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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Sunday, June 15, 2008
MORNING:
"And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that
hear will laugh with me."
-- Genesis 21:6
It was far above the power of nature, and even contrary to its laws,
that the aged Sarah should be honoured with a son; and even so it is
beyond all ordinary rules that I, a poor, helpless, undone sinner,
should find grace to bear about in my soul the indwelling Spirit of the
Lord Jesus. I, who once despaired, as well I might, for my nature was
as dry, and withered, and barren, and accursed as a howling wilderness,
even I have been made to bring forth fruit unto holiness. Well may my
mouth be filled with joyous laughter, because of the singular,
surprising grace which I have received of the Lord, for I have found
Jesus, the promised seed, and he is mine for ever. This day will I lift
up psalms of triumph unto the Lord who has remembered my low estate,
for "my heart rejoiceth in the Lord; mine horn is exalted in the Lord;
my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies, because I rejoice in thy
salvation."
I would have all those that hear of my great deliverance from hell, and
my most blessed visitation from on high, laugh for joy with me. I would
surprise my family with my abundant peace; I would delight my friends
with my ever-increasing happiness; I would edify the Church with my
grateful confessions; and even impress the world with the cheerfulness
of my daily conversation. Bunyan tells us that Mercy laughed in her
sleep, and no wonder when she dreamed of Jesus; my joy shall not stop
short of hers while my Beloved is the theme of my daily thoughts. The
Lord Jesus is a deep sea of joy: my soul shall dive therein, shall be
swallowed up in the delights of his society. Sarah looked on her Isaac,
and laughed with excess of rapture, and all her friends laughed with
her; and thou, my soul, look on thy Jesus, and bid heaven and earth
unite in thy joy unspeakable.
EVENING:
"He openeth, and no man shutteth."
-- Revelation 3:7
Jesus is the keeper of the gates of paradise and before every believing
soul he setteth an open door, which no man or devil shall be able to
close against it. What joy it will be to find that faith in him is the
golden key to the everlasting doors. My soul, dost thou carry this key
in thy bosom, or art thou trusting to some deceitful pick-lock, which
will fail thee at last? Hear this parable of the preacher, and remember
it. The great King has made a banquet, and he has proclaimed to all the
world that none shall enter but those who bring with them the fairest
flower that blooms. The spirits of men advance to the gate by
thousands, and they bring each one the flower which he esteems the
queen of the garden; but in crowds they are driven from the royal
presence, and enter not into the festive halls. Some bear in their hand
the deadly nightshade of superstition, or the flaunting poppies of
Rome, or the hemlock of self- righteousness, but these are not dear to
the King, the bearers are shut out of the pearly gates. My soul, hast
thou gathered the rose of Sharon? Dost thou wear the lily of the valley
in thy bosom constantly? If so, when thou comest up to the gates of
heaven thou wilt know its value, for thou hast only to show this
choicest of flowers, and the Porter will open: not for a moment will he
deny thee admission, for to that rose the Porter openeth ever. Thou
shalt find thy way with the rose of Sharon in thy hand up to the throne
of God himself, for heaven itself possesses nothing that excels its
radiant beauty, and of all the flowers that bloom in paradise there is
none that can rival the lily of the valley. My soul, get Calvary's
blood-red rose into thy hand by faith, by love wear it, by communion
preserve it, by daily watchfulness make it thine all in all, and thou
shalt be blessed beyond all bliss, happy beyond a dream. Jesus, be mine
for ever, my God, my heaven, my all.
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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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