Morning & Evening for March 7th - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
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
lt
is better to trust in the Lord, than to put
confidence in man
Psalm 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.
Morning & Evening for February 28th - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Morning
My
expectation is from Him.
Psalm
62:5
It is the believer's
privilege to use this language. If he is looking
for aught from the world, it is a poor
"expectation" indeed. But if he looks to God for
the supply of his wants, whether in temporal or
spiritual blessings, his expectation" will not be a
vain one. Constantly he may draw from the bank of
faith, and get his need supplied out of the riches
of God's lovingkindness. This I know, I had rather
have God for my banker than all the Rothschilds. My
Lord never fails to honour His promises; and when
we bring them to His throne, He never sends them
back unanswered. Therefore I will wait only at His
door, for He ever opens it with the hand of
munificent grace. At this hour I will try Him anew.
But we have "expectations" beyond this life. We
shall die soon; and then our "expectation is from
Him." Do we not expect that when we lie upon the
bed of sickness He will send angels to carry us to
His bosom? We believe that when the pulse is faint,
and the heart heaves heavily, some angelic
messenger shall stand and look with loving eyes
upon us, and whisper, "Sister spirit, come away!"
As we approach the heavenly gate, we expect to hear
the welcome invitation, "Come, ye blessed of my
Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from
the foundation of the world." We are expecting
harps of gold and crowns of glory; we are hoping
soon to be amongst the multitude of shining ones
before the throne; we are looking forward and
longing for the time when we shall be like our
glorious Lord--for "We shall see Him as He is."
Then if these be thine "expectations," O my soul,
live for God; live with the desire and resolve to
glorify Him from whom cometh all thy supplies, and
of whose grace in thy election, redemption, and
calling, it is that thou hast any "expectation" of
coming glory.
Evening
The
barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of
oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which
He spake by Elijah.
1
Kings 17:16
See the faithfulness of
divine love. You observe that this woman had daily
necessities. She had herself and her son to feed in
a time of famine; and now, in addition, the prophet
Elijah was to be fed too. But though the need was
threefold, yet the supply of meal wasted not, for
she had a constant
supply. Each day she made calls
upon the barrel, but yet each day it remained the
same. You, dear reader, have daily necessities, and
because they come so frequently, you are apt to
fear that the barrel of meal will one day be empty,
and the cruse of oil will fail you. Rest assured
that, according to the Word of God, this shall not
be the case. Each day, though it bring its trouble,
shall bring its help; and though you should live to
outnumber the years of Methuselah, and though your
needs should be as many as the sands of the
seashore, yet shall God's grace and mercy last
through all your necessities, and you shall never
know a real lack. For three long years, in this
widow's days, the heavens never saw a cloud, and
the stars never wept a holy tear of dew upon the
wicked earth: famine, and desolation, and death,
made the land a howling wilderness, but this woman
never was hungry, but always joyful in abundance.
So shall it be with you. You shall see the sinner's
hope perish, for he trusts his native strength; you
shall see the proud Pharisee's confidence totter,
for he builds his hope upon the sand; you shall see
even your own schemes blasted and withered, but you
yourself shall find that your place of defence
shall be the munition of rocks: "Your bread shall
be given you, and your water shall be sure." Better
have God for your guardian, than the Bank of
England for your possession. You might spend the
wealth of the Indies, but the infinite riches of
God you can never exhaust.
Morning & Evening for February 14th - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Morning
And
his allowance was a continual allowance given him
of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the
days of his life.
2
Kings 25:30
Jehoiachin was not sent
away from the king's palace with a store to last
him for months, but his provision was given him as
a daily pension. Herein he well pictures the happy
position of all the Lord's people. A daily portion
is all that a man
really wants. We do not need
tomorrow's supplies; that day has not yet dawned,
and its wants are as yet unborn. The thirst which
we may suffer in the month of June does not need to
be quenched in February, for we do not feel it yet;
if we have enough for each day as the days arrive
we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day
is all that we can
enjoy. We cannot eat or drink
or wear more than the day's supply of food and
raiment; the surplus gives us the care of storing
it, and the anxiety of watching against a thief.
One staff aids a traveller, but a bundle of staves
is a heavy burden. Enough is not only as good as a
feast, but is all that the veriest glutton can
truly enjoy. This is all that we should
expect; a craving for more
than this is ungrateful. When our Father does not
give us more, we should be content with his daily
allowance. Jehoiachin's case is ours, we have a
sure portion, a portion given us of the
king, a gracious
portion,
and a perpetual
portion. Here is surely ground
for thankfulness.
Beloved Christian reader, in matters of
grace you need a daily
supply. You have no store of
strength. Day by day must you seek help from above.
It is a very sweet assurance that
a daily
portion is provided for you.
In the
word, through the ministry, by meditation, in
prayer, and waiting upon God you shall receive
renewed strength. In Jesus all needful things are
laid up for you. Then enjoy your
continual allowance. Never go hungry while
the daily bread of grace is on the table of mercy.
Evening
She
was healed immediately.
Luke 8:47
One of the most
touching and teaching of the Saviour's miracles is
before us to-night. The woman was very ignorant.
She imagined that virtue came out of Christ by a
law of necessity, without His knowledge or direct
will. Moreover, she was a stranger to the
generosity of Jesus' character, or she would not
have gone behind to steal the cure which He was so
ready to bestow. Misery should always place itself
right in the face of mercy. Had she known the love
of Jesus' heart, she would have said, "I have but
to put myself where He can see me--His omniscience
will teach Him my case, and His love at once will
work my cure." We admire her faith, but we marvel
at her ignorance. After she had obtained the cure,
she rejoiced with trembling: glad was she that the
divine virtue had wrought a marvel in her; but she
feared lest Christ should retract the blessing, and
put a negative upon the grant of His grace: little
did she comprehend the fulness of His love! We have
not so clear a view of Him as we could wish; we
know not the heights and depths of His love; but we
know of a surety that He is too good to withdraw
from a trembling soul the gift which it has been
able to obtain. But here is the marvel of it:
little as was her knowledge, her faith, because it
was real faith, saved her, and saved her at once.
There was no tedious delay--faith's miracle was
instantaneous. If we have faith as a grain of
mustard seed, salvation is our present and eternal
possession. If in the list of the Lord's children
we are written as the feeblest of the family, yet,
being heirs through faith, no power, human or
devilish, can eject us from salvation. If we dare
not lean our heads upon His bosom with John, yet if
we can venture in the press behind Him, and touch
the hem of his garment, we are made whole. Courage,
timid one! thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
"Being
justified
by faith, we have
peace with
God."
Morning & Evening for January 31st - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Morning
The
Lord our Righteousness.
Jeremiah 23:6
It will always give a
Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease, and
peace, to think of the perfect righteousness of
Christ. How often are the saints of God downcast
and sad! I do not think they ought to be. I do not
think they would if they could always see their
perfection in Christ. There are some who are always
talking about corruption, and the depravity of the
heart, and the innate evil of the soul. This is
quite true, but why not go a little further, and
remember that we are "perfect in Christ Jesus." It
is no wonder that those who are dwelling upon their
own corruption should wear such downcast looks; but
surely if we call to mind that "Christ is made unto
us righteousness," we shall be of good cheer. What
though distresses afflict me, though Satan assault
me, though there may be many things to be
experienced before I get to heaven, those are done
for me in the covenant of divine grace; there is
nothing wanting in my Lord, Christ hath done it
all. On the cross He said, "It is finished!" and if
it be finished, then am I complete in Him, and can
rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory,
"Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the
law, but that which is through the faith of Christ,
the righteousness which is of God by faith." You
will not find on this side heaven a holier people
than those who receive into their hearts the
doctrine of Christ's righteousness. When the
believer says, "I live on Christ alone; I rest on
Him solely for salvation; and I believe that,
however unworthy, I am still saved in Jesus;" then
there rises up as a motive of gratitude this
thought-- "Shall I not live to Christ? Shall I not
love Him and serve Him, seeing that I am saved by
His merits?" "The love of Christ constraineth us,"
"that they which live should not henceforth live
unto themselves but unto Him which died for them."
If saved by imputed righteousness, we shall greatly
value imparted righteousness.
Evening
Then
Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran
Cushi.
2 Samuel 18:23
Running is not
everything, there is much in the way which we
select: a swift foot over hill and down dale will
not keep pace with a slower traveller upon level
ground. How is it with my spiritual journey, am I
labouring up the hill of my own works and down into
the ravines of my own humiliations and resolutions,
or do I run by the plain way of "Believe and live"?
How blessed is it to wait upon the Lord by faith!
The soul runs without weariness, and walks without
fainting, in the way of believing. Christ Jesus is
the way of life, and He is a plain way, a pleasant
way, a way suitable for the tottering feet and
feeble knees of trembling sinners: am I found in
this way, or am I hunting after another track such
as priestcraft or metaphysics may promise me? I
read of the way of holiness, that the wayfaring
man, though a fool, shall not err therein: have I
been delivered from proud reason and been brought
as a little child to rest in Jesus' love and blood?
If so, by God's grace I shall outrun the strongest
runner who chooses any other path. This truth I may
remember to my profit in my daily cares and needs.
It will be my wisest course to go at once to my
God, and not to wander in a roundabout manner to
this friend and that. He knows my wants and can
relieve them, to whom should I repair but to
Himself by the direct appeal of prayer, and the
plain argument of the promise. "Straightforward
makes the best runner." I will not parlay with the
servants, but hasten to their master.
In reading this passage, it strikes me that if men
vie with each other in common matters, and one
outruns the other, I ought to be in solemn
earnestness so to run that I may obtain. Lord, help
me to gird up the loins of my mind, and may I press
forward towards the mark for the prize of my high
calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Morning & Evening for January 24th - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Morning
Surely he
shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler
Psalm
91:3
God delivers his people
from the snare of the fowler in two senses.
From and out of. First, he
delivers them from the snare does not let
them enter it; and secondly, if they should be
caught therein, he delivers them out of
it. The first promise is the most precious to some;
the second is the best to others.
He shall deliver thee from the snare. How?
Trouble is often the means whereby God delivers us.
God knows that our backsliding will soon end in our
destruction, and he in mercy sends the rod. We say,
Lord, why is this? not knowing that our trouble has
been the means of delivering us from far greater
evil. Many have been thus saved from ruin by their
sorrows and their crosses; these have frightened
the birds from the net. At other times, God keeps
his people from the snare of the fowler by
giving them great spiritual strength, so that when
they are tempted to do evil they say, How can I do
this great wickedness, and sin against God? But
what a blessed thing it is that if the believer
shall, in an evil hour, come into the net, yet God
will bring him out of it! O backslider, be cast
down, but do not despair. Wanderer though thou hast
been, hear what thy Redeemer saith:
Return, O backsliding children; I will have
mercy upon you. But you say you cannot return, for
you are a captive. Then listen to the promise
Surely he shall deliver thee out of the snare of
the fowler. Thou shalt yet be brought out of all
evil into which thou hast fallen, and though thou
shalt never cease to repent of thy ways, yet he
that hath loved thee will not cast thee away; he
will receive thee, and give thee joy and gladness,
that the bones which he has broken may rejoice. No
bird of paradise shall die in the fowlers net.
Evening
Martha was
cumbered about much serving.
Luke 10:40
Her fault was not that she served the condition of a servant well becomes every Christian. I serve, should be the motto of all the princes of the royal family of heaven. Nor was it her fault that she had much serving. We cannot do too much. Let us do all that we possibly can; let head, and heart, and hands, be engaged in the Masters service. It was no fault of hers that she was busy preparing a feast for the Master. Happy Martha, to have an opportunity of entertaining so blessed a guest; and happy, too, to have the spirit to throw her whole soul so heartily into the engagement. Her fault was that she grew cumbered with much serving, so that she forgot him, and only remembered the service. She allowed service to override communion, and so presented one duty stained with the blood of another. We ought to be Martha and Mary in one: we should do much service, and have much communion at the same time. For this we need great grace. It is easier to serve than to commune. Joshua never grew weary in fighting with the Amalekites; but Moses, on the top of the mountain in prayer, needed two helpers to sustain his hands. The more spiritual the exercise, the sooner we tire in it. The choicest fruits are the hardest to rear: the most heavenly graces are the most difficult to cultivate. Beloved, while we do not neglect external things, which are good enough in themselves, we ought also to see to it that we enjoy living, personal fellowship with Jesus. See to it that sitting at the Saviours feet is not neglected, even though it be under the specious pretext of doing him service. The first thing for our souls health, the first thing for his glory, and the first thing for our own usefulness, is to keep ourselves in perpetual communion with the Lord Jesus, and to see that the vital spirituality of our religion is maintained over and above everything else in the world.
Morning & Evening for January 17th - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Morning
And I
looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount
Sion.
Revelation 14:1
The apostle John was privileged
to look within the gates of heaven, and in
describing what he saw, he begins by saying, "I
looked, and, lo, a Lamb!" This teaches us that the
chief object of contemplation in the heavenly state
is "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of
the world." Nothing else attracted the apostle's
attention so much as the person of that Divine
Being, who hath redeemed us by His blood. He is the
theme of the songs of all glorified spirits and
holy angels. Christian, here is joy for thee; thou
hast looked, and thou hast seen the Lamb. Through
thy tears thine eyes have seen the Lamb of God
taking away thy sins. Rejoice, then. In a little
while, when thine eyes shall have been wiped from
tears, thou wilt see the same Lamb
exalted on His
throne. It is the joy of thy heart to
hold daily fellowship with Jesus; thou shalt have
the same joy to a higher degree in heaven; thou
shalt enjoy the constant vision of His presence;
thou shalt dwell with Him for ever. "I looked, and,
lo, a Lamb!" Why, that Lamb is heaven itself; for
as good Rutherford says, "Heaven and Christ are the
same thing;" to be with Christ is to be in heaven,
and to be in heaven is to be with Christ. That
prisoner of the Lord very sweetly writes in one of
his glowing letters--"O my Lord Jesus Christ, if I
could be in heaven without thee, it would be a
hell; and if I could be in hell, and have thee
still, it would be a heaven to me, for thou art all
the heaven I want." It is true, is it not,
Christian? Does not thy soul say
so?
"Not all the harps
above
Can make a heavenly place,
If God His residence remove,
Or but conceal His face."
Evening
And it came
to pass in an evening-tide, that David arose from
off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's
house.
2 Samuel 11:2
At that hour David saw Bathsheba.
We are never out of the reach of temptation. Both
at home and abroad we are liable to meet with
allurements to evil; the morning opens with peril,
and the shades of evening find us still in
jeopardy. They are well kept whom God keeps, but
woe unto those who go forth into the world, or even
dare to walk their own house unarmed. Those who
think themselves secure are more exposed to danger
than any others. The armour-bearer of Sin is
Self-confidence.
David should have been engaged in fighting the
Lord's battles, instead of which he tarried at
Jerusalem, and gave himself up to luxurious repose,
for he arose from his bed at eventide. Idleness and
luxury are the devil's jackals, and find him
abundant prey. In stagnant waters noxious creatures
swarm, and neglected soil soon yields a dense
tangle of weeds and briars. Oh for the constraining
love of Jesus to keep us active and useful! When I
see the King of Israel sluggishly leaving his couch
at the close of the day, and falling at once into
temptation, let me take warning, and set holy
watchfulness to guard the door.
Is it possible that the king had mounted his
housetop for retirement and devotion? If so, what a
caution is given us to count no place, however
secret, a sanctuary from sin! While our hearts are
so like a tinder-box, and sparks so plentiful, we
had need use all diligence in all places to prevent
a blaze. Satan can climb housetops, and enter
closets, and even if we could shut out that foul
fiend, our own corruptions are enough to work our
ruin unless grace prevent. Reader, beware of
evening temptations. Be not secure. The sun is down
but sin is up. We need a watchman for the night as
well as a guardian for the day. O blessed Spirit,
keep us from all evil this night. Amen.
Morning & Evening for January 10th - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Morning
There is
laid up for me a crown of
righteousness.
2 Timothy 4:8
Doubting one! thou hast
often said, "I fear I shall never enter heaven."
Fear not! all the people of God shall enter there.
I love the quaint saying of a dying man, who
exclaimed, "I have no fear of going home; I have
sent all before me; God's finger is on the latch of
my door, and I am ready for Him to enter." "But,"
said one, "are you not afraid lest you should miss
your inheritance?" "Nay," said he, "nay; there is
one crown in heaven which the angel Gabriel could
not wear, it will fit no head but mine. There is
one throne in heaven which Paul the apostle could
not fill; it was made for me, and I shall have it."
O Christian, what a joyous thought! thy portion is
secure; "there remaineth a rest." "But cannot I
forfeit it?" No, it is entailed. If I be a child of
God I shall not lose it. It is mine as securely as
if I were there. Come with me, believer, and let us
sit upon the top of Nebo, and view the goodly land,
even Canaan. Seest thou that little river of death
glistening in the sunlight, and across it dost thou
see the pinnacles of the eternal city? Dost thou
mark the pleasant country, and all its joyous
inhabitants? Know, then, that if thou couldst fly
across thou wouldst see written upon one of its
many mansions, "This remaineth for such a one;
preserved for him only. He shall be caught up to
dwell for ever with God." Poor doubting one, see
the fair inheritance; it is thine. If thou
believest in the Lord Jesus, if thou hast repented
of sin, if thou hast been renewed in heart, thou
art one of the Lord's people, and there is a place
reserved for thee, a crown laid up for thee, a harp
specially provided for thee. No one else shall have
thy portion, it is reserved in heaven for thee, and
thou shalt have it ere long, for there shall be no
vacant thrones in glory when all the chosen are
gathered in.
Evening
In my flesh
shall I see God.
Job 19:26
Mark the subject of Job's devout anticipation "I shall see God." He does not say, "I shall see the saints"--though doubtless that will be untold felicity--but, "I shall see God." It is not--"I shall see the pearly gates, I shall behold the walls of jasper, I shall gaze upon the crowns of gold," but "I shall see God." This is the sum and substance of heaven, this is the joyful hope of all believers. It is their delight to see Him now in the ordinances by faith. They love to behold Him in communion and in prayer; but there in heaven they shall have an open and unclouded vision, and thus seeing "Him as He is," shall be made completely like Him. Likeness to God--what can we wish for more? And a sight of God--what can we desire better? Some read the passage, "Yet, I shall see God in my flesh," and find here an allusion to Christ, as the "Word made flesh," and that glorious beholding of Him which shall be the splendour of the latter days. Whether so or not it is certain that Christ shall be the object of our eternal vision; nor shall we ever want any joy beyond that of seeing Him. Think not that this will be a narrow sphere for the mind to dwell in. It is but one source of delight, but that source is infinite. All His attributes shall be subjects for contemplation, and as He is infinite under each aspect, there is no fear of exhaustion. His works, His gifts, His love to us, and His glory in all His purposes, and in all His actions, these shall make a theme which will be ever new. The patriarch looked forward to this sight of God as a personal enjoyment. "Whom mine eye shall behold, and not another." Take realizing views of heaven's bliss; think what it will be to you. "Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty." All earthly brightness fades and darkens as we gaze upon it, but here is a brightness which can never dim, a glory which can never fade--"I shall see God."
Morning & Evening for January 3rd - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Morning
I
will give thee for a covenant of the
people.
Isaiah 49:8
Jesus
Christ is Himself the sum and substance of the
covenant, and as one of its gifts, He is the
property of every believer. Believer, canst thou
estimate what thou hast gotten in Christ? "In Him
dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
Consider that word "God" and its infinity, and then
meditate upon "perfect man" and all his beauty; for
all that Christ, as God and man, ever had, or can
have, is thine--out of pure free favour, passed
over to thee to be thine entailed property forever.
Our blessed Jesus, as God, is omniscient,
omnipresent, omnipotent. Will it not console you to
know that all these great and glorious attributes
are altogether yours? Has he power? That power is
yours to support and strengthen you, to overcome
your enemies, and to preserve you even to the end.
Has He love? Well, there is not a drop of love in
His heart which is not yours; you may dive into the
immense ocean of His love, and you may say of it
all, "It is mine." Hath He justice? It may seem a
stern attribute, but even that is yours, for He
will by His justice see to it that all which is
promised to you in the covenant of grace shall be
most certainly secured to you. And all that He has
as perfect man is yours. As a perfect man the
Father's delight was upon Him. He stood accepted by
the Most High. O believer, God's acceptance of
Christ is thine acceptance; for knowest thou not
that the love which the Father set on a perfect
Christ, He sets on thee now? For all that Christ
did is thine. That perfect righteousness which
Jesus wrought out, when through His stainless life
He kept the law and made it honourable, is thine,
and is imputed to thee. Christ is in the covenant.
"My God, I am thine--what a comfort divine!
What a blessing to know that the Saviour is mine!
In the heavenly Lamb thrice happy I am,
And my heart it doth dance at the sound of His
name."
Evening
The
voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye
the way of the Lord, make his paths
straight.
Luke 3:4
The
voice crying in the wilderness demanded a way for
the Lord, a way prepared, and a way prepared in the
wilderness. I would be attentive to the Master's
proclamation, and give Him a road into my heart,
cast up by gracious operations, through the desert
of my nature. The four directions in the text must
have my serious attention.
Every valley must be exalted. Low and grovelling
thoughts of God must be given up; doubting and
despairing must be removed; and self-seeking and
carnal delights must be forsaken. Across these deep
valleys a glorious causeway of grace must be
raised.
Every mountain and hill shall be laid low. Proud
creature- sufficiency, and boastful
self-righteousness, must be levelled, to make a
highway for the King of kings. Divine fellowship is
never vouchsafed to haughty, highminded sinners.
The Lord hath respect unto the lowly, and visits
the contrite in heart, but the lofty are an
abomination unto Him. My soul, beseech the Holy
Spirit to set thee right in this respect.
The crooked shall be made straight. The wavering
heart must have a straight path of decision for God
and holiness marked out for it. Double-minded men
are strangers to the God of truth. My soul, take
heed that thou be in all things honest and true, as
in the sight of the heart-searching God.
The rough places shall be made smooth.
Stumbling-blocks of sin must be removed, and thorns
and briers of rebellion must be uprooted. So great
a visitor must not find miry ways and stony places
when He comes to honour His favoured ones with His
company. Oh that this evening the Lord may find in
my heart a highway made ready by His grace, that He
may make a triumphal progress through the utmost
bounds of my soul, from the beginning of this year
even to the end of it.