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."