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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Monday, November 19, 2007
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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MORNING & EVENING from HEARTLIGHT /\/\
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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
and preacher Charles Spurgeon. It's part of HEARTLIGHT Magazine,
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