-/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
MORNING:
"If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done
in the dry?"
-- Luke 23:31
Among other interpretations of this suggestive question, the following
is full of teaching: "If the innocent substitute for sinners, suffer
thus, what will be done when the sinner himself -the dry tree-shall
fall into the hands of an angry God?" When God saw Jesus in the
sinner's place, he did not spare him; and when he finds the
unregenerate without Christ, he will not spare them. O sinner, Jesus
was led away by his enemies: so shall you be dragged away by fiends to
the place appointed for you. Jesus was deserted of God; and if he, who
was only imputedly a sinner, was deserted, how much more shall you be?
"Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" what an awful shriek! But what shall be
your cry when you shall say, "O God! O God! why hast thou forsaken me?"
and the answer shall come back, "Because ye have set at nought all my
counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your
calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh." If God spared not his own
Son, how much less will he spare you! What whips of burning wire will
be yours when conscience shall smite you with all its terrors. Ye
richest, ye merriest, ye most self-righteous sinners-who would stand in
your place when God shall say, "Awake, O sword, against the man that
rejected me; smite him, and let him feel the smart for ever?" Jesus was
spit upon: sinner, what shame will be yours! We cannot sum up in one
word all the mass of sorrows which met upon the head of Jesus who died
for us, therefore it is impossible for us to tell you what streams,
what oceans of grief must roll over your spirit if you die as you now
are. You may die so, you may die now. By the agonies of Christ, by his
wounds and by his blood, do not bring upon yourselves the wrath to
come! Trust in the Son of God, and you shall never die.
EVENING:
"I will fear no evil: for thou art with me."
-- Psalms 23:4
Behold, how independent of outward circumstances the Holy Ghost can
make the Christian! What a bright light may shine within us when it is
all dark without! How firm, how happy, how calm, how peaceful we may
be, when the world shakes to and fro, and the pillars of the earth are
removed! Even death itself, with all its terrible influences, has no
power to suspend the music of a Christian's heart, but rather makes
that music become more sweet, more clear, more heavenly, till the last
kind act which death can do is to let the earthly strain melt into the
heavenly chorus, the temporal joy into the eternal bliss! Let us have
confidence, then, in the blessed Spirit's power to comfort us. Dear
reader, are you looking forward to poverty? Fear not; the divine Spirit
can give you, in your want, a greater plenty than the rich have in
their abundance. You know not what joys may be stored up for you in the
cottage around which grace will plant the roses of content. Are you
conscious of a growing failure of your bodily powers? Do you expect to
suffer long nights of languishing and days of pain? O be not sad! That
bed may become a throne to you. You little know how every pang that
shoots through your body may be a refining fire to consume your dross-a
beam of glory to light up the secret parts of your soul. Are the eyes
growing dim? Jesus will be your light. Do the ears fail you? Jesus'
name will be your soul's best music, and his person your dear delight.
Socrates used to say, "Philosophers can be happy without music;" and
Christians can be happier than philosophers when all outward causes of
rejoicing are withdrawn. In thee, my God, my heart shall triumph, come
what may of ills without! By thy power, O blessed Spirit, my heart
shall be exceeding glad, though all things should fail me here below.
/--- 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 =========================
YOU ARE MY HIDING PLACE: 50 PRAISE & WORSHIP SONGS, by The Maranatha Singers
You'll be lifting your hands and your voice while enjoying this
collection of praise & worship classics performed by the Maranatha
Singers---available only from CBD.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?260
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
======================================================================
