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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Friday, March 14, 2008
MORNING:
"Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
-- 1 Corinthians 10:12
It is a curious fact, that there is such a thing as being proud of
grace. A man says, "I have great faith, I shall not fall; poor little
faith may, but I never shall." "I have fervent love," says another, "I
can stand, there is no danger of my going astray." He who boasts of
grace has little grace to boast of. Some who do this imagine that their
graces can keep them, knowing not that the stream must flow constantly
from the fountain head, or else the brook will soon be dry. If a
continuous stream of oil comes not to the lamp, though it burn brightly
to-day, it will smoke to-morrow, and noxious will be its scent. Take
heed that thou gloriest not in thy graces, but let all thy glorying and
confidence be in Christ and his strength, for only so canst thou be
kept from falling. Be much more in prayer. Spend longer time in holy
adoration. Read the Scriptures more earnestly and constantly. Watch
your lives more carefully. Live nearer to God. Take the best examples
for your pattern. Let your conversation be redolent of heaven. Let your
hearts be perfumed with affection for men's souls. So live that men may
take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus, and have learned
of him; and when that happy day shall come, when he whom you love shall
say, "Come up higher," may it be your happiness to hear him say, "Thou
hast fought a good fight, thou hast finished thy course, and henceforth
there is laid up for thee a crown of righteousness which fadeth not
away." On, Christian, with care and caution! On, with holy fear and
trembling! On, with faith and confidence in Jesus alone, and let your
constant petition be, "Uphold me according to thy word." He is able,
and he alone, "To keep you from falling, and to present you faultless
before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."
EVENING:
"I will take heed to my ways."
-- Psalms 39:1
Fellow-pilgrim, say not in your heart, "I will go hither and thither,
and I shall not sin;" for you are never so out of danger of sinning as
to boast of security. The road is very miry, it will be hard to pick
your path so as not to soil your garments. This is a world of pitch;
you will need to watch often, if in handling it you are to keep your
hands clean. There is a robber at every turn of the road to rob you of
your jewels; there is a temptation in every mercy; there is a snare in
every joy; and if you ever reach heaven, it will be a miracle of divine
grace to be ascribed entirely to your Father's power. Be on your guard.
When a man carries a bomb-shell in his hand, he should mind that he
does not go near a candle; and you too must take care that you enter
not into temptation. Even your common actions are edged tools; you must
mind how you handle them. There is nothing in this world to foster a
Christian's piety, but everything to destroy it. How anxious should you
be to look up to God, that he may keep you! Your prayer should be,
"Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." Having prayed, you must also
watch; guarding every thought, word, and action, with holy jealousy. Do
not expose yourselves unnecessarily; but if called to exposure, if you
are bidden to go where the darts are flying, never venture forth
without your shield; for if once the devil finds you without your
buckler, he will rejoice that his hour of triumph is come, and will
soon make you fall down wounded by his arrows. Though slain you cannot
be; wounded you may be. "Be sober; be vigilant, danger may be in an
hour when all seemeth securest to thee." Therefore, take heed to thy
ways, and watch unto prayer. No man ever fell into error through being
too watchful. May the Holy Spirit guide us in all our ways, so shall
they always please the Lord.
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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
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