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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Sunday, March 30, 2008
MORNING:
"He was numbered with the transgressors."
-- Isaiah 53:12
Why did Jesus suffer himself to be enrolled amongst sinners? This
wonderful condescension was justified by many powerful reasons. In such
a character he could the better become their advocate. In some trials
there is an identification of the counsellor with the client, nor can
they be looked upon in the eye of the law as apart from one another.
Now, when the sinner is brought to the bar, Jesus appears there
himself. He stands to answer the accusation. He points to his side, his
hands, his feet, and challenges Justice to bring anything against the
sinners whom he represents; he pleads his blood, and pleads so
triumphantly, being numbered with them and having a part with them,
that the Judge proclaims, "Let them go their way; deliver them from
going down into the pit, for he hath found a ransom." Our Lord Jesus
was numbered with the transgressors in order that they might feel their
hearts drawn towards him. Who can be afraid of one who is written in
the same list with us? Surely we may come boldly to him, and confess
our guilt. He who is numbered with us cannot condemn us. Was he not put
down in the transgressor's list that we might be written in the red
roll of the saints? He was holy, and written among the holy; we were
guilty, and numbered among the guilty; he transfers his name from
yonder list to this black indictment, and our names are taken from the
indictment and written in the roll of acceptance, for there is a
complete transfer made between Jesus and his people. All our estate of
misery and sin Jesus has taken; and all that Jesus has comes to us. His
righteousness, his blood, and everything that he hath he gives us as
our dowry. Rejoice, believer, in your union to him who was numbered
among the transgressors; and prove that you are truly saved by being
manifestly numbered with those who are new creatures in him.
EVENING:
"Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord."
-- Lamentations 3:40
The spouse who fondly loves her absent husband longs for his return; a
long protracted separation from her lord is a semi-death to her spirit:
and so with souls who love the Saviour much, they must see his face,
they cannot bear that he should be away upon the mountains of Bether,
and no more hold communion with them. A reproaching glance, an uplifted
finger will be grievous to loving children, who fear to offend their
tender father, and are only happy in his smile. Beloved, it was so once
with you. A text of Scripture, a threatening, a touch of the rod of
affliction, and you went to your Father's feet, crying, "Show me
wherefore thou contendest with me?" Is it so now? Are you content to
follow Jesus afar off? Can you contemplate suspended communion with
Christ without alarm? Can you bear to have your Beloved walking
contrary to you, because you walk contrary to him? Have your sins
separated between you and your God, and is your heart at rest? O let me
affectionately warn you, for it is a grievous thing when we can live
contentedly without the present enjoyment of the Saviour's face. Let us
labour to feel what an evil thing this is-little love to our own dying
Saviour, little joy in our precious Jesus, little fellowship with the
Beloved! Hold a true Lent in your souls, while you sorrow over your
hardness of heart. Do not stop at sorrow! Remember where you first
received salvation. Go at once to the cross. There, and there only, can
you get your spirit quickened. No matter how hard, how insensible, how
dead we may have become, let us go again in all the rags and poverty,
and defilement of our natural condition. Let us clasp that cross, let
us look into those languid eyes, let us bathe in that fountain filled
with blood-this will bring back to us our first love; this will restore
the simplicity of our faith, and the tenderness of our heart.
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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
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