Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
March 18
MORNING
ÒYe are all the children of God by faith
in Christ Jesus.Ó — Galatians
3:26
The fatherhood of God is common to all his children.
Ah! Little-faith, you have often said, ÒOh that I had the courage of
Great-heart, that I could wield his sword and be as valiant as he! But, alas, I
stumble at every straw, and a shadow makes me afraid.Ó List thee, Littlefaith. Great-heart is GodÕs child, and you are GodÕs
child too; and Great-heart is not one whit more GodÕs child than you are. Peter
and Paul, the highly-favoured
apostles, were of the family of the Most High; and so are you also; the weak
Christian is as much a child of God as the strong one.
ÒThis covÕnant stands
secure,
Though earthÕs old pillars bow;
The strong, the feeble, and the weak,
Are one in Jesus now.Ó
All the names are in the same family register. One may
have more grace than another, but God our heavenly Father has the same tender
heart towards all. One may do more mighty works, and may bring more glory to
his Father, but he whose name is the least in the kingdom of heaven is as much
the child of God as he who stands among the KingÕs mighty men. Let this cheer
and comfort us, when we draw near to God and say, ÒOur Father.Ó
Yet, while we are comforted by
knowing this, let us not rest contented with weak faith, but ask, like
the Apostles, to have it increased. However feeble our faith may be, if it be
real faith in Christ, we shall reach heaven at last, but we shall not honour our Master much on our pilgrimage, neither shall we
abound in joy and peace. If then you would live to ChristÕs glory, and be happy
in His service, seek to be filled with the spirit of adoption more and more
completely, till perfect love shall cast out fear.
EVENING
ÒAs the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you.Ó — John 15:9
As the Father loves the Son, in the same manner Jesus
loves His people. What is that divine method? He loved Him without beginning,
and thus Jesus loves His members. ÒI have loved thee with an everlasting love.Ó
You can trace the beginning of human affection; you can easily find the
beginning of your love to Christ, but His love to us is a stream whose source
is hidden in eternity. God the Father loves Jesus without any change.
Christian, take this for your comfort, that there is no change in Jesus
ChristÕs love to those who rest in Him. Yesterday you were on TaborÕs top, and
you said, ÒHe loves me:Ó today you are in the valley of humiliation, but He
loves you still the same. On the hill Mizar, and
among the Hermons, you heard His voice, which spake so sweetly with the turtlenotes
of love; and now on the sea, or even in the sea, when all His waves and billows
go over you, His heart is faithful to His ancient choice. The Father loves the
Son without any end, and thus does the Son love His people. Saint, thou needest not fear the loosing of the silver cord, for His
love for thee will never cease. Rest confident that even down to the grave
Christ will go with you, and that up again from it He will be your guide to the
celestial hills. Moreover, the Father loves the Son without any measure, and
the same immeasurable love the Son bestows upon His chosen ones. The whole
heart of Christ is dedicated to His people. He Òloved us and gave Himself for
us.Ó His is a love which passeth knowledge. Ah! we have indeed an immutable Saviour,
a precious Saviour, one who loves without measure,
without change, without beginning, and without end, even as the Father loves
Him! There is much food here for those who know how to digest it. May the Holy
Ghost lead us into its marrow and fatness!