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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Wednesday, November 14, 2007
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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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
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