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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING http://www.heartlight.org/
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Thursday, July 31, 2008
MORNING:
"I in them."
-- John 17:23
If such be the union which subsists between our souls and the person of
our Lord, how deep and broad is the channel of our communion! This is
no narrow pipe through which a thread-like stream may wind its way, it
is a channel of amazing depth and breadth, along whose glorious length
a ponderous volume of living water may roll its floods. Behold he hath
set before us an open door, let us not be slow to enter. This city of
communion hath many pearly gates, every several gate is of one pearl,
and each gate is thrown open to the uttermost that we may enter,
assured of welcome. If there were but one small loophole through which
to talk with Jesus, it would be a high privilege to thrust a word of
fellowship through the narrow door; how much we are blessed in having
so large an entrance! Had the Lord Jesus been far away from us, with
many a stormy sea between, we should have longed to send a messenger to
him to carry him our loves, and bring us tidings from his Father's
house; but see his kindness, he has built his house next door to ours,
nay, more, he takes lodging with us, and tabernacles in poor humble
hearts, that so he may have perpetual intercourse with us. O how
foolish must we be, if we do not live in habitual communion with him.
When the road is long, and dangerous, and difficult, we need not wonder
that friends seldom meet each other, but when they live together, shall
Jonathan forget his David? A wife may when her husband is upon a
journey, abide many days without holding converse with him, but she
could never endure to be separated from him if she knew him to be in
one of the chambers of her own house. Why, believer, dost not thou sit
at his banquet of wine? Seek thy Lord, for he is near; embrace him, for
he is thy Brother. Hold Him fast, for he is thine Husband; and press
him to thine heart, for he is of thine own flesh.
EVENING:
"And these are the singers ... they were employed in that work
day and night."
-- 1 Chronicles 9:33
Well was it so ordered in the temple that the sacred chant never
ceased: for evermore did the singers praise the Lord, whose mercy
endureth for ever. As mercy did not cease to rule either by day or by
night, so neither did music hush its holy ministry. My heart, there is
a lesson sweetly taught to thee in the ceaseless song of Zion's temple,
thou too art a constant debtor, and see thou to it that thy gratitude,
like charity, never faileth. God's praise is constant in heaven, which
is to be thy final dwelling-place, learn thou to practise the eternal
hallelujah. Around the earth as the sun scatters his light, his beams
awaken grateful believers to tune their morning hymn, so that by the
priesthood of the saints perpetual praise is kept up at all hours, they
swathe our globe in a mantle of thanksgiving, and girdle it with a
golden belt of song.
The Lord always deserves to be praised for what he is in himself, for
his works of creation and providence, for his goodness towards his
creatures, and especially for the transcendent act of redemption, and
all the marvellous blessing flowing therefrom. It is always beneficial
to praise the Lord; it cheers the day and brightens the night; it
lightens toil and softens sorrow; and over earthly gladness it sheds a
sanctifying radiance which makes it less liable to blind us with its
glare. Have we not something to sing about at this moment? Can we not
weave a song out of our present joys, or our past deliverances, or our
future hopes? Earth yields her summer fruits: the hay is housed, the
golden grain invites the sickle, and the sun tarrying long to shine
upon a fruitful earth, shortens the interval of shade that we may
lengthen the hours of devout worship. By the love of Jesus, let us be
stirred up to close the day with a psalm of sanctified gladness.
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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,
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