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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
http://www.heartlight.org/
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Monday, May 26, 2008
MORNING:
"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee."
-- Psalms 55:22
Care, even though exercised upon legitimate objects, if carried to
excess, has in it the nature of sin. The precept to avoid anxious care
is earnestly inculcated by our Saviour, again and again; it is
reiterated by the apostles; and it is one which cannot be neglected
without involving transgression: for the very essence of anxious care
is the imagining that we are wiser than God, and the thrusting
ourselves into his place to do for him that which he has undertaken to
do for us. We attempt to think of that which we fancy he will forget;
we labour to take upon ourselves our weary burden, as if he were unable
or unwilling to take it for us. Now this disobedience to his plain
precept, this unbelief in his Word, this presumption in intruding upon
his province, is all sinful. Yet more than this, anxious care often
leads to acts of sin. He who cannot calmly leave his affairs in God's
hand, but will carry his own burden, is very likely to be tempted to
use wrong means to help himself. This sin leads to a forsaking of God
as our counsellor, and resorting instead to human wisdom. This is going
to the "broken cistern" instead of to the "fountain;" a sin which was
laid against Israel of old. Anxiety makes us doubt God's
lovingkindness, and thus our love to him grows cold; we feel mistrust,
and thus grieve the Spirit of God, so that our prayers become hindered,
our consistent example marred, and our life one of self-seeking. Thus
want of confidence in God leads us to wander far from him; but if
through simple faith in his promise, we cast each burden as it comes
upon him, and are "careful for nothing" because he undertakes to care
for us, it will keep us close to him, and strengthen us against much
temptation. "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed
on thee, because he trusteth in thee."
EVENING:
"Continue in the faith."
-- Acts 14:22
Perseverance is the badge of true saints. The Christian life is not a
beginning only in the ways of God, but also a continuance in the same
as long as life lasts. It is with a Christian as it was with the great
Napoleon: he said, "Conquest has made me what I am, and conquest must
maintain me." So, under God, dear brother in the Lord, conquest has
made you what you are, and conquest must sustain you. Your motto must
be, "Excelsior." He only is a true conqueror, and shall be crowned at
the last, who continueth till war's trumpet is blown no more.
Perseverance is, therefore, the target of all our spiritual enemies.
The world does not object to your being a Christian for a time, if she
can but tempt you to cease your pilgrimage, and settle down to buy and
sell with her in Vanity Fair. The flesh will seek to ensnare you, and
to prevent your pressing on to glory. "It is weary work being a
pilgrim; come, give it up. Am I always to be mortified? Am I never to
be indulged? Give me at least a furlough from this constant warfare."
Satan will make many a fierce attack on your perseverance; it will be
the mark for all his arrows. He will strive to hinder you in service:
he will insinuate that you are doing no good; and that you want rest.
He will endeavour to make you weary of suffering, he will whisper,
"Curse God, and die." Or he will attack your steadfastness: "What is
the good of being so zealous? Be quiet like the rest; sleep as do
others, and let your lamp go out as the other virgins do." Or he will
assail your doctrinal sentiments: "Why do you hold to these
denominational creeds? Sensible men are getting more liberal; they are
removing the old landmarks: fall in with the times." Wear your shield,
Christian, therefore, close upon your armour, and cry mightily unto
God, that by his Spirit you may endure to the end.
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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
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