Taken from this morning's devotions. I've been devoid of this practice for a while, this thing called a "morning's devotion." Having read this, though, I've taken comfort in the reality of my worth in the coronation of the King. There's much to doubt as it pertains to coronations and exaltations, namely because as Americans we find this idea primitive. This isn't going to be an apologetic case against Roseau and for a Capitalistic economic polemic. Instead my point, I believe, is more pointed in that in thinking about Medieval coronations, Americans have a hard time grasping this idea apart from some kind of Medieval coronation. I won't deal with criticisms here, but I want to point out that in this devotional section in Spurgeon, we have a king—the King—to whom all men have to do, for all of life is in covenantal relationship with this King, including the unbeliever. For temporal kings (including presidents and figure heads that take seats in governments), for the factory worker, the merchant (remember that I'm using old terms for a contemporary setting; the labor of being a merchant has ceased since the 17th century), those in advertizing, etc. Spurgeon, however, is seeking a different vein or purpose. His point is more pointedly religious. It is in the comfort that the believer has in recognizing this King as their only comfort. All other comforts are merely counterfeits to this true comfort. How many idols will we bow down to before we realize that true comfort can only be given by the Eternal King?
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." James 1:17-18, ESV.
Thursday, April 22, 2010 This Morning's Meditation
C. H. Spurgeon
"Him hath God exalted."—Acts 5:31.
JESUS, our Lord, once crucified, dead and buried, now sits upon the throne of glory. The highest place that heaven affords is His by undisputed right. It is sweet to remember that the exaltation of Christ in heaven is a representative exaltation. He is exalted at the Father's right hand, and though as Jehovah He had eminent glories, in which finite creatures cannot share, yet as the Mediator, the honours which Jesus wears in heaven are the heritage of all the saints. It is delightful to reflect how close is Christ's union with His people. We are actually one with Him; we are members of His body; and His exaltation is our exaltation. He will give us to sit upon His throne, even as He has overcome, and is set down with His Father on His throne; He has a crown, and He gives us crowns too; He has a throne, but He is not content with having a throne to Himself, on His right hand there must be His queen, arrayed in "gold of Ophir." He cannot be glorified without His bride. Look up, believer, to Jesus now; let the eye of your faith behold Him with many crowns upon His head; and remember that you will one day be like Him, when you shall see Him as He is; you shall not be so great as He is, you shall not be so divine, but still you shall, in a measure, share the same honours, and enjoy the same happiness and the same dignity which He possesses. Be content to live unknown for a little while, and to walk your weary way through the fields of poverty, or up the hills of affliction; for by-and-by you shall reign with Christ, for He has "made us kings and priests unto God, and we shall reign for ever and ever." Oh!, wonderful thought for the children of God! We have Christ for our glorious representative in heaven's courts now, and soon He will come and receive us to Himself, to be with Him there, to behold His glory, and to share His joy.
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