Truth For Life Program
Alistair Begg Devotional
C. H. Spurgeon Devotional
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Paul had an attention-grabbing personal testimony of faith. So why wasn’t that his go-to opening for sharing the Gospel with others? Hear the answer and learn what made Paul’s ministry so effective when you listen to Truth For Life with Alistair Begg.
From the Sermon
Thinking Deeply for God’s Sake
It is not unusual—in fact, it’s quite common—for Christian faith to be regarded as a kind of illogical belief in improbable events. For some, faith is seen as a crutch to prop up less rational people as they navigate life’s challenges. Such critics may be surprised to learn that in reality, Christianity calls its followers not to neglect their minds but to critically engage them.
When we read the Bible, we discover that it never invites us simply to feel things; it never attempts merely to sweep us up in an emotional surge. God never once asks for or endorses the disengagement of our thinking processes. Instead, God’s word repeatedly shows us that Christianity is actually a call to think rightly and deeply about God, His world, and our place in it.
When the apostle Paul addressed the Ephesians, we read that he was “reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus,” which was likely a school for philosophy or rhetoric (Acts 19:9). Paul wasn’t just singing songs or attempting to stir up some emotional experience. No, he essentially said, Citizens of Ephesus, I want you to think and reason with me today. In Thessalonica, too, Acts tells us that Paul “reasoned” with the people, “explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead” (17:2-3). The book of Isaiah begins with a similar call to think earnestly: “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD” (Isaiah 1:18).
This exhortation to think and reason isn’t just for proclaiming the gospel but for growth in Christian maturity too. Writing to the Corinthians, Paul said, “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking” (1 Corinthians 14:20). He wanted the church to think intently and intensely about the issues they were facing. Paul was even more direct when he wrote to Timothy: “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” We do need God’s Spirit to be at work in order to think rightly (Luke 24:45; 1 Corinthians 12:3), for our intellects are as affected by sin as every other part of ourselves (Ephesians 4:17). But it is as we expend mental energy to consider the wisdom of the Scriptures that God will give us greater and greater understanding.
To follow Christ, then, is not to take a step of blind faith into the darkness but to have your eyes opened to the light of rigorous truth. It will take a lifetime—and more!—to unearth the riches of the truth you encounter in God’s word about His Son, but one thing is sure: today, as every day, God wants you to love Him and honor Him with all your mind.
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?
Book One
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
1Blessed is the man1
who awalks not in bthe counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in cthe way of sinners,
nor dsits in ethe seat of fscoffers;
2but his gdelight is in the law2 of the Lord,
and on his hlaw he meditates day and night.
3He is like ia tree
planted by jstreams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its kleaf does not wither.
lIn all that he does, he prospers.
4The wicked are not so,
but are like mchaff that the wind drives away.
5Therefore the wicked nwill not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in othe congregation of the righteous;
6for the Lord pknows qthe way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
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.
Renew Your Covenant
Because of all this we make a firm covenant.
There are many occasions in our experience when we may very rightly, and with benefit, renew our covenant with God. After recovery from sickness when, like Hezekiah, we have had a new lease of years added to our life, we may do so appropriately. After any deliverance from trouble, when our joys spring forth anew, let us again visit the foot of the cross and renew our consecration. Especially let us do this after any sin that has grieved the Holy Spirit or brought dishonor upon the cause of God; let us then look to that blood that can make us whiter than snow and again offer ourselves to the Lord.
We should not only let our troubles confirm our dedication to God, but our prosperity should do the same. If we ever meet with occasions that deserve to be called “crowning mercies,” then surely, if He has crowned us, we ought also to crown our God; let us bring out again all the jewels of the divine regalia that have been stored in the jewel-closet of our heart, and let our God sit upon the throne of our love, arrayed in royal apparel. If we could learn to profit by our prosperity, we would not need to face so much adversity. If we would gather from a kiss all the good it might confer upon us, we would not have to bear the imprint of punishment so often.
Have we recently received some blessing that we hadn’t expected? Has the Lord opened our way? Can we sing of mercies multiplied? Then this is the day to put our hand upon the horns of the altar and say, “Bind me here, my God; bind me here with cords, even forever.” Just as we need the fulfillment of new promises from God, let us offer renewed prayers that our old vows may not be dishonored. This morning let us make with Him a firm covenant because of the sacrifice of Jesus that we have been considering with gratitude for the last month.
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 24
A Census of Israel's Warriors
1The Lord spoke to Moses ain the wilderness of Sinai, bin the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2c“Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, dby fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head. 3eFrom twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, fcompany by company. 4And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the head of the house of his fathers. 5And these are the names of the men who shall assist you. From Reuben, gElizur the son of Shedeur; 6from Simeon, hShelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; 7from Judah, iNahshon the son of Amminadab; 8from Issachar, jNethanel the son of Zuar; 9from Zebulun, kEliab the son of Helon; 10from the sons of Joseph, from Ephraim, lElishama the son of Ammihud, and from Manasseh, mGamaliel the son of Pedahzur; 11from Benjamin, nAbidan the son of Gideoni; 12from Dan, oAhiezer the son of Ammishaddai; 13from Asher, pPagiel the son of Ochran; 14from Gad, Eliasaph the son of qDeuel; 15from Naphtali, rAhira the son of Enan.” 16These were the ones schosen from the congregation, tthe chiefs of their ancestral tribes, the heads of the clans of Israel.
17Moses and Aaron took these men uwho had been named, 18and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, 19as the Lord commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai.
20The people of vReuben, Israel's firstborn, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: 21those listed of the tribe of Reuben were w46,500.
22Of the people of Simeon, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, those of them who were listed, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: 23those listed of the tribe of Simeon were x59,300.
24Of the people of Gad, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: 25those listed of the tribe of Gad were y45,650.
26Of the people of Judah, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 27those listed of the tribe of Judah were z74,600.
28Of the people of Issachar, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 29those listed of the tribe of Issachar were a54,400.
30Of the people of Zebulun, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 31those listed of the tribe of Zebulun were b57,400.
32Of the people of Joseph, namely, of the people of Ephraim, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 33those listed of the tribe of Ephraim were c40,500.
34Of the people of Manasseh, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 35those listed of the tribe of Manasseh were d32,200.
36Of the people of Benjamin, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 37those listed of the tribe of Benjamin were e35,400.
38Of the people of Dan, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 39those listed of the tribe of Dan were f62,700.
40Of the people of Asher, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 41those listed of the tribe of Asher were g41,500.
42Of the people of Naphtali, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 43those listed of the tribe of Naphtali were h53,400.
44iThese are those who were listed, whom Moses and Aaron listed with the help of the chiefs of Israel, twelve men, each representing his fathers' house. 45So all those listed of the people of Israel, by their fathers' houses, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war in Israel— 46all those listed were j603,550.
Levites Exempted
47But kthe Levites were not listed along with them by their ancestral tribe. 48For the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 49“Only the tribe of Levi you shall not list, and you shall not take a census of them among the people of Israel. 50lBut appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it mand shall camp around the tabernacle. 51nWhen the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. oAnd if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death. 52The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, each man in his own camp and peach man by his own standard. 53But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no qwrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. rAnd the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.” 54Thus did the people of Israel; they did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses.
Great Is the Lord
Of David.
1Contend, O Lord, with those who ycontend with me;
zfight against those who fight against me!
2Take hold of ashield and buckler
and rise for my help!
3Draw the spear and javelin1
against my pursuers!
Say to my soul,
“I am your salvation!”
4bLet them be cput to shame and dishonor
who seek after my life!
Let them be dturned back and disappointed
who devise evil against me!
5Let them be like echaff before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them away!
6Let their way be dark and fslippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them!
7For gwithout cause hthey hid their net for me;
without cause they dug ia pit for my life.2
8Let jdestruction come upon him kwhen he does not know it!
And let the net that he hid ensnare him;
let him fall into it—to his destruction!
9Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord,
lexulting in his salvation.
10All my mbones shall say,
“O Lord, nwho is like you,
delivering the poor
from him who is too strong for him,
the poor and needy from him who robs him?”
11oMalicious3 witnesses rise up;
they ask me of things that I do not know.
12pThey repay me evil for good;
my soul is bereft.4
13But I, qwhen they were sick—
I rwore sackcloth;
I safflicted myself with fasting;
I prayed twith head bowed5 on my chest.
14I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother;
as one who laments his mother,
I ubowed down in mourning.
15But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered;
they gathered together against me;
vwretches whom I did not know
tore at me without ceasing;
16like profane mockers at a feast,6
they wgnash at me with their teeth.
17How long, O Lord, will you xlook on?
Rescue me from their destruction,
ymy precious life from the lions!
18I will thank you in zthe great congregation;
in the mighty throng I will praise you.
19aLet not those rejoice over me
who are bwrongfully my foes,
and let not those cwink the eye
20For they do not speak peace,
but against those who are quiet in the land
they devise words of deceit.
21They fopen wide their mouths against me;
they say, g“Aha, Aha!
Our eyes have seen it!”
22hYou have seen, O Lord; ibe not silent!
O Lord, jbe not far from me!
23Awake and krouse yourself for lmy vindication,
for my cause, my God and my Lord!
24mVindicate me, O Lord, my God,
according to your righteousness,
and nlet them not rejoice over me!
25Let them not say in their hearts,
o“Aha, our heart's desire!”
Let them not say, p“We have swallowed him up.”
26Let them be qput to shame and disappointed altogether
who rejoice at my calamity!
Let them be rclothed with shame and dishonor
who smagnify themselves against me!
27Let those who delight in my righteousness
shout for joy and be glad
tand say evermore,
u“Great is the Lord,
who vdelights in the welfare of his servant!”
28Then my wtongue shall tell of your righteousness
and of your praise all the day long.
Cast Your Bread upon the Waters
1fCast your bread upon the waters,
gfor you will find it after many days.
2hGive a portion to iseven, or even to eight,
jfor you know not what disaster may happen on earth.
3If the clouds are full of rain,
they empty themselves on the earth,
and if a tree falls to the south or to the north,
in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.
4He who observes the wind will not sow,
and he who regards the clouds will not reap.
5As you do not know the way kthe spirit comes to lthe bones in the womb1 of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
6In the morning sow your seed, and at evening mwithhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
7Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to nsee the sun.
8So if a person lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember othat the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is pvanity.2
9qRejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. rWalk in the ways of your heart and sthe sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things tGod will bring you into judgment.
10Remove vexation from your heart, and uput away pain3 from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
Be Ready for Every Good Work
1Remind them xto be submissive to rulers and authorities, yto be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2zto speak evil of no one, ato avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and bto show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3For cwe ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4But when dthe goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, enot because of works done by us in righteousness, but faccording to his own mercy, by gthe washing of regeneration and hrenewal of the Holy Spirit, 6whom he ipoured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that jbeing justified by his grace we might become kheirs laccording to the hope of eternal life. 8The saying is mtrustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful nto devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. 9But oavoid foolish pcontroversies, qgenealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for rthey are unprofitable and worthless. 10As for a person who stirs up division, safter warning him once and then twice, thave nothing more to do with him, 11knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Final Instructions and Greetings
12When I send Artemas or uTychicus to you, do your best to come to me vat Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and wApollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14And let our people learn xto devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not ybe unfruitful.
15All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
zGrace be with you all.
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