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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING http://www.heartlight.org/
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Tuesday, May 5, 2009
MORNING:
"I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
-- 2 Corinthians 6:16
What a sweet title: "My people!" What a cheering revelation: "Their
God!" How much of meaning is couched in those two words, "My people!"
Here is speciality. The whole world is God's; the heaven, even the
heaven of heavens is the Lord's, and he reigneth among the children of
men; but of those whom he hath chosen, whom he hath purchased to
himself, he saith what he saith not of others-"My people." In this word
there is the idea of proprietorship. In a special manner the "Lord's
portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance." All the
nations upon earth are his; the whole world is in his power; yet are
his people, his chosen, more especially his possession; for he has done
more for them than others; he has bought them with his blood; he has
brought them nigh to himself; he has set his great heart upon them; he
has loved them with an everlasting love, a love which many waters
cannot quench, and which the revolutions of time shall never suffice in
the least degree to diminish. Dear friends, can you, by faith, see
yourselves in that number? Can you look up to heaven and say, "My Lord
and my God: mine by that sweet relationship which entitles me to call
thee Father; mine by that hallowed fellowship which I delight to hold
with thee when thou art pleased to manifest thyself unto me as thou
dost not unto the world?" Canst thou read the Book of Inspiration, and
find there the indentures of thy salvation? Canst thou read thy title
writ in precious blood? Canst thou, by humble faith, lay hold of Jesus'
garments, and say, "My Christ"? If thou canst, then God saith of thee,
and of others like thee, "My people;" for, if God be your God, and
Christ your Christ, the Lord has a special, peculiar favour to you; you
are the object of his choice, accepted in his beloved Son.
EVENING:
"He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso
trusteth in the Lord, happy is he."
-- Proverbs 16:20
Wisdom is man's true strength; and, under its guidance, he best
accomplishes the ends of his being. Wisely handling the matter of life
gives to man the richest enjoyment, and presents the noblest occupation
for his powers; hence by it he finds good in the fullest sense. Without
wisdom, man is as the wild ass's colt, running hither and thither,
wasting strength which might be profitably employed. Wisdom is the
compass by which man is to steer across the trackless waste of life;
without it he is a derelict vessel, the sport of winds and waves. A man
must be prudent in such a world as this, or he will find no good, but
be betrayed into unnumbered ills. The pilgrim will sorely wound his
feet among the briers of the wood of life if he do not pick his steps
with the utmost caution. He who is in a wilderness infested with robber
bands must handle matters wisely if he would journey safely. If,
trained by the Great Teacher, we follow where he leads, we shall find
good, even while in this dark abode; there are celestial fruits to be
gathered this side of Eden's bowers, and songs of paradise to be sung
amid the groves of earth. But where shall this wisdom be found? Many
have dreamed of it, but have not possessed it. Where shall we learn it?
Let us listen to the voice of the Lord, for he hath declared the
secret; he hath revealed to the sons of men wherein true wisdom lieth,
and we have it in the text, "Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he."
The true way to handle a matter wisely is to trust in the Lord. This is
the sure clue to the most intricate labyrinths of life, follow it and
find eternal bliss. He who trusts in the Lord has a diploma for wisdom
granted by inspiration: happy is he now, and happier shall he be above.
Lord, in this sweet eventide walk with me in the garden, and teach me
the wisdom of faith.
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=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
SURPRISED BY HOPE: RETHINKING HEAVEN, THE RESURRECTION, AND THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH, by N. T. Wright
Wright convincingly argues that what we believe about life after death
directly affects what we believe about life before death.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?255
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MORNING & EVENING from HEARTLIGHT /\/\
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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
and preacher Charles Spurgeon. It's part of HEARTLIGHT Magazine,
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