Our Royal Nature

Our Royal Nature You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable. 1 Peter 1:23 Peter earnestly exhorted the scattered saints to love each other "earnestly from a pure heart" (verse 22), and he did so not on the basis of the law or human nature or philosophy, but from that high and divine nature that God has implanted in His people. In the same way that a sensible tutor of princes might seek to foster in them a kingly spirit and dignified behavior, finding arguments in their position and pedigree, so, looking upon God's people as heirs of glory, princes of royal blood, descendants of the King of kings, earth's truest and oldest aristocracy, Peter said to them in essence, "See that you love one another because of your noble birth, being born of imperishable seed, because of your pedigree, being descended from God, the Creator of all things, and because of your immortal destiny, for you shall never pass away, though the glory of the flesh shall fade and even its existence shall cease." We would do well if, in the spirit of humility, we recognized the true dignity of our regenerated nature and lived up to it. What is a Christian? If you compare him with a king, he adds priestly sanctity to royal dignity. The king's royalty often lies only in his crown, but with a Christian it is infused into his inmost nature. He is as much above his fellows through his new birth as a man is above the beast that perishes. Surely he shall conduct himself in all his dealings as one who is different from the crowd, chosen out of the world, distinguished by sovereign grace, part of God's "peculiar people." Such trophies of God's grace cannot grovel in the dust like some, nor live in the fashion of the world's citizens. Let the dignity of your nature and the brightness of your prospects, O believers in Christ, constrain you to hold fast to holiness and to avoid the very appearance of evil. Devotional material is taken from “Morning and Evening,” written by C.H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright © 2003, Good News Publishers and used by Truth For Life with written permission.

sentence tuesday

This is the joy we have today-that we are saved in Him; and if this joy is satisfying, 
why would we think of changing? 

-Alistair Begg 

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temptation

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. 

The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. Matthew 26:41

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:31 

God has pledged an escape route each and every time. Learn to deal with temptations: immediately, realistically, ruthlessly, consistently, and confidently. -Alistair Begg

Hi Friends. 
I heard a great teaching by Alistair Begg this morning and had to share. Enjoy and be blessed! 

Restored And Forgiven

ALISTAIR BEGG

 | 09/25/2011

Alistair Begg, Pastor of Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio, and teacher on the national radio program,Truth For Life, teaches from the Book of Mark on the subject of Restoration and Forgiveness. The ultimate healing that we all can achieve is the healing of our relationship with God, giving us life and saving us from eternal damnation. Ransomed, Healed, Restored, Forgiven, are the attributes that correct our spiritual condition.

Scriptures: Mark 1:35-45

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Click on the link to listen: Restored And Forgiven: Alistair Begg

seek encouragement

Table for two.
Coffee for two.
Movie for two.
Vacation for two.
Misery for one.

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior.  Psalm 42:5




Are you are in the dumps, feeling blue, discouraged, depressed, oppressed, exhausted? Are you upset with life, with people, with God? I want to encourage you today to seek encouragement.

Seek encouragement in God's Word. (start here: Psalm 107)
Seek encouragement in prayer. (simply talking to God)
Seek encouragement in praise. (read this: Praise won the battle)
Seek encouragement in God's people. (email me. Don't be afraid or ashamed to reach out.)

The thought is full of comfort that He who has established the boundary lines ofour lives has also determined the boundaries of our tribulation. -Allistair Begg

No Unnecessary Miracles

Encourage him.
-Deuteronomy 1:38





God employs His people to encourage one another. He did not say to an angel, "Gabriel, My servant Joshua is about to lead My people into Canaan—go, encourage him." God never performs unnecessary miracles. If His purposes can be accomplished by ordinary means, He will not use miraculous agencies. Gabriel would not have been half so well fitted for the work as Moses. A brother's sympathy is more precious than an angel's prestige. The swift-winged angel knew more about the Master's desires than he did about the people's needs. An angel had never experienced the difficult journey, nor faced the fiery serpents, nor had he led the stiff-necked multitude in the wilderness as Moses had done. We should be glad that God usually works for man by man. This forms a bond of brotherhood, and being mutually dependent on one another, we are united more completely into one family.

Brethren, take the text as God's message to you. Work at helping others, and especially strive to encourage them. Talk warmly to the young and anxious inquirer; lovingly try to remove stumbling blocks out of his way. When you find a spark of grace in the heart, kneel down and blow it into a flame. Leave the young believer to discover the roughness of the road by stages, but tell him of the strength that is found in God, of the certainty of the promise, and of the benefits of communion with Christ.

Aim to comfort the sorrowful and to encourage the despondent. Speak a fitting word to the weary, and lift the spirits of those who are fearful to go on their way with gladness. God encourages you by His promises; Christ encourages you as He points to the heaven He has won for you; and the Spirit encourages you as He works in you to will and to do of His own purpose and pleasure. Imitate divine wisdom, and encourage others according to the Word this evening.

Alistair Begg

early fellowship

I read this devotional a week ago. I pray that this devo may bless you and challenge you to draw closer to Jesus.

go ahead.

sit alone with your Maker.

Toward the dawn . . . Mary Magdalene . . . Went to see the tomb. -Matthew 28:1


Let us learn from Mary Magdalene how to obtain fellowship with the Lord Jesus. Notice how she sought. She sought the Savior very early in the morning. If you can wait for Christ and be patient in the hope of having fellowship with Him at some distant season, you will never have fellowship at all; for the heart that is fitted for communion is a hungering and a thirsting heart.

She sought Him also with very great boldness. Other disciples fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed; but Mary, it is said, "stood"1 at the tomb. If you would have Christ with you, seek Him boldly. Let nothing hold you back. Defy the world. Press on where others flee. She sought Christ faithfully—she stood at the tomb. Some find it hard to stand by a living Savior, but she stood by a dead one. Let us seek Christ after this mode, cleaving to the very least thing that has to do with Him, remaining faithful though all others should forsake Him.

Note further, she sought Jesus earnestly—she stood "weeping." Those teardrops were as spells that led the Savior captive and made Him come forth and show Himself to her. If you desire Jesus' presence, weep after it! If you cannot be happy unless He come and say to you, "You are My beloved," you will soon hear His voice.

Lastly, she sought the Savior only. What did she care about angels? She turned herself back from them; her search was only for her Lord. If Christ is your one and only love, if your heart has cast out all rivals, you will soon enjoy the comfort of His presence. Mary Magdalene sought thus because she loved much. Let us arouse ourselves to the same intensity of affection; let our heart, like Mary's, be full of Christ, and our love, like hers, will be satisfied with nothing short of Himself. O Lord, reveal Yourself to us this evening!

1John 20:11
for more by Alistair Begg click HERE.