYour doom has come; qthe rod has blossomed; pride has budded. 11rViolence has grown up into qa rod of wickedness. sNone of them shall remain, nor their abundance, nor their wealth; neither shall there be preeminence among them.4 12jThe time has come; the day has arrived. Let not tthe buyer rejoice, nor tthe seller mourn, ufor wrath is upon all their multitude.5 13For vthe seller shall not return to what he has sold, while they live. wFor the vision concerns all their multitude; it shall not turn back; and because of his iniquity, none can maintain his life.6
14“They have blown the trumpet and made everything ready, but none goes to battle, xfor my wrath is upon all their multitude. 15yThe sword is without; pestilence and famine are within. zHe who is in the field dies by the sword, zand him who is in the city famine and pestilence devour. 16aAnd if any survivors escape, they will be on the mountains, like bdoves of the valleys, all of them moaning, each one over his iniquity. 17cAll hands are feeble, and all knees turn to water. 18dThey put on sackcloth, and ehorror covers them. Shame is on all faces, and fbaldness on all their heads. 19They cast their silver into the streets, and their gold is like an unclean thing. gTheir silver and gold are not able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord. They cannot satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it. hFor it was ithe stumbling block of their iniquity. 20jHis beautiful ornament they used for pride, and kthey made their abominable images and their detestable things of it. Therefore lI make it an unclean thing to them. 21And I will give it into the hands of mforeigners for prey, nand to the wicked of the earth for spoil, and lthey shall profane it. 22I will turn my face from them, and lthey shall profane my treasured7 place. Robbers shall enter land profane it.
23o“Forge a chain!8 pFor the land is full of bloody crimes qand the city is full of violence. 24I will bring rthe worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. sI will put an end to the pride of the strong, tand their holy places9 shall be profaned. 25uWhen anguish comes, vthey will seek peace, but there shall be none. 26wDisaster comes upon disaster; xrumor follows rumor. yThey seek a vision from the prophet, while zthe law10 perishes from the priest and acounsel from the elders. 27The king mourns, the prince is wrapped in despair, and the hands of the people of the land are paralyzed by terror. According to their way bI will do to them, and according to their judgments I will judge them, cand they shall know that I am the Lord.”
Your Throne, O God, Is Forever
To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A Maskil1 of vthe Sons of Korah; a love song.
1My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of wa ready scribe.
2You are xthe most handsome of the sons of men;
ygrace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever.
3zGird your asword on your thigh, O bmighty one,
in cyour splendor and majesty!
4In your majesty dride out victoriously
for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
let your right hand teach you eawesome deeds!
5Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king's enemies;
the peoples fall under you.
6fYour throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The gscepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
7hyou have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore iGod, your God, has janointed you
with the oil of kgladness lbeyond your companions;
8your robes are all fragrant with mmyrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces nstringed instruments make you glad;
9daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
oat your right hand stands the queen in pgold of Ophir.
10Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:
forget your people and your father's house,
11and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your qlord, rbow to him.
12The people2 of Tyre will sseek your favor with tgifts,
13All glorious is vthe princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.
14wIn many-colored robes xshe is led to the king,
with her virgin companions following behind her.
15With joy and gladness they are led along
as they enter the palace of the king.
16In place of your fathers shall be your sons;
you will make them yprinces in all the earth.
17zI will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.
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