Truth For Life Program
Alistair Begg Devotional
C. H. Spurgeon Devotional
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Have you had a great week that makes it easy to praise God? Or are you struggling to find joy or a reason to be grateful? Listen to Truth For Life with Alistair Begg to discover two solid reasons everyone can give thanks, regardless of circumstances.
From the Sermon
Jezebel’s Road
The longest of Jesus’ letters to the churches in Revelation 2 – 3 was to the least politically influential city of the group. Thyatira was commercial rather than political—a bustling, thriving community populated with many tradespeople, a great place to go shopping. Unlike some of the other churches to whom Jesus addressed messages, the believers there had gotten off to a great start and continued with clear progress.
Yet among the church’s many positive traits of “love and faith and service and patient endurance” (Revelation 2:19), a poisonous weed had been allowed to establish itself. Jesus refers to the leader of this clan as “Jezebel,” comparing her activity to that of the queen of Israel almost a thousand years earlier. Queen Jezebel had contaminated Israel with a system of thought that divorced religion from morality, suggesting to the people of her time that it was good to live with that dichotomy. In Thyatira, it seems, the same was happening. This woman, a self-described “prophetess,” claimed to speak with inspired authority and told believers that they could indulge in idolatry and immorality while still remaining followers of Jesus.
Thankfully, though, not everyone in Thyatira had gone down Jezebel’s road. For those who had resisted the temptation, Jesus’ encouragement was to cling to what they had: life that was “truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19). He ended with a simple promise: “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations” (Revelation 2:26; see Psalm 2:8).
Imagine that being read out in the congregation in Thyatira. Picture the wool merchants and leather workers, their fingers full of needle pricks and big lumps, standing there, concerned, wondering if they could continue to function despite the challenges of immorality and idolatry—and then Christ Himself offers this simple exhortation: “Hold fast.”
The promise and exhortation are for you as well. Though you may feel beleaguered, hopeless, and helpless in the face of the immorality and idolatry around you, in Christ you can cling to life that is truly life. He is coming, and He will welcome you to rule the world with Him. As you “hold fast” and continue on toward eternity, remember that the perseverance of the saints is really the perseverance of God Himself: He can keep you till that glorious day.
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?
To the Church in Thyatira
18“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, rwho has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
19s“‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman tJezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants uto practice sexual immorality and uto eat food sacrificed to idols. 21I gave her time to repent, but vshe refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he wwho searches mind and heart, and xI will give to each of you according to your works. 24But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call ythe deep things of Satan, to you I say, I zdo not lay on you any other burden. 25Only hold fast awhat you have until I come. 26bThe one who conquers and who keeps my works cuntil the end, dto him I will give authority over the nations, 27and ehe will frule3 them with a rod of iron, gas when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28And I will give him hthe morning star. 29pHe who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
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.
Heart of a Believer
A spring locked, a fountain sealed.
In this metaphor, which has reference to the inner life of a believer, we have very plainly the idea of secrecy. It is “a spring locked.” Just as there were springs in the East over which an edifice was built, so that no one could reach them except those who knew the secret entrance, so is the heart of a believer when it is renewed by grace: There is a mysterious life within that no human skill can touch.
It is a secret that no one else knows, which the individual who is the possessor of it cannot tell his neighbor. The text includes not only secrecy but separation. It is not the common spring, of which every passer-by may drink; it is one kept and preserved from all others; it is a fountain bearing a particular mark—a king’s royal seal, so that all can perceive that it is not a common fountain, but a fountain owned by a proprietor and placed specially by itself alone.
So is it with the spiritual life. The chosen of God were separated in the eternal decree; they were separated by God in the day of redemption; and they are separated by the possession of a life that others do not have.
And it is impossible for them to feel at home with the world or to delight in its pleasures. There is also the idea of sacredness.
The locked spring is preserved for the use of some special person: And such is the Christian’s heart. It is a spring kept for Jesus.
Every Christian should feel that he has God’s seal upon him—and he should be able to say with Paul, “From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”1
Another idea is prominent—it is that of security. How sure and safe is the inner life of the believer! If all the powers of earth and hell could combine against it, that immortal principle must still exist, for He who gave it pledged His life for its preservation. And who or what can harm you when God is your protector?
1) Galatians 6:17
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 November 18
1 Chronicles 11
David Anointed King
1eThen all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord your God said to you, f‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’” 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, gaccording to the word of the Lord by Samuel.
David Takes Jerusalem
4And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, hthat is, Jebus, where the Jebusites were, ithe inhabitants of the land. 5The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 6David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first jshall be chief and commander.” And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, so he became chief. 7And David lived in the stronghold; therefore it was called the city of David. 8And he built the city all around from the Millo in complete circuit, and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9And David kbecame greater and greater, for the Lord of hosts was with him.
David's Mighty Men
10lNow these are the chiefs of David's mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, maccording to the word of the Lord concerning Israel. 11This is an account of David's mighty men: nJashobeam, a nHachmonite, was ochief of the three.1 He wielded his spear against 300 whom he killed at one time.
12And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of pDodo, the Ahohite. 13He was with David at Pas-dammim qwhen the Philistines were gathered there for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley, and the men fled from the Philistines. 14But he took his2 stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and killed the Philistines. And the Lord saved them by a great victory.
15Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David at the cave of Adullam, when the army of Philistines was encamped in the rValley of Rephaim. 16David was then in the stronghold, and the sgarrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. 17And David said longingly, “Oh that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 18Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it. He poured it out to the Lord 19and said, “Far be it from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the lifeblood of these men? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.
20Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, was chief of the thirty.3 And he wielded his spear against 300 men and killed them and won a name beside the three. 21He was the most renowned4 of the thirty5 and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.
22And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man6 of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two heroes of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. 23And he struck down an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits7 tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear tlike a weaver's beam, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. 24These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada and won a name beside the three mighty men. 25He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.
26The mighty men were uAsahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27Shammoth of Harod,8 Helez the Pelonite, 28Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa, Abiezer of Anathoth, 29Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30Maharai of Netophah, Heled the son of Baanah of Netophah, 31Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin, Benaiah of Pirathon, 32Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33Azmaveth of Baharum, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34Hashem9 the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite, 35Ahiam the son of Sachar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, 36Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37Hezro of Carmel, Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of vHagri, 39Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 40Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41Uriah the Hittite, wZabad the son of Ahlai, 42Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a leader of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 43Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, 45Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 47Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.
1 Chronicles 12
The Mighty Men Join David
1xNow these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. 2They ywere bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the zleft hand; they were Benjaminites, aSaul's kinsmen. 3The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah of bGibeah; also Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah, Jehu of cAnathoth, 4Ishmaiah of dGibeon, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader over the thirty; Jeremiah,1 Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad of Gederah, 5Eluzai,2 Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6Elkanah, Isshiah, Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the eKorahites; 7And Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
8From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were fswift as gazelles upon the mountains: 9Ezer the chief, Obadiah second, Eliab third, 10Mishmannah fourth, Jeremiah fifth, 11Attai sixth, Eliel seventh, 12Johanan eighth, Elzabad ninth, 13Jeremiah tenth, Machbannai eleventh. 14These Gadites were officers of the army; the least was a gmatch for a hundred men and the greatest for a thousand. 15These are the men who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it was hoverflowing all its banks, and put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west.
16And some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you.” 18Then ithe Spirit clothed jAmasai, chief of the thirty, and he said,
“We are yours, O David,
and with you, O son of Jesse!
kPeace, peace to you,
and peace to your helpers!
For your God helps you.”
Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.
19Some of the men of Manasseh deserted to David lwhen he came with the Philistines for the battle against Saul. (Yet he did not help them, for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and sent him away, saying, m“At peril to our heads he will desert to his master Saul.”) 20As he went to Ziklag, these men of Manasseh deserted to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, chiefs of thousands in Manasseh. 21They helped David against nthe band of raiders, for they were all mighty men of valor and were commanders in the army. 22For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like an army of God.
23These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops owho came to David in Hebron pto turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, qaccording to the word of the Lord. 24The men of Judah bearing shield and spear were 6,800 armed troops. 25Of the Simeonites, mighty men of valor for war, 7,100. 26Of the Levites 4,600. 27The prince Jehoiada, of the house of Aaron, and with him 3,700. 28rZadok, a young man mighty in valor, and twenty-two commanders from his own fathers' house. 29Of the Benjaminites, sthe kinsmen of Saul, 3,000, of whom the tmajority had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul. 30Of the Ephraimites 20,800, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers' houses. 31Of the half-tribe of Manasseh 18,000, who were uexpressly named to come and make David king. 32Of Issachar, men who vhad understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. 33Of Zebulun 50,000 seasoned troops, wequipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David3 with xsingleness of purpose. 34Of Naphtali 1,000 commanders with whom were 37,000 men armed with shield and spear. 35Of the Danites 28,600 men equipped for battle. 36Of yAsher 40,000 zseasoned troops zready for battle. 37Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, 120,000 men armed with all the weapons of war.
38All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with aa whole heart to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a bsingle mind to make David king. 39And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them. 40And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, ccakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.
Sacrifices Pleasing to God
1Let ubrotherly love continue. 2vDo not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby wsome have entertained angels unawares. 3xRemember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4yLet marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge zthe sexually immoral and adulterous. 5Keep your life afree from love of money, and bbe content with what you have, for he has said, c“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6So we can confidently say,
d“The Lord is my helper;
eI will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
7Remember fyour leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and gimitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is hthe same yesterday and today and forever. 9Do not be iled away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, jnot by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10We have an altar kfrom which those who serve the tent1 have no right to eat. 11For lthe bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned moutside the camp. 12So Jesus also nsuffered ooutside the gate in order to sanctify the people pthrough his own blood. 13Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear qthe reproach he endured. 14For rhere we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15sThrough him then let us continually offer up ta sacrifice of praise to God, that is, uthe fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16Do not neglect to do good and vto share what you have, for such wsacrifices are pleasing to God.
17Obey xyour leaders and submit to them, yfor they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to zgive an account. aLet them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
18bPray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order cthat I may be restored to you the sooner.
Benediction
20Now dmay the God of peace ewho brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, fthe great shepherd of the sheep, by gthe blood of the eternal covenant, 21hequip you with everything good that you may do his will, iworking in us2 that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, jto whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
22I appeal to you, brothers,3 bear with my word of exhortation, for kI have written to you briefly. 23You should know that lour brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon. 24Greet all myour leaders and all the saints. Those who come from Italy send you greetings. 25nGrace be with all of you.
Warning Visions
1aThis is what the Lord God showed me: behold, bhe was forming locusts when the latter growth was just beginning to sprout, and behold, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings. 2When they had finished eating the grass of the land, I said,
“O Lord God, please forgive!
cHow can Jacob stand?
He is so small!”
3dThe Lord relented concerning this:
“It shall not be,” said the Lord.
4aThis is what the Lord God showed me: behold, the Lord God was calling efor a judgment by fire, and it devoured the great deep and was eating up the land. 5Then I said,
“O Lord God, please cease!
cHow can Jacob stand?
He is so small!”
6dThe Lord relented concerning this:
“This also shall not be,” said the Lord God.
7aThis is what he showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with fa plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 8And the Lord said to me, g“Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said,
“Behold, I am setting fa plumb line
in the midst of my people Israel;
gI will never again pass by them;
9hthe high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,
and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,
and I will rise against ithe house of Jeroboam with the sword.”
Amos Accused
10Then Amaziah jthe priest of Bethel sent to kJeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has lconspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. 11For thus Amos has said,
“‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword,
and mIsrael must go into exile
away from his land.’”
12And Amaziah said to Amos, n“O seer, go, flee away oto the land of Judah, and peat bread there, and prophesy there, 13but qnever again prophesy at Bethel, for rit is the king's sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.”
14Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, s“I was1 no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but tI was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. 15uBut the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ 16vNow therefore hear the word of the Lord.
“You say, n‘Do not prophesy against Israel,
and wdo not preach against the house of xIsaac.’
17yTherefore thus says the Lord:
“‘Your wife shall be a prostitute in the city,
and your sons and your daughters shall fall by the sword,
and your land zshall be divided up with a measuring line;
you yourself shall die in an unclean land,
and mIsrael shall surely go into exile away from its land.’”
The Birth of Jesus Christ
1In those days la decree went out from mCaesar Augustus that all the world should be nregistered. 2This was the first nregistration when1 Quirinius owas governor of Syria. 3And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up pfrom Galilee, from the town of qNazareth, to Judea, to rthe city of David, which is called sBethlehem, tbecause he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,2 who was with child. 6And twhile they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and uwrapped him in swaddling cloths and vlaid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in wthe inn.3
The Shepherds and the Angels
8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And an angel of the Lord xappeared to them, and ythe glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all zthe people. 11For aunto you is born this day in bthe city of David ca Savior, who is dChrist ethe Lord. 12And fthis will be a sign for you: you will find a baby gwrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel ha multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14i“Glory to God jin the highest,
jand on earth kpeace lamong those with whom he is pleased!”4
15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby mlying in a manger. 17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19But nMary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, oglorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
21And pat the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, qhe was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Jesus Presented at the Temple
22And rwhen the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem sto present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in tthe Law of the Lord, u“Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in tthe Law of the Lord, v“a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was wrighteous and xdevout, ywaiting for zthe consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not asee death before he had seen bthe Lord's Christ. 27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when cthe parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28he took him up in his arms and dblessed God and said,
29“Lord, now you are letting your servant5 depart ein peace,
faccording to your word;
30for gmy eyes have seen your hsalvation
31ithat you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32ja light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and kfor glory to lyour people Israel.”
33And mhis father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed nfor the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign othat is opposed 35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36And there was pa prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.6 She did not depart from the temple, qworshiping with rfasting and prayer night and day. 38And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were swaiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39And when they had performed everything according to tthe Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of uNazareth. 40vAnd the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41Now whis parents went xto Jerusalem every year at ythe Feast of the Passover. 42And when he was twelve years old, zthey went up according to custom. 43And when the feast awas ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. wHis parents did not know it, 44but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple, bsitting among cthe teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48And when his parents7 saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, dyour father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that eI must be in fmy Father's house?”8 50And gthey did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And hhis mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
52And Jesus iincreased in wisdom and in stature9 and in ifavor with God and man.
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