Truth For Life Program
Alistair Begg Devotional
C. H. Spurgeon Devotional
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
To fully understand the nature and function of the church, it’s imperative to grasp who Jesus is. Listen to Truth For Life as Alistair Begg explores Peter’s description of Christ and the divine consequences of responding to Him either in faith or unbelief.
From the Sermon
The Precious Cornerstone
1 Peter 2:4–10 Sermon • Includes Transcript • 38:42 • ID: 1466
Out of the Waiting Room
The Christian life is not lived in a comfort zone.
In Ruth 3 we find Ruth taking a great risk as she approached Boaz to request that he care for her as his wife. She, a single woman, went in the middle of the night to a barn filled with men after they had finished celebrating the completed harvest. Once Boaz fell asleep, she went to him under the cover of darkness and uncovered his feet. If she had made a mistake or had been discovered, there is no telling what these men would have done to her or what people might have said regarding her motives.
These events look strange to our 21st-century eyes, but Ruth’s unusual actions demonstrate a sincere trust in God’s care and protection. God had laid down in His law that Boaz could act as a kinsman-redeemer—a protector and provider—for Ruth. God had providentially led Ruth to Boaz’s field, where he had extended favor to her. Her story shows us again and again how God providentially rules over all unforseeable circumstances for His glory and the well-being of His people.
Like Ruth, we will sometimes face occasions in life when we cannot see much beyond our next step. Many of us are tempted to remain in the waiting room until all of the details are seemingly clear and known. We want to feel safe and in control. Yet if we insist on never moving until we do feel like that, our lives will speak little of spiritual progress and witness little of God’s miraculous work. The fear of going in the wrong direction leaves us going nowhere at all.
When we cannot see beyond our next step or when times of uncertainty come in life—and they will come!—we have to trust God and act on the basis of the truth of His word and trust in His Spirit’s guidance. Ruth’s plan was not fail-safe and certain, but she proceeded because she trusted God, who had proven His faithfulness to her time and time again.
Do you need to start thinking this way? Do you need to look above and beyond the borders of your comfort zone to that to which God may be calling you? If Ruth was motivated by trust and obedience, what are you motivated by? What is there about your life right at this moment that speaks of faith? There may be a decision to make, a place to go, a venture to undertake, or a conversation to have about which you don’t know all the implications, and all you can say is “I don’t have a clue how this is going to go, but it’s what God is calling me to do.” In these situations, God’s word calls you to use wisdom and then proceed in faith, step by step, trusting in the one who died for you and who promises to be “with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Entrust your life not to the safety of your comfort zone but to the guidance of His providential hand.
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?
Ruth and Boaz at the Threshing Floor
1Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek krest for you, that it may be well with you? 2Is not Boaz lour relative, mwith whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3nWash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” 5And she replied, “All that you say I will do.”
6So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and ohis heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. pSpread your wings1 over your servant, for you are qa redeemer.” 10And he said, r“May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than sthe first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are ta worthy woman. 12And now it is true that I am ua redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will vredeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, was the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”
14So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city. 16And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her, 17saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’” 18She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”
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.
In My Fallen State
It was I who knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought.
Yes, Lord, You did indeed know me in my fallen state, and You did even then choose me for Yourself. When I was loathsome and self-abhorred, You received me as Your child, and You satisfied my longings. Blessed forever be Your name for this free, rich, abounding mercy. Since then, my inward experience has often been a wilderness; but You have kept me still as Your beloved and poured streams of love and grace into me to gladden me and make me fruitful. When my outward circumstances have been at the worst, and I have wandered in a land of drought, Your sweet presence has comforted me. Men have ignored me, and I have been scorned; but You have known my soul in adversities, for no affliction dims the luster of Your love. Most gracious Lord, I magnify You for all Your faithfulness to me in trying circumstances, and I deplore the fact that I have at times forgotten You and been proud of heart when I have owed everything to Your gentleness and love. Have mercy upon Your servant in this matter!
My soul, if Jesus acknowledged you in your lowly condition, be sure that you own both Himself and His cause now that you are in prosperity. Do not be puffed up by worldly successes, and do not be ashamed of the truth or of the poor church with which you have been associated. Follow Jesus into the wilderness: Bear the cross with Him when the persecution heats up. He owned you, O my soul, in your poverty and shame—never be so treacherous as to be ashamed of Him. Let me know more shame at the thought of being ashamed of my best Beloved! Jesus, my soul cleaves to You.
I'll turn to Thee in days of light,
As well as nights of care,
Thou brightest amid all that's bright!
Thou fairest of the fair!
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 October 31
Jehoahaz Reigns in Israel
1In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. 2He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, mwhich he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from them. 3nAnd the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of oHazael king of Syria and into the hand of pBen-hadad the son of Hazael. 4Then Jehoahaz qsought the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him, rfor he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them. 5(Therefore the Lord gave Israel sa savior, so that they escaped from the hand of the Syrians, and the people of Israel lived in ttheir homes as formerly. 6Nevertheless, they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, mwhich he made Israel to sin, but walked1 in them; and uthe Asherah also remained in Samaria.) 7For there was not left to Jehoahaz an army of more than fifty horsemen and ten chariots and ten thousand footmen, for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like the dust vat threshing. 8Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 9So Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, and Joash his son reigned in his place.
Jehoash Reigns in Israel
10In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash2 the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. 11He also did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, mwhich he made Israel to sin, but he walked in them. 12wNow the rest of the acts of Joash xand all that he did, yand the might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 13So Joash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne. And Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
The Death of Elisha
14Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, z“My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” 15And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows. 16Then he said to the king of Israel, “Draw the bow,” and he drew it. And Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands. 17And he said, “Open the window eastward,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. And he said, “The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in aAphek until you have made an end of them.” 18And he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground with them.” And he struck three times and stopped. 19Then bthe man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only cthree times.”
20So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of dMoabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. 21And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.
22eNow Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23fBut the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, gand he turned toward them, hbecause of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now.
24When Hazael king of Syria died, Ben-hadad his son became king in his place. 25Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities ithat he had taken from Jehoahaz his father in war. jThree times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.
Godlessness in the Last Days
1But understand this, that yin the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2For people will be zlovers of self, alovers of money, bproud, barrogant, abusive, bdisobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3cheartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, dnot loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, eswollen with conceit, flovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having the appearance of godliness, but gdenying its power. hAvoid such people. 6For among them are ithose who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7always learning and never able to jarrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8Just as kJannes and Jambres lopposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, mmen corrupted in mind and ndisqualified regarding the faith. 9But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, oas was that of those two men.
All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God
10pYou, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me qat Antioch, rat Iconium, and sat Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet tfrom them all uthe Lord rescued me. 12Indeed, all who desire to vlive a godly life in Christ Jesus wwill be persecuted, 13while xevil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and ybeing deceived. 14But as for you, zcontinue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom1 you learned it 15and how afrom childhood you have been acquainted with bthe sacred writings, cwhich are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16dAll Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that ethe man of God2 may be complete, fequipped gfor every good work.
Hosea 5
Punishment Coming for Israel and Judah
1vHear this, O priests!
Pay attention, O house of Israel!
Give ear, O house of the king!
For the judgment is for you;
for wyou have been a snare at Mizpah
and a net spread upon xTabor.
2And ythe revolters zhave gone deep into slaughter,
but aI will discipline all of them.
3bI know Ephraim,
and Israel is not hidden from me;
for now, O Ephraim, you have played the whore;
Israel is defiled.
4cTheir deeds do not permit them
to return to their God.
For dthe spirit of whoredom is within them,
and they know not the Lord.
5eThe pride of Israel testifies to his face;1
Israel and fEphraim shall stumble in his guilt;
fJudah also shall stumble with them.
6gWith their flocks and herds they shall go
to seek the Lord,
gbut they will not find him;
hhe has withdrawn from them.
7iThey have dealt faithlessly with the Lord;
for they have borne alien children.
Now the new moon shall devour them with their fields.
the trumpet in lRamah.
Sound the alarm at mBeth-aven;
we follow you,2 O Benjamin!
9Ephraim shall become a desolation
in the day of punishment;
among the tribes of Israel
I make known what is sure.
10The princes of Judah have become
like nthose who move the landmark;
upon them I will pour out
my wrath like water.
11Ephraim is ooppressed, crushed in judgment,
because he was determined to go after filth.3
12But I am plike a moth to Ephraim,
and plike dry rot to the house of Judah.
13When Ephraim saw his sickness,
and Judah qhis wound,
then Ephraim went rto Assyria,
and sent to the great king.4
sBut he is not able to cure you
or heal qyour wound.
14For I will be tlike a lion to uEphraim,
and like a young lion to the house of uJudah.
vI, even I, will tear and go away;
I will carry off, and no one shall rescue.
15wI will return again to my place,
until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face,
and xin their distress earnestly seek me.
Hosea 6
Israel and Judah Are Unrepentant
1“Come, let us yreturn to the Lord;
for zhe has torn us, that he may heal us;
he has struck us down, and ahe will bind us up.
2After two days bhe will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
3cLet us know; clet us press on to know the Lord;
dhis going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us eas the showers,
fas the spring rains that water the earth.”
4What shall I do with you, gO hEphraim?
What shall I do with you, O hJudah?
Your love is ilike a morning cloud,
ilike the dew that goes early away.
5Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;
I have slain them jby the words of my mouth,
and my judgment goes forth as the light.
6For kI desire steadfast love1 and not sacrifice,
lthe knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
7But mlike Adam they ntransgressed the covenant;
othere they dealt faithlessly with me.
8pGilead is a city of evildoers,
qtracked with blood.
9As robbers rlie in wait for a man,
so the priests band together;
they murder on the way to sShechem;
they commit villainy.
10In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing;
tEphraim's whoredom is there; uIsrael is defiled.
11For you also, O uJudah, va harvest is appointed.
When wI restore the fortunes of my people,
Qoph
145With my swhole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!
I will tkeep your statutes.
146I call to you; save me,
that I may observe your testimonies.
147I rise before udawn and cry for help;
I vhope in your words.
148My eyes are awake before wthe watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promise.
149Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;
O Lord, xaccording to your justice ygive me life.
150They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;
they are far from your law.
151But zyou are near, O Lord,
and all your commandments are atrue.
152Long have I known from your testimonies
that you have bfounded them forever.
Resh
153Look on my caffliction and deliver me,
for dI do not forget your law.
154ePlead my cause and redeem me;
fgive me life according to your promise!
155gSalvation is far from the wicked,
hfor they do not seek your statutes.
156iGreat is your mercy, O Lord;
fgive me life according to your rules.
157jMany are my persecutors and my adversaries,
but I do not kswerve from your testimonies.
158I look at lthe faithless with mdisgust,
because they do not keep your commands.
159Consider how I nlove your precepts!
fGive me life according to your steadfast love.
160oThe sum of your word is ptruth,
and every one of your qrighteous rules endures forever.
Sin and Shin
161rPrinces persecute me swithout cause,
but my heart tstands in awe of your words.
162I trejoice at your word
like one who ufinds great spoil.
163I hate and abhor falsehood,
but I love vyour law.
164Seven times a day I praise you
for your qrighteous rules.
165Great wpeace have those who love your law;
xnothing can make them stumble.
166I yhope for your salvation, O Lord,
and I do your commandments.
167My soul keeps your testimonies;
I vlove them exceedingly.
168I keep your precepts and testimonies,
zfor all my ways are before you.
Taw
169Let my acry come before you, O Lord;
bgive me understanding caccording to your word!
170Let my plea come before you;
ddeliver me according to your word.
171My lips will epour forth praise,
for you fteach me your statutes.
172My tongue will sing of your word,
for gall your commandments are right.
173Let your hand be ready to help me,
for I have hchosen your precepts.
174I ilong for your salvation, O Lord,
and your law is my jdelight.
175Let my soul live and praise you,
and let your rules help me.
176I have kgone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
for I do not lforget your commandments.
Get the Program, Devotional, and Bible Reading Plan delivered daily right to your inbox.