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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Saturday, May 24, 2008
MORNING:
"Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer."
-- Psalms 66:20
In looking back upon the character of our prayers, if we do it
honestly, we shall be filled with wonder that God has ever answered
them. There may be some who think their prayers worthy of acceptance-as
the Pharisee did; but the true Christian, in a more enlightened
retrospect, weeps over his prayers, and if he could retrace his steps
he would desire to pray more earnestly. Remember, Christian, how cold
thy prayers have been. When in thy closet thou shouldst have wrestled
as Jacob did; but instead thereof, thy petitions have been faint and
few-far removed from that humble, believing, persevering faith, which
cries, "I will not let thee go except thou bless me." Yet, wonderful to
say, God has heard these cold prayers of thine, and not only heard, but
answered them. Reflect also, how infrequent have been thy prayers,
unless thou hast been in trouble, and then thou hast gone often to the
mercy-seat: but when deliverance has come, where has been thy constant
supplication? Yet, notwithstanding thou hast ceased to pray as once
thou didst, God has not ceased to bless. When thou hast neglected the
mercy-seat, God has not deserted it, but the bright light of the
Shekinah has always been visible between the wings of the cherubim. Oh!
it is marvellous that the Lord should regard those intermittent spasms
of importunity which come and go with our necessities. What a God is he
thus to hear the prayers of those who come to him when they have
pressing wants, but neglect him when they have received a mercy; who
approach him when they are forced to come, but who almost forget to
address him when mercies are plentiful and sorrows are few. Let his
gracious kindness in hearing such prayers touch our hearts, so that we
may henceforth be found "Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit."
EVENING:
"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of
Christ."
-- Philippians 1:27
The word "conversation" does not merely mean our talk and converse with
one another, but the whole course of our life and behaviour in the
world. The Greek word signifies the actions and the privileges of
citizenship: and thus we are commanded to let our actions, as citizens
of the New Jerusalem, be such as becometh the gospel of Christ. What
sort of conversation is this? In the first place, the gospel is very
simple. So Christians should be simple and plain in their habits. There
should be about our manner, our speech, our dress, our whole behaviour,
that simplicity which is the very soul of beauty. The gospel is
pre-eminently true, it is gold without dross; and the Christian's life
will be lustreless and valueless without the jewel of truth. The gospel
is a very fearless gospel, it boldly proclaims the truth, whether men
like it or not: we must be equally faithful and unflinching. But the
gospel is also very gentle. Mark this spirit in its Founder: "a bruised
reed he will not break." Some professors are sharper than a
thorn-hedge; such men are not like Jesus. Let us seek to win others by
the gentleness of our words and acts. The gospel is very loving. It is
the message of the God of love to a lost and fallen race. Christ's last
command to his disciples was, "Love one another." O for more real,
hearty union and love to all the saints; for more tender compassion
towards the souls of the worst and vilest of men! We must not forget
that the gospel of Christ is holy. It never excuses sin: it pardons it,
but only through an atonement. If our life is to resemble the gospel,
we must shun, not merely the grosser vices, but everything that would
hinder our perfect conformity to Christ. For his sake, for our own
sakes, and for the sakes of others, we must strive day by day to let
our conversation be more in accordance with his gospel.
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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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