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Acknowledging God’s Sovereingty

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“By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones” (Heb. 11:22).

God uses your present circumstances to accomplish His future purposes.

Like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Joseph was an heir to the covenant promises of God. His hope was firmly fixed on God, and he knew that some day his people would be at home in the Promised Land.

Although he spent all his adult life in Egypt, never seeing the Promised Land for himself, Joseph’s faith never wavered. At the end of his life, he instructed his brothers to remove his bones from Egypt and bury them in their future homeland (Gen. 50:25). That request was fulfilled in the Exodus (Ex. 13:19).

But Joseph’s faith wasn’t in the promises of future events only, for his life was marked by exceptional trust in God and personal integrity. His understanding of God’s sovereignty was unique among the patriarchs. Even though he suffered greatly at the hands of evildoers (including his own brothers, who sold him into slavery), Joseph recognized God’s hand in every event of his life and submitted to His will.

Joseph said to his brothers, “Do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life . . . and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Gen. 45:5, 7-8). Later, after their father’s death, he reassured them again: “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to . . . preserve many people alive” (Gen. 50:19- 20).

The genius of Joseph’s faith was understanding the role that present circumstances play in fulfilling future promises. He accepted blessing and adversity alike because he knew God would use both to accomplish greater things in the future.

Joseph is the classic Old Testament example of the truth that God works all things together for good to those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). That’s a promise you can rely on too.

Suggestions for Prayer:   Reaffirm your trust in God’s sovereign work in your life.

For Further Study:  Read of Joseph’s life in Genesis 37-50.

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Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

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Morning “Fellowship with him.” / 1 John 1:6

When we were united by faith to Christ, we were brought into such complete

fellowship with him, that we were made one with him, and his interests and

ours became mutual and identical. We have fellowship with Christ in his love.

What he loves we love. He loves the saints–so do we. He loves sinners–so do

we. He loves the poor perishing race of man, and pants to see earth’s deserts

transformed into the garden of the Lord–so do we. We have fellowship with him

in his desires. He desires the glory of God–we also labour for the same. He

desires that the saints may be with him where he is–we desire to be with him

there too. He desires to drive out sin–behold we fight under his banner. He

desires that his Father’s name may be loved and adored by all his

creatures–we pray daily, “Let thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth,

even as it is in heaven.” We have fellowship with Christ in his sufferings. We

are not nailed to the cross, nor do we die a cruel death, but when he is

reproached, we are reproached; and a very sweet thing it is to be blamed for

his sake, to be despised for following the Master, to have the world against

us. The disciple should not be above his Lord. In our measure we commune with

him in his labours, ministering to men by the word of truth and by deeds of

love. Our meat and our drink, like his, is to do the will of him who hath sent

us and to finish his work. We have also fellowship with Christ in his joys. We

are happy in his happiness, we rejoice in his exaltation. Have you ever tasted

that joy, believer? There is no purer or more thrilling delight to be known

this side heaven than that of having Christ’s joy fulfilled in us, that our

joy may be full. His glory awaits us to complete our fellowship, for his

Church shall sit with him upon his throne, as his well-beloved bride and

queen.

 

Evening “Get thee up into the high mountain.” / Isaiah 40:9

Each believer should be thirsting for God, for the living God, and longing to

climb the hill of the Lord, and see him face to face. We ought not to rest

content in the mists of the valley when the summit of Tabor awaits us. My soul

thirsteth to drink deep of the cup which is reserved for those who reach the

mountain’s brow, and bathe their brows in heaven. How pure are the dews of the

hills, how fresh is the mountain air, how rich the fare of the dwellers aloft,

whose windows look into the New Jerusalem! Many saints are content to live

like men in coal mines, who see not the sun; they eat dust like the serpent

when they might taste the ambrosial meat of angels; they are content to wear

the miner’s garb when they might put on king’s robes; tears mar their faces

when they might anoint them with celestial oil. Satisfied I am that many a

believer pines in a dungeon when he might walk on the palace roof, and view

the goodly land and Lebanon. Rouse thee, O believer, from thy low condition!

Cast away thy sloth, thy lethargy, thy coldness, or whatever interferes with

thy chaste and pure love to Christ, thy soul’s Husband. Make him the source,

the centre, and the circumference of all thy soul’s range of delight. What

enchants thee into such folly as to remain in a pit when thou mayst sit on a

throne? Live not in the lowlands of bondage now that mountain liberty is

conferred upon thee. Rest no longer satisfied with thy dwarfish attainments,

but press forward to things more sublime and heavenly. Aspire to a higher, a

nobler, a fuller life. Upward to heaven! Nearer to God!

“When wilt thou come unto me, Lord?

Oh come, my Lord most dear!

Come near, come nearer, nearer still,

I’m blest when thou art near.”

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Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

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Morning “Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.” / Hosea 12:12

Jacob, while expostulating with Laban, thus describes his own toil, “This

twenty years have I been with thee. That which was torn of beasts I brought

not unto thee: I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it,

whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. Thus I was; in the day the drought

consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.”

Even more toilsome than this was the life of our Saviour here below. He

watched over all his sheep till he gave in as his last account, “Of all those

whom thou hast given me I have lost none.” His hair was wet with dew, and his

locks with the drops of the night. Sleep departed from his eyes, for all night

he was in prayer wrestling for his people. One night Peter must be pleaded

for; anon, another claims his tearful intercession. No shepherd sitting

beneath the cold skies, looking up to the stars, could ever utter such

complaints because of the hardness of his toil as Jesus Christ might have

brought, if he had chosen to do so, because of the sternness of his service in

order to procure his spouse–

“Cold mountains and the midnight air,

Witnessed the fervour of his prayer;

The desert his temptations knew,

His conflict and his victory too.”

It is sweet to dwell upon the spiritual parallel of Laban having required all

the sheep at Jacob’s hand. If they were torn of beasts, Jacob must make it

good; if any of them died, he must stand as surety for the whole. Was not the

toil of Jesus for his Church the toil of one who was under suretiship

obligations to bring every believing one safe to the hand of him who had

committed them to his charge? Look upon toiling Jacob, and you see a

representation of him of whom we read, “He shall feed his flock like a

shepherd.”

 

Evening  “The power of his resurrection.” / Philippians 3:10

The doctrine of a risen Saviour is exceedingly precious. The resurrection is

the corner-stone of the entire building of Christianity. It is the key-stone

of the arch of our salvation. It would take a volume to set forth all the

streams of living water which flow from this one sacred source, the

resurrection of our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; but to know that he

has risen, and to have fellowship with him as such–communing with the risen

Saviour by possessing a risen life–seeing him leave the tomb by leaving the

tomb of worldliness ourselves, this is even still more precious. The doctrine

is the basis of the experience, but as the flower is more lovely than the

root, so is the experience of fellowship with the risen Saviour more lovely

than the doctrine itself. I would have you believe that Christ rose from the

dead so as to sing of it, and derive all the consolation which it is possible

for you to extract from this well-ascertained and well-witnessed fact; but I

beseech you, rest not contented even there. Though you cannot, like the

disciples, see him visibly, yet I bid you aspire to see Christ Jesus by the

eye of faith; and though, like Mary Magdalene, you may not “touch” him, yet

may you be privileged to converse with him, and to know that he is risen, you

yourselves being risen in him to newness of life. To know a crucified Saviour

as having crucified all my sins, is a high degree of knowledge; but to know a

risen Saviour as having justified me, and to realize that he has bestowed upon

me new life, having given me to be a new creature through his own newness of

life, this is a noble style of experience: short of it, none ought to rest

satisfied. May you both “know him, and the power of his resurrection.” Why

should souls who are quickened with Jesus, wear the grave-clothes of

worldliness and unbelief? Rise, for the Lord is risen.

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Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

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Morning     “O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul.” / Lamentations 3:58

Observe how positively the prophet speaks. He doth not say, “I hope, I trust,

I sometimes think, that God hath pleaded the causes of my soul;” but he speaks

of it as a matter of fact not to be disputed. “Thou hast pleaded the causes of

my soul.” Let us, by the aid of the gracious Comforter, shake off those doubts

and fears which so much mar our peace and comfort. Be this our prayer, that we

may have done with the harsh croaking voice of surmise and suspicion, and may

be able to speak with the clear, melodious voice of full assurance. Notice how

gratefully the prophet speaks, ascribing all the glory to God alone! You

perceive there is not a word concerning himself or his own pleadings. He doth

not ascribe his deliverance in any measure to any man, much less to his own

merit; but it is “thou”–“O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul;

thou hast redeemed my life.” A grateful spirit should ever be cultivated by

the Christian; and especially after deliverances we should prepare a song for

our God. Earth should be a temple filled with the songs of grateful saints,

and every day should be a censor smoking with the sweet incense of

thanksgiving. How joyful Jeremiah seems to be while he records the Lord’s

mercy. How triumphantly he lifts up the strain! He has been in the low

dungeon, and is even now no other than the weeping prophet; and yet in the

very book which is called “Lamentations,” clear as the song of Miriam when she

dashed her fingers against the tabor, shrill as the note of Deborah when she

met Barak with shouts of victory, we hear the voice of Jeremy going up to

heaven–“Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.”

O children of God, seek after a vital experience of the Lord’s lovingkindness,

and when you have it, speak positively of it; sing gratefully; shout

triumphantly.

 

Evening  “The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.” /

Proverbs 30:26

Conscious of their own natural defencelessness, the conies resort to burrows

in the rocks, and are secure from their enemies. My heart, be willing to

gather a lesson from these feeble folk. Thou art as weak and as exposed to

peril as the timid cony; be as wise to seek a shelter. My best security is

within the munitions of an immutable Jehovah, where his unalterable promises

stand like giant walls of rock. It will be well with thee, my heart, if thou

canst always hide thyself in the bulwarks of his glorious attributes, all of

which are guarantees of safety for those who put their trust in him. Blessed

be the name of the Lord, I have so done, and have found myself like David in

Adullam, safe from the cruelty of my enemy; I have not now to find out the

blessedness of the man who puts his trust in the Lord, for long ago, when

Satan and my sins pursued me, I fled to the cleft of the rock Christ Jesus,

and in his riven side I found a delightful resting-place. My heart, run to him

anew tonight, whatever thy present grief may be; Jesus feels for thee; Jesus

consoles thee; Jesus will help thee. No monarch in his impregnable fortress is

more secure than the cony in his rocky burrow. The master of ten thousand

chariots is not one whit better protected than the little dweller in the

mountain’s cleft. In Jesus the weak are strong, and the defenceless safe; they

could not be more strong if they were giants, or more safe if they were in

heaven. Faith gives to men on earth the protection of the God of heaven. More

they cannot need, and need not wish. The conies cannot build a castle, but

they avail themselves of what is there already: I cannot make myself a refuge,

but Jesus has provided it, his Father has given it, his Spirit has revealed

it, and lo, again tonight I enter it, and am safe from every foe.

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Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

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Morning   “Avoid foolish questions.” / Titus 3:9

Our days are few, and are far better spent in doing good, than in disputing

over matters which are, at best, of minor importance. The old schoolmen did a

world of mischief by their incessant discussion of subjects of no practical

importance; and our Churches suffer much from petty wars over abstruse points

and unimportant questions. After everything has been said that can be said,

neither party is any the wiser, and therefore the discussion no more promotes

knowledge than love, and it is foolish to sow in so barren a field. Questions

upon points wherein Scripture is silent; upon mysteries which belong to God

alone; upon prophecies of doubtful interpretation; and upon mere modes of

observing human ceremonials, are all foolish, and wise men avoid them. Our

business is neither to ask nor answer foolish questions, but to avoid them

altogether; and if we observe the apostle’s precept (Titus 3:8) to be careful

to maintain good works, we shall find ourselves far too much occupied with

profitable business to take much interest in unworthy, contentious, and

needless strivings.

There are, however, some questions which are the reverse of foolish, which we

must not avoid, but fairly and honestly meet, such as these: Do I believe in

the Lord Jesus Christ? Am I renewed in the spirit of my mind? Am I walking not

after the flesh, but after the Spirit? Am I growing in grace? Does my

conversation adorn the doctrine of God my Saviour? Am I looking for the coming

of the Lord, and watching as a servant should do who expects his master? What

more can I do for Jesus? Such enquiries as these urgently demand our

attention; and if we have been at all given to cavilling, let us now turn our

critical abilities to a service so much more profitable. Let us be

peace-makers, and endeavour to lead others both by our precept and example, to

“avoid foolish questions.”

 

Evening  “O that I knew where I might find him!” / Job 23:3

In Job’s uttermost extremity he cried after the Lord. The longing desire of an

afflicted child of God is once more to see his Father’s face. His first prayer

is not “O that I might be healed of the disease which now festers in every

part of my body!” nor even “O that I might see my children restored from the

jaws of the grave, and my property once more brought from the hand of the

spoiler!” but the first and uppermost cry is, “O that I knew where I might

find Him, who is my God! that I might come even to his seat!” God’s children

run home when the storm comes on. It is the heaven-born instinct of a gracious

soul to seek shelter from all ills beneath the wings of Jehovah. “He that hath

made his refuge God,” might serve as the title of a true believer. A

hypocrite, when afflicted by God, resents the infliction, and, like a slave,

would run from the Master who has scourged him; but not so the true heir of

heaven, he kisses the hand which smote him, and seeks shelter from the rod in

the bosom of the God who frowned upon him. Job’s desire to commune with God

was intensified by the failure of all other sources of consolation. The

patriarch turned away from his sorry friends, and looked up to the celestial

throne, just as a traveller turns from his empty skin bottle, and betakes

himself with all speed to the well. He bids farewell to earth-born hopes, and

cries, “O that I knew where I might find my God!” Nothing teaches us so much

the preciousness of the Creator, as when we learn the emptiness of all

besides. Turning away with bitter scorn from earth’s hives, where we find no

honey, but many sharp stings, we rejoice in him whose faithful word is sweeter

than honey or the honeycomb. In every trouble we should first seek to realize

God’s presence with us. Only let us enjoy his smile, and we can bear our daily

cross with a willing heart for his dear sake.

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Living a Satisfied Life

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“All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. “And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them” (Heb. 11:13-16).

I remember watching in horror and disgust as angry mobs swept through Los Angeles, killing people and setting thousands of buildings on fire. Under the cover of chaos, countless people ransacked and looted every store in sight. I saw entire families- -moms, dads, and little children– loading their cars and trucks with anything they could steal.

That was the most graphic demonstration of lawlessness I’ve ever seen. It was as if they were saying, “I’m not satisfied with the way life’s treating me, so I’m entitled to grab everything I can–no matter who gets hurt in the process.”

Perhaps we don’t realize how selfish and restless the human heart can be until the restraints of law and order are lifted and people can do whatever they want without apparent consequences. Then suddenly the results of our godless “me first” society are seen for what they are. Instant gratification at any cost has become the motto of the day.

That’s in stark contrast to people of faith like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who trusted in God even when their circumstances were less than they might have expected. God promised them a magnificent land but they never possessed it. They were, in fact, strangers and refugees in their own land. But that didn’t bother them because they looked forward to a better place–a heavenly city.

Their faith pleased God and He was not ashamed to be called their God. What a wonderful testimonial! I pray that’s true of you. Don’t let earthbound hopes and dreams make you dissatisfied. Trust in God’s promises and set your sights on your heavenly home.

Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for the blessing of a satisfied heart.

For Further Study: Memorize Psalm 27:4

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Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

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Morning  “A spring shut up, a fountain sealed.” / Song of Solomon 4:12

In this metaphor, which has reference to the inner life of a believer, we have

very plainly the idea of secrecy. It is a spring shut up: just as there were

springs in the East, over which an edifice was built, so that none could reach

them save those who knew the secret entrance; so is the heart of a believer

when it is renewed by grace: there is a mysterious life within which no human

skill can touch. It is a secret which no other man knoweth; nay, which the

very man who is the possessor of it cannot tell to his neighbour. The text

includes not only secrecy, but separation. It is not the common spring, of

which every passer-by may drink, it is one kept and preserved from all others;

it is a fountain bearing a particular mark–a king’s royal seal, so that all

can perceive that it is not a common fountain, but a fountain owned by a

proprietor, and placed specially by itself alone. So is it with the spiritual

life. The chosen of God were separated in the eternal decree; they were

separated by God in the day of redemption; and they are separated by the

possession of a life which others have not; and it is impossible for them to

feel at home with the world, or to delight in its pleasures. There is also the

idea of sacredness. The spring shut up is preserved for the use of some

special person: and such is the Christian’s heart. It is a spring kept for

Jesus. Every Christian should feel that he has God’s seal upon him–and he

should be able to say with Paul, “From henceforth let no man trouble me, for I

bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” Another idea is prominent–it is

that of security. Oh! how sure and safe is the inner life of the believer! If

all the powers of earth and hell could combine against it, that immortal

principle must still exist, for he who gave it pledged his life for its

preservation. And who “is he that shall harm you,” when God is your protector?

 

Evening  “Thou art from everlasting.” / Psalm 93:2

Christ is Everlasting. Of him we may sing with David, “Thy throne, O God, is

forever and ever.” Rejoice, believer, in Jesus Christ, the same yesterday,

today, and forever. Jesus always was. The Babe born in Bethlehem was united to

the Word, which was in the beginning, by whom all things were made. The title

by which Christ revealed himself to John in Patmos was, “Him which is, and

which was, and which is to come.” If he were not God from everlasting, we

could not so devoutly love him; we could not feel that he had any share in the

eternal love which is the fountain of all covenant blessings; but since he was

from all eternity with the Father, we trace the stream of divine love to

himself equally with his Father and the blessed Spirit. As our Lord always

was, so also he is for evermore. Jesus is not dead; “He ever liveth to make

intercession for us.” Resort to him in all your times of need, for he is

waiting to bless you still. Moreover, Jesus our Lord ever shall be. If God

should spare your life to fulfil your full day of threescore years and ten,

you will find that his cleansing fountain is still opened, and his precious

blood has not lost its power; you shall find that the Priest who filled the

healing fount with his own blood, lives to purge you from all iniquity. When

only your last battle remains to be fought, you shall find that the hand of

your conquering Captain has not grown feeble–the living Saviour shall cheer

the dying saint. When you enter heaven you shall find him there bearing the

dew of his youth; and through eternity the Lord Jesus shall still remain the

perennial spring of joy, and life, and glory to his people. Living waters may

you draw from this sacred well! Jesus always was, he always is, he always

shall be. He is eternal in all his attributes, in all his offices, in all his

might, and willingness to bless, comfort, guard, and crown his chosen people.

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The Problem of Unmet Needs

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Psalm 84:11-12

If the Lord has promised to provide and is able, why doesn’t He always meet our needs when we ask? Since He’s completely faithful to His Word, the problem is obviously with us, not Him. In today’s passage, His promise of provision has a condition–it’s given to “those who walk uprightly” (v. 11). So if God isn’t providing for our needs as we think He should, He may have a different plan for us. But we should also examine our lives for possible hindrances.

Sin. One reason our prayers may not be answered is because we’ve allowed sin in our lives and are not walking uprightly. If the Lord ignored disobedience and granted our requests, He’d be affirming a sinful lifestyle.

Laziness. Another possible explanation for unmet needs is that we haven’t done our part. Although God is the ultimate source of all we have, He’s given us the responsibility to work in order to provide basic necessities (2 Thess. 3:10-11). If you’re an able-bodied person who’s unwilling to work and wants something for nothing, the Lord is not going to reinforce your laziness.

Desires. Perhaps God hasn’t provided as you expected because your “needs” are really desires. If He knows that what you want won’t fulfill His plans for your life, He will withhold it in order to provide something better.

To avoid disappointment with God, understand that His actions and character always align. He won’t reward rebellion or laziness, and His answers to prayer fit with His goal of conforming us to Christ’s image. If He’s withholding something you deem essential, He’s working something even better for you.

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Moravian Daily Texts

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Saturday, November 17 — Psalm 127

1 Kings 11:1-25; John 15:18-16:4

 

God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. Psalm 69:5

 

God forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14

 

Redemptive Savior, forgive us this day our sins as we try so hard to forgive those who have hurt and wronged us. Remind us that we are not perfect. Just as you show us grace and understanding, so should we do the same to others. Amen.

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Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

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Morning    To whom be glory forever. Amen” / Romans 11:36

“To whom be glory forever.” This should be the single desire of the Christian.

All other wishes must be subservient and tributary to this one. The Christian

may wish for prosperity in his business, but only so far as it may help him to

promote this–“To him be glory forever.” He may desire to attain more gifts

and more graces, but it should only be that “To him may be glory forever.” You

are not acting as you ought to do when you are moved by any other motive than

a single eye to your Lord’s glory. As a Christian, you are “of God, and

through God,” then live “to God.” Let nothing ever set your heart beating so

mightily as love to him. Let this ambition fire your soul; be this the

foundation of every enterprise upon which you enter, and this your sustaining

motive whenever your zeal would grow chill; make God your only object. Depend

upon it, where self begins sorrow begins; but if God be my supreme delight and

only object,

“To me ’tis equal whether love ordain

My life or death–appoint me ease or pain.”

Let your desire for God’s glory be a growing desire. You blessed him in your

youth, do not be content with such praises as you gave him then. Has God

prospered you in business? Give him more as he has given you more. Has God

given you experience? Praise him by stronger faith than you exercised at

first. Does your knowledge grow? Then sing more sweetly. Do you enjoy happier

times than you once had? Have you been restored from sickness, and has your

sorrow been turned into peace and joy? Then give him more music; put more

coals and more sweet frankincense into the censer of your praise. Practically

in your life give him honour, putting the “Amen” to this doxology to your

great and gracious Lord, by your own individual service and increasing

holiness.

 

Evening  “He that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.” / Ecclesiastes 10:9

Oppressors may get their will of poor and needy men as easily as they can

split logs of wood, but they had better mind, for it is a dangerous business,

and a splinter from a tree has often killed the woodman. Jesus is persecuted

in every injured saint, and he is mighty to avenge his beloved ones. Success

in treading down the poor and needy is a thing to be trembled at: if there be

no danger to persecutors here there will be great danger hereafter.

To cleave wood is a common every-day business, and yet it has its dangers; so

then, reader, there are dangers connected with your calling and daily life

which it will be well for you to be aware of. We refer not to hazards by flood

and field, or by disease and sudden death, but to perils of a spiritual sort.

Your occupation may be as humble as log splitting, and yet the devil can tempt

you in it. You may be a domestic servant, a farm labourer, or a mechanic, and

you may be greatly screened from temptations to the grosser vices, and yet

some secret sin may do you damage. Those who dwell at home, and mingle not

with the rough world, may yet be endangered by their very seclusion. Nowhere

is he safe who thinks himself so. Pride may enter a poor man’s heart; avarice

may reign in a cottager’s bosom; uncleanness may venture into the quietest

home; and anger, and envy, and malice may insinuate themselves into the most

rural abode. Even in speaking a few words to a servant we may sin; a little

purchase at a shop may be the first link in a chain of temptations; the mere

looking out of a window may be the beginning of evil. O Lord, how exposed we

are! How shall we be secured! To keep ourselves is work too hard for us: only

thou thyself art able to preserve us in such a world of evils. Spread thy

wings over us, and we, like little chickens, will cower down beneath thee, and

feel ourselves safe!

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Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

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Morning  “The Lord’s portion is his people.” / Deuteronomy 32:9

How are they his? By his own sovereign choice. He chose them, and set his love

upon them. This he did altogether apart from any goodness in them at the time,

or any goodness which he foresaw in them. He had mercy on whom he would have

mercy, and ordained a chosen company unto eternal life; thus, therefore, are

they his by his unconstrained election.

They are not only his by choice, but by purchase. He has bought and paid for

them to the utmost farthing, hence about his title there can be no dispute.

Not with corruptible things, as with silver and gold, but with the precious

blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord’s portion has been fully redeemed.

There is no mortgage on his estate; no suits can be raised by opposing

claimants, the price was paid in open court, and the Church is the Lord’s

freehold forever. See the blood-mark upon all the chosen, invisible to human

eye, but known to Christ, for “the Lord knoweth them that are his”; he

forgetteth none of those whom he has redeemed from among men; he counts the

sheep for whom he laid down his life, and remembers well the Church for which

he gave himself.

They are also his by conquest. What a battle he had in us before we would be

won! How long he laid siege to our hearts! How often he sent us terms of

capitulation! but we barred our gates, and fenced our walls against him. Do we

not remember that glorious hour when he carried our hearts by storm? When he

placed his cross against the wall, and scaled our ramparts, planting on our

strongholds the blood-red flag of his omnipotent mercy? Yes, we are, indeed,

the conquered captives of his omnipotent love. Thus chosen, purchased, and

subdued, the rights of our divine possessor are inalienable: we rejoice that

we never can be our own; and we desire, day by day, to do his will, and to

show forth his glory.

 

Evening  “Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.” / Psalm 68:28

It is our wisdom, as well as our necessity, to beseech God continually to

strengthen that which he has wrought in us. It is because of their neglect in

this, that many Christians may blame themselves for those trials and

afflictions of spirit which arise from unbelief. It is true that Satan seeks

to flood the fair garden of the heart and make it a scene of desolation, but

it is also true that many Christians leave open the sluice-gates themselves,

and let in the dreadful deluge through carelessness and want of prayer to

their strong Helper. We often forget that the Author of our faith must be the

Preserver of it also. The lamp which was burning in the temple was never

allowed to go out, but it had to be daily replenished with fresh oil; in like

manner, our faith can only live by being sustained with the oil of grace, and

we can only obtain this from God himself. Foolish virgins we shall prove, if

we do not secure the needed sustenance for our lamps. He who built the world

upholds it, or it would fall in one tremendous crash; he who made us

Christians must maintain us by his Spirit, or our ruin will be speedy and

final. Let us, then, evening by evening, go to our Lord for the grace and

strength we need. We have a strong argument to plead, for it is his own work

of grace which we ask him to strengthen–“that which thou hast wrought for

us.” Think you he will fail to protect and sustain that? Only let your faith

take hold of his strength, and all the powers of darkness, led on by the

master fiend of hell, cannot cast a cloud or shadow over your joy and peace.

Why faint when you may be strong? Why suffer defeat when you may conquer? Oh!

take your wavering faith and drooping graces to him who can revive and

replenish them, and earnestly pray, “Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast

wrought for us.”

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God’s Power on Our Behalf

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Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.

Psalm 68:28

It is wise, as well as necessary, to beseech God continually to strengthen what He has worked in us. Failure to do so finds many Christians blaming themselves for those trials and afflictions of spirit that arise from unbelief. It is true that Satan seeks to flood the fair garden of the heart and make it a scene of desolation, but it is also true that many Christians leave open the floodgates themselves and let in the dreadful deluge as a result of carelessness and lack of prayer to their strong Helper.

We often forget that the Author of our faith must be the Preserver of it also. The lamp that was burning in the temple was never allowed to go out, but it had to be replenished every day with fresh oil; in the same way, our faith can only live by being sustained with the oil of grace, and we can only obtain this from God Himself. We will fail if we do not secure the needed sustenance for our lamps. He who built the world upholds it, or it would fall in one tremendous crash. He who made us Christians must maintain us by His Spirit, or our ruin will be speedy and final.

So let us, then, evening by evening, go to our Lord for the grace and strength we need. We have a strong argument to plead, for it is His own work of grace that we ask Him to strengthen—”the power . . . by which you have worked for us.” Do you think He will fail to protect and provide that? Let your faith simply take hold of His strength, and all the powers of darkness, led by the master fiend of hell, cannot cast a cloud or shadow over your joy and peace. Why faint when you can be strong? Why suffer defeat when you may conquer? Take your wavering faith and faltering graces to Him who can revive and replenish them, and earnestly pray, “Summon your power, O God . . . by which you have worked for us.”

Family Reading Plan     Amos 4       Psalm 150

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Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

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Morning  “I will cut off them that worship and that swear by the Lord, and that swear by Malcham.” / Zephaniah 1:5

Such persons thought themselves safe because they were with both parties: they

went with the followers of Jehovah, and bowed at the same time to Malcham. But

duplicity is abominable with God, and hypocrisy his soul hateth. The idolater

who distinctly gives himself to his false god, has one sin less than he who

brings his polluted and detestable sacrifice unto the temple of the Lord,

while his heart is with the world and the sins thereof. To hold with the hare

and run with the hounds, is a dastard’s policy. In the common matters of daily

life, a double- minded man is despised, but in religion he is loathsome to the

last degree. The penalty pronounced in the verse before us is terrible, but it

is well deserved; for how should divine justice spare the sinner, who knows

the right, approves it, and professes to follow it, and all the while loves

the evil, and gives it dominion in his heart?

 

My soul, search thyself this morning, and see whether thou art guilty of

double-dealing. Thou professest to be a follower of Jesus–dost thou truly

love him? Is thy heart right with God? Art thou of the family of old Father

Honest, or art thou a relative of Mr. By-ends? A name to live is of little

value if I be indeed dead in trespasses and sins. To have one foot on the land

of truth, and another on the sea of falsehood, will involve a terrible fall

and a total ruin. Christ will be all or nothing. God fills the whole universe,

and hence there is no room for another god; if, then, he reigns in my heart,

there will be no space for another reigning power. Do I rest alone on Jesus

crucified, and live alone for him? Is it my desire to do so? Is my heart set

upon so doing? If so, blessed be the mighty grace which has led me to

salvation; and if not so, O Lord, pardon my sad offence, and unite my heart to

fear thy name.

 

Evening   “And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger

before the firstborn.” / Genesis 29:26

 

We do not excuse Laban for his dishonesty, but we scruple not to learn from

the custom which he quoted as his excuse. There are some things which must be

taken in order, and if we would win the second we must secure the first. The

second may be the more lovely in our eyes, but the rule of the heavenly

country must stand, and the elder must be married first. For instance, many

men desire the beautiful and well-favoured Rachel of joy and peace in

believing, but they must first be wedded to the tender-eyed Leah of

repentance. Every one falls in love with happiness, and many would cheerfully

serve twice seven years to enjoy it, but according to the rule of the Lord’s

kingdom, the Leah of real holiness must be beloved of our soul before the

Rachel of true happiness can be attained. Heaven stands not first but second,

and only by persevering to the end can we win a portion in it. The cross must

be carried before the crown can be worn. We must follow our Lord in his

humiliation, or we shall never rest with him in glory.

 

My soul, what sayest thou, art thou so vain as to hope to break through the

heavenly rule? Dost thou hope for reward without labour, or honour without

toil? Dismiss the idle expectation, and be content to take the ill-favoured

things for the sake of the sweet love of Jesus, which will recompense thee for

all. In such a spirit, labouring and suffering, thou wilt find bitters grow

sweet, and hard things easy. Like Jacob, thy years of service will seem unto

thee but a few days for the love thou hast to Jesus; and when the dear hour of

the wedding feast shall come, all thy toils shall be as though they had never

been–an hour with Jesus will make up for ages of pain and labour.

 

Jesus, to win thyself so fair,

 

Thy cross I will with gladness bear:

 

Since so the rules of heaven ordain,

 

The first I’ll wed the next to gain.

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Charles Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

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Morning   “The branch cannot bear fruit of itself.” / John 15:4

How did you begin to bear fruit? It was when you came to Jesus and cast

yourselves on his great atonement, and rested on his finished righteousness.

Ah! what fruit you had then! Do you remember those early days? Then indeed the

vine flourished, the tender grape appeared, the pomegranates budded forth, and

the beds of spices gave forth their smell. Have you declined since then? If

you have, we charge you to remember that time of love, and repent, and do thy

first works. Be most in those engagements which you have experimentally proved

to draw you nearest to Christ, because it is from him that all your fruits

proceed. Any holy exercise which will bring you to him will help you to bear

fruit. The sun is, no doubt, a great worker in fruit-creating among the trees

of the orchard: and Jesus is still more so among the trees of his garden of

grace. When have you been the most fruitless? Has not it been when you have

lived farthest from the Lord Jesus Christ, when you have slackened in prayer,

when you have departed from the simplicity of your faith, when your graces

have engrossed your attention instead of your Lord, when you have said, “My

mountain standeth firm, I shall never be moved”; and have forgotten where your

strength dwells–has not it been then that your fruit has ceased? Some of us

have been taught that we have nothing out of Christ, by terrible abasements of

heart before the Lord; and when we have seen the utter barrenness and death of

all creature power, we have cried in anguish, “From him all my fruit must be

found, for no fruit can ever come from me.” We are taught, by past experience,

that the more simply we depend upon the grace of God in Christ, and wait upon

the Holy Spirit, the more we shall bring forth fruit unto God. Oh! to trust

Jesus for fruit as well as for life.

 

Evening “Men ought always to pray.” / Luke 18:1

If men ought always to pray and not to faint, much more Christian men. Jesus

has sent his church into the world on the same errand upon which he himself

came, and this mission includes intercession. What if I say that the church is

the world’s priest? Creation is dumb, but the church is to find a mouth for

it. It is the church’s high privilege to pray with acceptance. The door of

grace is always open for her petitions, and they never return empty-handed.

The veil was rent for her, the blood was sprinkled upon the altar for her, God

constantly invites her to ask what she wills. Will she refuse the privilege

which angels might envy her? Is she not the bride of Christ? May she not go in

unto her King at every hour? Shall she allow the precious privilege to be

unused? The church always has need for prayer. There are always some in her

midst who are declining, or falling into open sin. There are lambs to be

prayed for, that they may be carried in Christ’s bosom? the strong, lest they

grow presumptuous; and the weak, lest they become despairing. If we kept up

prayer-meetings four-and-twenty hours in the day, all the days in the year, we

might never be without a special subject for supplication. Are we ever without

the sick and the poor, the afflicted and the wavering? Are we ever without

those who seek the conversion of relatives, the reclaiming of back-sliders, or

the salvation of the depraved? Nay, with congregations constantly gathering,

with ministers always preaching, with millions of sinners lying dead in

trespasses and sins; in a country over which the darkness of Romanism is

certainly descending; in a world full of idols, cruelties, devilries, if the

church doth not pray, how shall she excuse her base neglect of the commission

of her loving Lord? Let the church be constant in supplication, let every

private believer cast his mite of prayer into the treasury.

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The Church’s Special Privilege

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And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray.    Luke 18:1

Jesus has sent His Church into the world on the same errand upon which He Himself came, and this mission includes intercession. What if I say that the Church is the world’s priest? Creation is dumb, but the Church finds a mouth for it. It is the Church’s high privilege to pray with acceptance. The door of grace is always open for her petitions, and they never return empty-handed. The curtain was torn for her; the blood was sprinkled upon the altar for her; God constantly invites her to bring her requests. Will she refuse the privilege that angels might envy? Is she not the bride of Christ? Can she not approach her King at any hour? Will she allow the precious privilege to be unused?

The Church always needs to pray. There are always some among her who are declining or falling into open sin. There are lambs to be prayed for, that they may be carried in Christ’s bosom; the strong, lest they grow presumptuous; and the weak, lest they become despairing. If we kept up prayer-meetings twenty-four hours a day all the days in the year, we might never be without a special subject for supplication.

Is there ever a time when no one is sick or poor or afflicted or wavering? Is there ever a time when we do not seek the conversion of relatives, the reclaiming of backsliders, or the salvation of the lost? With congregations constantly gathering, with ministers always preaching, with millions of sinners lying dead in trespasses and sins—in a country over which the darkness of religious formalism is certainly descending—in a world full of idols, cruelties, devils—if the Church does not pray, how will she excuse her neglect of the commission of her loving Lord? Let the Church be constant in supplication; let every private believer give himself to the ministry of prayer.

Family Reading Plan    Amos 2       Psalm 145

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Victory Over Unforgiveness

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Daniel 6:1-28

Immediately after teaching His followers to pray, Jesus gave a warning about allowing unforgiveness to reside in the heart. He said that those who refuse to forgive others won’t be forgiven by the Father.

Do not misunderstand Jesus’ meaning here. Believers don’t lose their salvation when they refuse to forgive. Rather, they break fellowship with God because their unrepentant attitude gets in the way of regular confession and repentance. The Lord cannot ignore sin, and His Spirit will bring wrong behavior to the believer’s attention until he or she deals with it.

Forgiveness is an act of the will more than an act of the heart. Often people don’t feel like being merciful to someone who has wronged them. But a resentful spirit grows into a terrible burden. The Lord knows that forgiveness is best, even when it is difficult.

You won’t deal with a sin until you see it as God does. So assume full responsibility for your unforgiving attitude, and acknowledge that it is a violation of His Word. Claim the divine mercy He offers, and ask Him to enable you to lay aside anger and resentment against the other person(s). As part of the decision to move forward in grace, make a habit of praying for those who hurt you. And if God so leads, seek their forgiveness for your wrong attitude.

A bitter and resentful spirit doesn’t fit who we are in Christ. Nor is it healthy to carry an angry attitude through life. That’s why Scripture emphasizes the need to forgive. Choose to be liberated from your burden–Jesus promised to make us free when we release our sins to Him (John 8:36).