-/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
MORNING:
"My grace is sufficient for thee."
-- 2 Corinthians 12:9
If none of God's saints were poor and tried, we should not know half so
well the consolations of divine grace. When we find the wanderer who
has not where to lay his head, who yet can say, "Still will I trust in
the Lord;" when we see the pauper starving on bread and water, who
still glories in Jesus; when we see the bereaved widow overwhelmed in
affliction, and yet having faith in Christ, oh! what honour it reflects
on the gospel. God's grace is illustrated and magnified in the poverty
and trials of believers. Saints bear up under every discouragement,
believing that all things work together for their good, and that out of
apparent evils a real blessing shall ultimately spring-that their God
will either work a deliverance for them speedily, or most assuredly
support them in the trouble, as long as he is pleased to keep them in
it. This patience of the saints proves the power of divine grace. There
is a lighthouse out at sea: it is a calm night-I cannot tell whether
the edifice is firm; the tempest must rage about it, and then I shall
know whether it will stand. So with the Spirit's work: if it were not
on many occasions surrounded with tempestuous waters, we should not
know that it was true and strong; if the winds did not blow upon it, we
should not know how firm and secure it was. The master-works of God are
those men who stand in the midst of difficulties, stedfast,
unmoveable,-
"Calm mid the bewildering cry,
Confident of victory."
He who would glorify his God must set his account upon meeting with
many trials. No man can be illustrious before the Lord unless his
conflicts be many. If then, yours be a much-tried path, rejoice in it,
because you will the better show forth the all-sufficient grace of God.
As for his failing you, never dream of it-hate the thought. The God who
has been sufficient until now, should be trusted to the end.
EVENING:
"They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy
house."
-- Psalms 36:8
Sheba's queen was amazed at the sumptuousness of Solomon's table. She
lost all heart when she saw the provision of a single day; and she
marvelled equally at the company of servants who were feasted at the
royal board. But what is this to the hospitalities of the God of grace?
Ten thousand thousand of his people are daily fed; hungry and thirsty,
they bring large appetites with them to the banquet, but not one of
them returns unsatisfied; there is enough for each, enough for all,
enough for evermore. Though the host that feed at Jehovah's table is
countless as the stars of heaven, yet each one has his portion of meat.
Think how much grace one saint requires, so much that nothing but the
Infinite could supply him for one day; and yet the Lord spreads his
table, not for one, but many saints, not for one day, but for many
years; not for many years only, but for generation after generation.
Observe the full feasting spoken of in the text, the guests at mercy's
banquet are satisfied, nay, more "abundantly satisfied;" and that not
with ordinary fare, but with fatness, the peculiar fatness of God's own
house; and such feasting is guaranteed by a faithful promise to all
those children of men who put their trust under the shadow of Jehovah's
wings. I once thought if I might but get the broken meat at God's back
door of grace I should be satisfied; like the woman who said, "The dogs
eat of the crumbs that fall from the master's table;" but no child of
God is ever served with scraps and leavings; like Mephibosheth, they
all eat from the king's own table. In matters of grace, we all have
Benjamin's mess-we all have ten times more than we could have expected,
and though our necessities are great, yet are we often amazed at the
marvellous plenty of grace which God gives us experimentally to enjoy.
/--- HAVE YOU MADE YOUR PLEDGE YET? ------------------\
Your generosity is what makes this ministry
possible! Will you join us? We need you!
\-- http://www.heartlight.org/support/monthly.html ---/
Content-type: text/html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
CURE FOR THE COMMON LIFE: LIVING IN YOUR SWEET SPOT, by Max Lucado
In Cure for the Common Life, Max Lucado offers practical tools for
exploring and identifying your own uniqueness, putting your strengths
to work, and living in your "sweet spot" for the rest of your life.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?256
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
MORNING & EVENING from HEARTLIGHT /\/\
===============================================================\ /===
http://www.heartlight.org/spurgeon
\/
Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
and preacher Charles Spurgeon. It's part of HEARTLIGHT Magazine,
the leading Christian living e-zine on the Web. Visit HEARTLIGHT
on the web for even more devotionals, plus music, articles and more
for your Christian walk!
ABOUT HEARTLIGHT:
Heartlight, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) religious non-profit organization.
Donations are needed and welcome (and tax-deductible)! Find out how
to help!
http://www.heartlight.org/support
EDITOR: Phil Ware, phil@heartlight.org
HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE?
It's FREE! To subscribe send a blank email to:
join-spurgeon@maillists.heartlight.org
HOW DO I LEAVE?
Send a blank email to the unsubscribe address:
spurgeon-unsub@maillists.heartlight.org
STILL HAVING TROUBLE?
If our automated unsubscribe system isn't working for you,
send an email to mailmaster@heartlight.org and let us know
what list you would like to leave. We'll take care of you.
OTHER QUESTIONS?
Find answers to your frequently asked questions:
http://www.heartlight.org/help/faq/spurgeon.html
======================================================================
