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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING http://www.heartlight.org/
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Sunday, May 17, 2009
MORNING:
"So to walk even as he walked."
-- 1 John 2:6
Why should Christians imitate Christ? They should do it for their own
sakes. If they desire to be in a healthy state of soul-if they would
escape the sickness of sin, and enjoy the vigour of growing grace, let
Jesus be their model. For their own happiness' sake, if they would
drink wine on the lees, well refined; if they would enjoy holy and
happy communion with Jesus; if they would be lifted up above the cares
and troubles of this world, let them walk even as he walked. There is
nothing which can so assist you to walk towards heaven with good speed,
as wearing the image of Jesus on your heart to rule all its motions. It
is when, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you are enabled to walk with
Jesus in his very footsteps, that you are most happy, and most known to
be the sons of God. Peter afar off is both unsafe and uneasy. Next, for
religion's sake, strive to be like Jesus. Ah! poor religion, thou hast
been sorely shot at by cruel foes, but thou hast not been wounded
one-half so dangerously by thy foes as by thy friends. Who made those
wounds in the fair hand of Godliness? The professor who used the dagger
of hypocrisy. The man who with pretences, enters the fold, being nought
but a wolf in sheep's clothing, worries the flock more than the lion
outside. There is no weapon half so deadly as a Judas-kiss.
Inconsistent professors injure the gospel more than the sneering critic
or the infidel. But, especially for Christ's own sake, imitate his
example. Christian, lovest thou thy Saviour? Is his name precious to
thee? Is his cause dear to thee? Wouldst thou see the kingdoms of the
world become his? Is it thy desire that he should be glorified? Art
thou longing that souls should be won to him? If so, imitate Jesus; be
an "epistle of Christ, known and read of all men."
EVENING:
"Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee."
-- Isaiah 41:9
If we have received the grace of God in our hearts, its practical
effect has been to make us God's servants. We may be unfaithful
servants, we certainly are unprofitable ones, but yet, blessed be his
name, we are his servants, wearing his livery, feeding at his table,
and obeying his commands. We were once the servants of sin, but he who
made us free has now taken us into his family and taught us obedience
to his will. We do not serve our Master perfectly, but we would if we
could. As we hear God's voice saying unto us, "Thou art my servant," we
can answer with David, "I am thy servant; thou hast loosed my bonds."
But the Lord calls us not only his servants, but his chosen ones-"I
have chosen thee." We have not chosen him first, but he hath chosen us.
If we be God's servants, we were not always so; to sovereign grace the
change must be ascribed. The eye of sovereignty singled us out, and the
voice of unchanging grace declared, "I have loved thee with an
everlasting love." Long ere time began or space was created God had
written upon his heart the names of his elect people, had predestinated
them to be conformed unto the image of his Son, and ordained them heirs
of all the fulness of his love, his grace, and his glory. What comfort
is here! Has the Lord loved us so long, and will he yet cast us away?
He knew how stiffnecked we should be, he understood that our hearts
were evil, and yet he made the choice. Ah! our Saviour is no fickle
lover. He doth not feel enchanted for awhile with some gleams of beauty
from his church's eye, and then afterwards cast her off because of her
unfaithfulness. Nay, he married her in old eternity; and it is written
of Jehovah, "He hateth putting away." The eternal choice is a bond upon
our gratitude and upon his faithfulness which neither can disown.
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MORNING & EVENING from HEARTLIGHT /\/\
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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
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