Reading C. H. Spurgeon’s two small devotions “Daily Help” and “Faith’s Checkbook” I felt that sharing today’s entries from both would be a good thing and here I pray that the Lord might be pleased to use them to bless others more than it did me.

The first piece is from Spurgeon’s “Daily Help”.

We may labor with all our might to climb towards the peak of Mount Sinai. But instead of meeting a vision of hope at the top of that mount, a vision of despair is the only thing to be found. No hope but it’s direct opposite alone, utter hopelessness. Neither is there anything to be found in the best of our self-conceits and worldly merits. Though we may be the most esteemed in the world’s eyes in our worldly endeavors there’s nothing but hopelessness and vanity. Vanity of vanities, all to be taken by the wind.

But herein is hope, true hope, unending and unbending hope, in Christ Jesus.

He is the Savior of sinners. No matter how vile or abominable they may be.

Trust in Him.

“There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12), but “Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). There were not two arks but one ark, so there are not two Saviors but one Savior.

There was no other means of salvation except the ark, so there is no plan of deliverance except by Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners.

In vain you climb the lofty top of Sinai.

In vain you climb to the highest pinnacles of your self-conceit and your worldly merit.

You will be drowned, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11).

—C. H. Spurgeon, Daily Help: April 20

This next piece from Spurgeon’s “Faith’s Checkbook” is a blessed reminder for me, and I hope for you too. For it reminds me that I do not have to move to the left or to the right; that I do not have to be the most perfect of saints, neither would my being the worst of saints exempt me from being counted with Christ Jesus. But it is through simple faith in Him who died for the ungodly (Romans 4:6), whose virtuous life and vicarious death justifies even the most wicked of sinners that we will ever be saved unto the last day (Romans 3:21-26).

By Faith , Not Feeling

“The just shall live by faith.”—Romans 1:17

I SHALL not die. I can, I do, believe in the Lord my God, and this faith will keep me alive. I would be numbered among those who in their lives are just; but even if I were perfect, I would not try to live by my righteousness; I would cling to the work of the Lord Jesus, and still live by faith in Him and by nothing else.

If I were able to give my body to be burned for my Lord Jesus, yet I would not trust in my own courage and constancy, but still would live by faith.

“Were I a martyr at the stake
I’d plead my Savior’s name;
Intreat a pardon for His sake,
And urge no other claim.”

To live by faith is a far surer and happier thing than to live by feelings or by works. The branch, by living in the vine, lives a better life than it would live by itself, even if it were possible for it to live at all apart from the stem.

To live by clinging to Jesus, by deriving all from Him, is a sweet and sacred thing.

If even the most just must live in this fashion, how much more must I who am a poor sinner!

Lord, I believe. I must trust Thee wholly. What else can I do? Trusting Thee is my life. I feel it to be so. I will abide by this even to the end.

—C. H. Spurgeon, Faith’s Checkbook: April 20