-/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday, March 7, 2009
MORNING:
"Have faith in God."
-- Mark 11:22
Faith is the foot of the soul by which it can march along the road of
the commandments. Love can make the feet move more swiftly; but faith
is the foot which carries the soul. Faith is the oil enabling the
wheels of holy devotion and of earnest piety to move well; and without
faith the wheels are taken from the chariot, and we drag heavily. With
faith I can do all things; without faith I shall neither have the
inclination nor the power to do anything in the service of God. If you
would find the men who serve God the best, you must look for the men of
the most faith. Little faith will save a man, but little faith cannot
do great things for God. Poor Little-faith could not have fought
"Apollyon;" it needed "Christian" to do that. Poor Little-faith could
not have slain "Giant Despair;" it required "Great-heart's" arm to
knock that monster down. Little faith will go to heaven most certainly,
but it often has to hide itself in a nut-shell, and it frequently loses
all but its jewels. Little-faith says, "It is a rough road, beset with
sharp thorns, and full of dangers; I am afraid to go;" but Great-faith
remembers the promise, "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; as thy days,
so shall thy strength be:" and so she boldly ventures. Little-faith
stands desponding, mingling her tears with the flood; but Great-faith
sings, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and
through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:" and she fords the
stream at once. Would you be comfortable and happy? Would you enjoy
religion? Would you have the religion of cheerfulness and not that of
gloom? Then "have faith in God." If you love darkness, and are
satisfied to dwell in gloom and misery, then be content with little
faith; but if you love the sunshine, and would sing songs of rejoicing,
covet earnestly this best gift, "great faith."
EVENING:
"It is better to trust in the Lord, than to put confidence in
man."
-- Psalms 118:8
Doubtless the reader has been tried with the temptation to rely upon
the things which are seen, instead of resting alone upon the invisible
God. Christians often look to man for help and counsel, and mar the
noble simplicity of their reliance upon their God. Does this evening's
portion meet the eye of a child of God anxious about temporals, then
would we reason with him awhile. You trust in Jesus, and only in Jesus,
for your salvation, then why are you troubled? "Because of my great
care." Is it not written, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord"? "Be careful
for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication make known
your wants unto God." Cannot you trust God for temporals? "Ah! I wish I
could." If you cannot trust God for temporals, how dare you trust him
for spirituals? Can you trust him for your soul's redemption, and not
rely upon him for a few lesser mercies? Is not God enough for thy need,
or is his all-sufficiency too narrow for thy wants? Dost thou want
another eye beside that of him who sees every secret thing? Is his
heart faint? Is his arm weary? If so, seek another God; but if he be
infinite, omnipotent, faithful, true, and all-wise, why gaddest thou
abroad so much to seek another confidence? Why dost thou rake the earth
to find another foundation, when this is strong enough to bear all the
weight which thou canst ever build thereon? Christian, mix not only thy
wine with water, do not alloy thy gold of faith with the dross of human
confidence. Wait thou only upon God, and let thine expectation be from
him. Covet not Jonah's gourd, but rest in Jonah's God. Let the sandy
foundations of terrestrial trust be the choice of fools, but do thou,
like one who foresees the storm, build for thyself an abiding place
upon the Rock of Ages.
/--- Sponsor a Child with Compassion -----------------------\
For less than a dollar a day, you can make a powerful
difference in the life of a needy child. Click on the
following link to learn more about sponsoring a child
through Compassion!
\--- http://ads.heartlight.org/email/92/ -------------------/
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
CAPTIVATING: UNVEILING THE MYSTERY OF A WOMAN'S SOUL, by John & Stasi Eldredge
Many Christian women are tired, struggling under the weight of the
pressure to be a "good servant," a nurturing caregiver, passionate
lover, or capable home manager. What Wild at Heart did for men, this
book can do for women.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?222
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
MORNING & EVENING from HEARTLIGHT /\/\
===============================================================\ /===
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,
the leading Christian living e-zine on the Web. Visit HEARTLIGHT
on the web for even more devotionals, plus music, articles and more
for your Christian walk!
http://www.heartlight.org
ABOUT HEARTLIGHT:
Heartlight, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) religious non-profit organization.
Donations are needed and welcome (and tax-deductible)! Find out how
to help! http://www.heartlight.org/support
EDITOR: Phil Ware, phil@heartlight.org
HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE?
It's FREE! To subscribe send a blank email to:
join-spurgeon@maillists.heartlight.org
HOW DO I LEAVE?
Send a blank email to the unsubscribe address:
spurgeon-unsub@maillists.heartlight.org
STILL HAVING TROUBLE?
If our automated unsubscribe system isn't working for you,
send an email to mailmaster@heartlight.org and let us know
what list you would like to leave. We'll take care of you.
OTHER QUESTIONS?
Find answers to your frequently asked questions:
http://www.heartlight.org/help/faq/spurgeon.html
======================================================================
