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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Monday, December 3, 2007
MORNING:
"There is no spot in thee."
-- Song of Solomon 4:7
Having pronounced his Church positively full of beauty, our Lord
confirms his praise by a precious negative, "There is no spot in thee."
As if the thought occurred to the Bridegroom that the carping world
would insinuate that he had only mentioned her comely parts, and had
purposely omitted those features which were deformed or defiled, he
sums up all by declaring her universally and entirely fair, and utterly
devoid of stain. A spot may soon be removed, and is the very least
thing that can disfigure beauty, but even from this little blemish the
believer is delivered in his Lord's sight. If he had said there is no
hideous scar, no horrible deformity, no deadly ulcer, we might even
then have marvelled; but when he testifies that she is free from the
slightest spot, all these other forms of defilement are included, and
the depth of wonder is increased. If he had but promised to remove all
spots by-and-by, we should have had eternal reason for joy; but when he
speaks of it as already done, who can restrain the most intense
emotions of satisfaction and delight? O my soul, here is marrow and
fatness for thee; eat thy full, and be satisfied with royal dainties.
Christ Jesus has no quarrel with his spouse. She often wanders from
him, and grieves his Holy Spirit, but he does not allow her faults to
affect his love. He sometimes chides, but it is always in the tenderest
manner, with the kindest intentions: it is "my love" even then. There
is no remembrance of our follies, he does not cherish ill thoughts of
us, but he pardons and loves as well after the offence as before it. It
is well for us it is so, for if Jesus were as mindful of injuries as we
are, how could he commune with us? Many a time a believer will put
himself out of humour with the Lord for some slight turn in providence,
but our precious Husband knows our silly hearts too well to take any
offence at our ill manners.
EVENING:
"The Lord mighty in battle."
-- Psalms 24:8
Well may our God be glorious in the eyes of his people, seeing that he
has wrought such wonders for them, in them, and by them. For them, the
Lord Jesus upon Calvary routed every foe, breaking all the weapons of
the enemy in pieces by his finished work of satisfactory obedience; by
his triumphant resurrection and ascension he completely overturned the
hopes of hell, leading captivity captive, making a show of our enemies
openly, triumphing over them by his cross. Every arrow of guilt which
Satan might have shot at us is broken, for who can lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? Vain are the sharp swords of infernal malice,
and the perpetual battles of the serpent's seed, for in the midst of
the church the lame take the prey, and the feeblest warriors are
crowned.
The saved may well adore their Lord for his conquests in them, since
the arrows of their natural hatred are snapped, and the weapons of
their rebellion broken. What victories has grace won in our evil
hearts! How glorious is Jesus when the will is subdued, and sin
dethroned! As for our remaining corruptions, they shall sustain an
equally sure defeat, and every temptation, and doubt, and fear, shall
be utterly destroyed. In the Salem of our peaceful hearts, the name of
Jesus is great beyond compare: he has won our love, and he shall wear
it. Even thus securely may we look for victories by us. We are more
than conquerors through him that loved us. We shall cast down the
powers of darkness which are in the world, by our faith, and zeal, and
holiness; we shall win sinners to Jesus, we shall overturn false
systems, we shall convert nations, for God is with us, and none shall
stand before us. This evening let the Christian warrior chant the war
song, and prepare for to-morrow's fight. Greater is he that is in us
than he that is in the world.
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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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