Mighty to Save

Spurgeon's Morning devotional for today is moving. How have I ignored this great devotional writer for 46 years? Where have you been, dear brother Charles? Thank you for writing, though I have ignored you. May God help me to read the Bible more, which inspired you so greatly.

Isaiah 63:1-6 says,

Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save." Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? "I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come. I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me. I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground."

This prophetic passage speaks of Jesus, who alone is mighty to save, who works salvation with no one to help, alone, blood-spattered, appalling to those who see, helped by none.

So Spurgeon rhapsodizes on Jesus, how he is mighty to save, not only to save at our first belief, but to save us from all the myriad temptations that beset us afterward, and to save others when we lift them up in earnest prayer. Though we "are powerless to reclaim the rebel, our Lord is Almighty. Lay hold on that mighty arm, and rouse it to put forth its strength."

May God hear my prayer for my children, and turn them to Jesus. May God who is mighty to destroy show his mercies and reveal how mighty he is to save, when we pray.