Only a prayer meeting by Charles Spurgeon (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read the chapters entitled 'A little sermon from the painter's brazier' and 'A life-belt for daily use'.
(i) suffering from the Lord to burn away self-righteousness;
(ii) suffering from Satan to burn away the doctrines of grace.
Then Spurgeon talks about the need for a life-belt for daily use so we can be happy in this world. That life-belt comes by:
(i) being reconciled to God;
(ii) receiving a right spirit.
Spurgeon is so good with illustrations: 'If the old self had been left, the colour of grace could never have soaked into your mind: the old stuff would have kept it out; you would have taken a mere film of grace, and soon the old rubbish of nature would have appeared through the new colour of grace. The more completely the old paint is burned off, the better will the new work stand; and it is for this reason that the Holy Spirit is to you a Spirit of judgment, and a Spirit of burning, before He works for your renewal. See this, and understand the wisdom and lovingkindness of the Lord.'
My old paint certainly needs to be removed, and if the best way is through suffering, then so be it.
Next week's reading
Read the chapters entitled 'The eye, an emblem of faith', 'Nothing to say' and 'Fasting and backsliding'.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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