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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING http://www.heartlight.org/
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Friday, July 25, 2008
MORNING:
"He left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out."
-- Genesis 39:12
In contending with certain sins there remains no mode of victory but by
flight. The ancient naturalists wrote much of basilisks, whose eyes
fascinated their victims and rendered them easy victims; so the mere
gaze of wickedness puts us in solemn danger. He who would be safe from
acts of evil must haste away from occasions of it. A covenant must be
made with our eyes not even to look upon the cause of temptation, for
such sins only need a spark to begin with and a blaze follows in an
instant. Who would wantonly enter the leper's prison and sleep amid its
horrible corruption? He only who desires to be leprous himself would
thus court contagion. If the mariner knew how to avoid a storm, he
would do anything rather than run the risk of weathering it. Cautious
pilots have no desire to try how near the quicksand they can sail, or
how often they may touch a rock without springing a leak; their aim is
to keep as nearly as possible in the midst of a safe channel.
This day I may be exposed to great peril, let me have the serpent's
wisdom to keep out of it and avoid it. The wings of a dove may be of
more use to me to-day than the jaws of a lion. It is true I may be an
apparent loser by declining evil company, but I had better leave my
cloak than lose my character; it is not needful that I should be rich,
but it is imperative upon me to be pure. No ties of friendship, no
chains of beauty, no flashings of talent, no shafts of ridicule must
turn me from the wise resolve to flee from sin. The devil I am to
resist and he will flee from me, but the lusts of the flesh, I must
flee, or they will surely overcome me. O God of holiness preserve thy
Josephs, that Madam Bubble bewitch them not with her vile suggestions.
May the horrible trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil, never
overcome us!
EVENING:
"In their affliction they will seek me early."
-- Hosea 5:15
Losses and adversities are frequently the means which the great
Shepherd uses to fetch home his wandering sheep; like fierce dogs they
worry the wanderers back to the fold. There is no making lions tame if
they are too well fed; they must be brought down from their great
strength, and their stomachs must be lowered, and then they will submit
to the tamer's hand; and often have we seen the Christian rendered
obedient to the Lord's will by straitness of bread and hard labour.
When rich and increased in goods many professors carry their heads much
too loftily, and speak exceeding boastfully. Like David, they flatter
themselves, "My mountain standeth fast; I shall never be moved." When
the Christian groweth wealthy, is in good repute, hath good health, and
a happy family, he too often admits Mr. Carnal Security to feast at his
table, and then if he be a true child of God there is a rod preparing
for him. Wait awhile, and it may be you will see his substance melt
away as a dream. There goes a portion of his estate-how soon the acres
change hands. That debt, that dishonoured bill-how fast his losses roll
in, where will they end? It is a blessed sign of divine life if when
these embarrassments occur one after another he begins to be distressed
about his backslidings, and betakes himself to his God. Blessed are the
waves that wash the mariner upon the rock of salvation! Losses in
business are often sanctified to our soul's enriching. If the chosen
soul will not come to the Lord full-handed, it shall come empty. If
God, in his grace, findeth no other means of making us honour him among
men, he will cast us into the deep; if we fail to honour him on the
pinnacle of riches, he will bring us into the valley of poverty. Yet
faint not, heir of sorrow, when thou art thus rebuked, rather recognize
the loving hand which chastens, and say, "I will arise, and go unto my
Father."
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MORNING & EVENING from HEARTLIGHT /\/\
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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
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