“The wounds of Jesus are His glories, His jewels, His sacred ornaments.” Many leaders try to hide any sign of weakness or humiliation or injury. But Jesus is an utterly different kind of king. He shows his glory through his wounds because they point to our salvation. As we follow Jesus then, we remember that weakness and wounds can display the glory of God.
My Redeemer Lives - Job 19:25-27
“A living Redeemer, truly mine, is joy unspeakable.” It is not enough to know that Jesus is a savior or a redeemer. Spurgeon encourages us to know that and say that He is *my* savior, or *my* redeemer. In making the Savior our own, we unlock a deep joy for any trial.
Bowed Down, Lifted Up - Psalm 146:5-8
“We who are today bowed down and sorrowful shall yet be set on high.” Spurgeon makes a striking claim -- that no matter what has us bowed down, we shall be lifted up by the Savior. In sorrow, in condemnation, in sickness, in affliction, in poverty, in every case the work of Jesus makes it possible for our souls to be lifted up today.
Living By Faith - Romans 1:16-17
Living by faith is not just a one-time placing a faith in God. It is a regular thing, a way of life. Spurgeon highlights these two senses in his encouragement to us today. As Christians, we place our faith decisively in Christ in order to be saved but we progress and are sustained in the Christian life by placing our faith more and more in God, every moment of every day.
Precious Beyond Measure - 1 Peter 1:18-19
We often sing about the precious blood of Jesus, or hear it preached, or sometimes see it depicted in artwork or film. But sometimes that precious blood becomes nothing more than a religious symbol. Spurgeon helps us rediscover how and why the blood of Christ is so precious, and why it brings us comfort.
It Is Well - Isaiah 3:10
It doesn’t always seem to be going well for us in our lives. But Scripture encourages us that it is and will always be well with the righteous. Spurgeon encourages us, “O beloved, if God declares that all is well, ten thousand devils may declare it to be ill, but we laugh them all to scorn.”
Deep Depression, Deep Love - Psalm 22:14-15
There are times when we experience a heaviness of soul that nothing seems to shake. It can be depression, or grief, or crippling anxiety. But Spurgeon points us to something even deeper than our heaviness of soul: the deep love of God. God has shown His great love for us on the cross and walks with us in love day to day.
Writing a Better Story - Psalm 47:1-4
We all want the freedom to choose in everything from what job we take, to where we live, to what goes in our next coffee at the coffee shop. But how do we know that we choose rightly, especially in the big stuff of life? Did we marry the right person or choose the right job? Spurgeon points out that there is comfort in the knowledge that the Lord Himself chooses our heritage and inheritance for us.
Knowing Him - Jeremiah 31:33-34
In this uncertain world we can take comfort that amidst all that we don’t know, we do know the Lord. We may not know what will happen next week or next month, but we know who God is and know that He will be with us. Spurgeon encourages us that this is a comfort that never fails us.
The Scapegoat for Every Christian - John 19:14–19
In our world, a scapegoat is someone who often unjustly bears the blame for those who have failed. But the word comes from a strange Old Testament ceremony that actually points to a profound truth. On Good Friday we remember Jesus as the scapegoat, cast away from the camp, that we might be brought near.
Soaking in the Peace of God - Psalm 119:162–165
Do you want to experience the peace of God? Scripture says the pathway to peace is soaking in the word of God. But rather than simply reading a verse and waiting for peace, Psalm 119 people calls us to be a people shaped and formed by the word of God day in and day out. When we do this we’ll finally experience more of the peace we long for in God.
The Nearness of God - Psalm 23:1-4
Psalm 23 reminds us that even when evil surrounds us, He is with us. While evil may come near, God is nearer still. No matter what happens around us, we know who is with us and that makes all the difference.
Living In the Suburbs of Heaven - 2 Corinthians 5:21
In ourselves we are incomplete, sinful, unrighteous. But in Christ, we are righteous. When the Father sees us he sees Christ’s righteousness. This side of heaven we must fight to live in light of this truth. We long for our salvation to be complete, but rejoice in what Christ has already accomplished.
He Never Forgets Us - Isaiah 44:21-22
Sometimes others forget us. We are left out and left behind. But God never forgets us. There is not a time when we are not on His mind. As Spurgeon says, “We have been loved too long and bought at too great a price to now be forgotten.”
Gospel Opportunity in Time of Plague - Romans 10:14-15
In 1866 Spurgeon found himself in the midst of another pandemic. Rather than shrink back in fear he charges us to seize the opportunity to point others to hope in Jesus. As those who know the saving grace of God, this is an opportunity for us to thank God for this grace and offer it to others.
The Telescope of Faith - Isaiah 53:10
Although we don’t see the full glory of the Son of God now, it will be fully seen one day. Until that day we’re called to borrow the telescope of faith and look ahead to the glory that is to come. And in light of that, to work hard and faithfully for the glory of the Son now.
The Sea of Grace - Philppians 4:4-7
In the Lord we find a peace that passes all understanding, despite our circumstances. In Philippians 4 we find an invitation to run to the Lord and find a peace that the world cannot offer. It is an invitation, as Spurgeon says, to swim in a sea of grace.
Spurgeon, Cholera, and Safety
In the midst of a Cholera epidemic in the city of London, Charles Spurgeon finds safety and help in an unexpected place.
Why the Better News Podcast? - An Introduction
Why the Better News Podcast? Because we can never use enough good news and the gospel is always better news than we think. In this short devotional podcast you’ll find a passage of Scripture, a reading from Charles Spurgeon, a reflection, and a prayer for the day.