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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Wednesday, March 12, 2008
MORNING:
"Thou shalt love thy neighbour."
-- Matthew 5:43
"Love thy neighbour." Perhaps he rolls in riches, and thou art poor,
and living in thy little cot side-by-side with his lordly mansion; thou
seest every day his estates, his fine linen, and his sumptuous
banquets; God has given him these gifts, covet not his wealth, and
think no hard thoughts concerning him. Be content with thine own lot,
if thou canst not better it, but do not look upon thy neighbour, and
wish that he were as thyself. Love him, and then thou wilt not envy
him.
Perhaps, on the other hand, thou art rich, and near thee reside the
poor. Do not scorn to call them neighbour. Own that thou art bound to
love them. The world calls them thy inferiors. In what are they
inferior? They are far more thine equals than thine inferiors, for "God
hath made of one blood all people that dwell upon the face of the
earth." It is thy coat which is better than theirs, but thou art by no
means better than they. They are men, and what art thou more than that?
Take heed that thou love thy neighbour even though he be in rags, or
sunken in the depths of poverty.
But, perhaps, you say, "I cannot love my neighbours, because for all I
do they return ingratitude and contempt." So much the more room for the
heroism of love. Wouldst thou be a feather-bed warrior, instead of
bearing the rough fight of love? He who dares the most, shall win the
most; and if rough be thy path of love, tread it boldly, still loving
thy neighbours through thick and thin. Heap coals of fire on their
heads, and if they be hard to please, seek not to please them, but to
please thy Master; and remember if they spurn thy love, thy Master hath
not spurned it, and thy deed is as acceptable to him as if it had been
acceptable to them. Love thy neighbour, for in so doing thou art
following the footsteps of Christ.
EVENING:
"To whom belongest thou?"
-- 1 Samuel 30:13
No neutralities can exist in religion. We are either ranked under the
banner of Prince Immanuel, to serve and fight his battles, or we are
vassals of the black prince, Satan. "To whom belongest thou?"
Reader, let me assist you in your response. Have you been "born again"?
If you have, you belong to Christ, but without the new birth you cannot
be his. In whom do you trust? For those who believe in Jesus are the
sons of God. Whose work are you doing? You are sure to serve your
master, for he whom you serve is thereby owned to be your lord. What
company do you keep? If you belong to Jesus, you will fraternize with
those who wear the livery of the cross. "Birds of a feather flock
together." What is your conversation? Is it heavenly or is it earthly?
What have you learned of your Master?-for servants learn much from
their masters to whom they are apprenticed. If you have served your
time with Jesus, it will be said of you, as it was of Peter and John,
"They took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus."
We press the question, "To whom belongest thou?" Answer honestly before
you give sleep to your eyes. If you are not Christ's you are in a hard
service-Run away from your cruel master! Enter into the service of the
Lord of Love, and you shall enjoy a life of blessedness. If you are
Christ's let me advise you to do four things. You belong to Jesus-obey
him; let his word be your law; let his wish be your will. You belong to
the Beloved, then love him; let your heart embrace him; let your whole
soul be filled with him. You belong to the Son of God, then trust him;
rest nowhere but on him. You belong to the King of kings, then be
decided for him. Thus, without your being branded upon the brow, all
will know to whom you belong.
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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,
the leading Christian living e-zine on the Web. Visit HEARTLIGHT
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