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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Monday, May 12, 2008
MORNING:
"And will manifest myself to him."
-- John 14:21
The Lord Jesus gives special revelations of himself to his people. Even
if Scripture did not declare this, there are many of the children of
God who could testify the truth of it from their own experience. They
have had manifestations of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in a
peculiar manner, such as no mere reading or hearing could afford. In
the biographies of eminent saints, you will find many instances
recorded in which Jesus has been pleased, in a very special manner to
speak to their souls, and to unfold the wonders of his person; yea, so
have their souls been steeped in happiness that they have thought
themselves to be in heaven, whereas they were not there, though they
were well nigh on the threshold of it-for when Jesus manifests himself
to his people, it is heaven on earth; it is paradise in embryo; it is
bliss begun. Especial manifestations of Christ exercise a holy
influence on the believer's heart. One effect will be humility. If a
man says, "I have had such-and-such spiritual communications, I am a
great man," he has never had any communion with Jesus at all; for "God
hath respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off." He
does not need to come near them to know them, and will never give them
any visits of love. Another effect will be happiness; for in God's
presence there are pleasures for evermore. Holiness will be sure to
follow. A man who has no holiness has never had this manifestation.
Some men profess a great deal; but we must not believe any one unless
we see that his deeds answer to what he says. "Be not deceived; God is
not mocked." He will not bestow his favours upon the wicked: for while
he will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he respect an evil
doer. Thus there will be three effects of nearness to Jesus-humility,
happiness, and holiness. May God give them to thee, Christian!
EVENING:
"Fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee
a great nation: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I
will also surely bring thee up again."
-- Genesis 46:3,4
Jacob must have shuddered at the thought of leaving the land of his
father's sojourning, and dwelling among heathen strangers. It was a new
scene, and likely to be a trying one: who shall venture among couriers
of a foreign monarch without anxiety? Yet the way was evidently
appointed for him, and therefore he resolved to go. This is frequently
the position of believers now-they are called to perils and temptations
altogether untried: at such seasons let them imitate Jacob's example by
offering sacrifices of prayer unto God, and seeking his direction; let
them not take a step until they have waited upon the Lord for his
blessing: then they will have Jacob's companion to be their friend and
helper. How blessed to feel assured that the Lord is with us in all our
ways, and condescends to go down into our humiliations and banishments
with us! Even beyond the ocean our Father's love beams like the sun in
its strength. We cannot hesitate to go where Jehovah promises his
presence; even the valley of deathshade grows bright with the radiance
of this assurance. Marching onwards with faith in their God, believers
shall have Jacob's promise. They shall be brought up again, whether it
be from the troubles of life or the chambers of death. Jacob's seed
came out of Egypt in due time, and so shall all the faithful pass
unscathed through the tribulation of life, and the terror of death. Let
us exercise Jacob's confidence. "Fear not," is the Lord's command and
his divine encouragement to those who at his bidding are launching upon
new seas; the divine presence and preservation forbid so much as one
unbelieving fear. Without our God we should fear to move; but when he
bids us to, it would be dangerous to tarry. Reader, go forward, and
fear not.
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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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