Sanctifying Joy and Cleansing Grace | Devotional
When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. (Job 1:5)
Before the believer rests tonight, it would be good for him to do what the patriarch did early in the morning after the family festivities.
Amid the cheerfulness of household gatherings, it is easy to slide into sinful amusements and forget our declared character as Christians.
It should not be so, but it is, that our days of feasting are very seldom days of sanctified enjoyment; they too often degenerate into unholy amusements.
There is a way of joy as pure and holy as though one bathed in the rivers of Eden; holy gratitude should be just as purifying an occasion as grief.
Sadly for our poor hearts, the facts prove that the house of mourning is better than the house of feasting (Ecclesiastes 7:2).
Believer, how have you sinned today? Have you been forgetful of your high calling? Have you been like others in frivolous words and unkind speeches? Then confess the sin and run to the sacrifice. The sacrifice sanctifies.
The precious blood of the Lamb slain removes the guilt and purges away the defilement of our sins of ignorance and carelessness. This is the best ending of a Christmas Day – to wash anew in the cleansing fountain.
Believer, come to this sacrifice continually. If it is good to do so tonight, it is good every night. To live at the altar is the privilege of the royal priesthood.
To those who have been bought by the blood of the Lamb, sin, as significant as it is, is nevertheless no cause for despair since they draw near yet again to the sin-atoning victim, and their conscience is purged from dead works (Hebrews 9:14).
Gladly I close this festive day,
Grasping the altar’s hallowed horn;
My slips and faults are washed away,
The Lamb has all my trespass borne!
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was an English Baptist pastor. He is still known to people as the Prince of Preachers. Charles Spurgeon throughout his life evangelized about 10 million people and often preached 10 times a week in different places.
