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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING http://www.heartlight.org/
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Saturday, August 9, 2008
MORNING:
"The city hath no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to
shine in it."
-- Revelation 21:23
Yonder in the better world, the inhabitants are independent of all
creature comforts. They have no need of raiment; their white robes
never wear out, neither shall they ever be defiled. They need no
medicine to heal diseases, "for the inhabitant shall not say, I am
sick." They need no sleep to recruit their frames-they rest not day nor
night, but unweariedly praise him in his temple. They need no social
relationship to minister comfort, and whatever happiness they may
derive from association with their fellows is not essential to their
bliss, for their Lord's society is enough for their largest desires.
They need no teachers there; they doubtless commune with one another
concerning the things of God, but they do not require this by way of
instruction; they shall all be taught of the Lord. Ours are the alms at
the king's gate, but they feast at the table itself. Here we lean upon
the friendly arm, but there they lean upon their Beloved and upon him
alone. Here we must have the help of our companions, but there they
find all they want in Christ Jesus. Here we look to the meat which
perisheth, and to the raiment which decays before the moth, but there
they find everything in God. We use the bucket to fetch us water from
the well, but there they drink from the fountain head, and put their
lips down to the living water. Here the angels bring us blessings, but
we shall want no messengers from heaven then. They shall need no
Gabriels there to bring their love-notes from God, for there they shall
see him face to face. Oh! what a blessed time shall that be when we
shall have mounted above every second cause and shall rest upon the
bare arm of God! What a glorious hour when God, and not his creatures;
the Lord, and not his works, shall be our daily joy! Our souls shall
then have attained the perfection of bliss.
EVENING:
"He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast
seven devils."
-- Mark 16:9
Mary of Magdala was the victim of a fearful evil. She was possessed by
not one devil only, but seven. These dreadful inmates caused much pain
and pollution to the poor frame in which they had found a lodging. Hers
was a hopeless, horrible case. She could not help herself, neither
could any human succour avail. But Jesus passed that way, and unsought,
and probably even resisted by the poor demoniac, he uttered the word of
power, and Mary of Magdala became a trophy of the healing power of
Jesus. All the seven demons left her, left her never to return,
forcibly ejected by the Lord of all. What a blessed deliverance! What a
happy change! From delirium to delight, from despair to peace, from
hell to heaven! Straightway she became a constant follower of Jesus,
catching his every word, following his devious steps, sharing his
toilsome life; and withal she became his generous helper, first among
that band of healed and grateful women who ministered unto him of their
substance. When Jesus was lifted up in crucifixion, Mary remained the
sharer of his shame: we find her first beholding from afar, and then
drawing near to the foot of the cross. She could not die on the cross
with Jesus, but she stood as near it as she could, and when his blessed
body was taken down, she watched to see how and where it was laid. She
was the faithful and watchful believer, last at the sepulchre where
Jesus slept, first at the grave whence he arose. Her holy fidelity made
her a favoured beholder of her beloved Rabboni, who deigned to call her
by her name, and to make her his messenger of good news to the
trembling disciples and Peter. Thus grace found her a maniac and made
her a minister, cast out devils and gave her to behold angels,
delivered her from Satan, and united her for ever to the Lord Jesus.
May I also be such a miracle of grace!
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=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
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MORNING & EVENING from HEARTLIGHT /\/\
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http://www.heartlight.org/spurgeon \/
Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
and preacher Charles Spurgeon. It's part of HEARTLIGHT Magazine,
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