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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Friday, July 4, 2008
MORNING:
"Sanctify them through thy truth."
-- John 17:17
Sanctification begins in regeneration. The Spirit of God infuses into
man that new living principle by which he becomes "a new creature" in
Christ Jesus. This work, which begins in the new birth, is carried on
in two ways-mortification, whereby the lusts of the flesh are subdued
and kept under; and vivification, by which the life which God has put
within us is made to be a well of water springing up unto everlasting
life. This is carried on every day in what is called "perseverance," by
which the Christian is preserved and continued in a gracious state, and
is made to abound in good works unto the praise and glory of God; and
it culminates or comes to perfection, in "glory," when the soul, being
thoroughly purged, is caught up to dwell with holy beings at the right
hand of the Majesty on high. But while the Spirit of God is thus the
author of sanctification, yet there is a visible agency employed which
must not be forgotten. "Sanctify them," said Jesus, "through thy truth:
thy word is truth." The passages of Scripture which prove that the
instrument of our sanctification is the Word of God are very many. The
Spirit of God brings to our minds the precepts and doctrines of truth,
and applies them with power. These are heard in the ear, and being
received in the heart, they work in us to will and to do of God's good
pleasure. The truth is the sanctifier, and if we do not hear or read
the truth, we shall not grow in sanctification. We only progress in
sound living as we progress in sound understanding. "Thy word is a lamp
unto my feet and a light unto my path." Do not say of any error, "It is
a mere matter of opinion." No man indulges an error of judgment,
without sooner or later tolerating an error in practice. Hold fast the
truth, for by so holding the truth shall you be sanctified by the
Spirit of God.
EVENING:
"He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not
lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."
-- Psalms 24:4
Outward practical holiness is a very precious mark of grace. It is to
be feared that many professors have perverted the doctrine of
justification by faith in such a way as to treat good works with
contempt; if so, they will receive everlasting contempt at the last
great day. If our hands are not clean, let us wash them in Jesus'
precious blood, and so let us lift up pure hands unto God. But "clean
hands" will not suffice, unless they are connected with "a pure heart."
True religion is heart-work. We may wash the outside of the cup and the
platter as long as we please, but if the inward parts be filthy, we are
filthy altogether in the sight of God, for our hearts are more truly
ourselves than our hands are; the very life of our being lies in the
inner nature, and hence the imperative need of purity within. The pure
in heart shall see God, all others are but blind bats.
The man who is born for heaven "hath not lifted up his soul unto
vanity." All men have their joys, by which their souls are lifted up;
the worldling lifts up his soul in carnal delights, which are mere
empty vanities; but the saint loves more substantial things; like
Jehoshaphat, he is lifted up in the ways of the Lord. He who is content
with husks, will be reckoned with the swine. Does the world satisfy
thee? Then thou hast thy reward and portion in this life; make much of
it, for thou shalt know no other joy.
"Nor sworn deceitfully." The saints are men of honour still. The
Christian man's word is his only oath; but that is as good as twenty
oaths of other men. False speaking will shut any man out of heaven, for
a liar shall not enter into God's house, whatever may be his
professions or doings. Reader, does the text before us condemn thee, or
dost thou hope to ascend into the hill of the Lord?
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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
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