Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
March 2
MORNING
ÒBut all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his ax, and his mattock.Ó — 1 Samuel 13:20
We
are engaged in a great war with the Philistines of evil. Every weapon within
our reach must be used. Preaching, teaching, praying, giving, all must be
brought into action, and talents which have been
thought too mean for service, must now be employed. Coulter, and axe, and
mattock, may all be useful in slaying Philistines; rough tools may deal hard
blows, and killing need not be elegantly done, so long as it is done
effectually. Each moment of time, in season or out of season; each fragment of
ability, educated or untutored; each opportunity, favourable
or unfavourable, must be used, for our foes are many
and our force but slender. Most of our tools want sharpening; we need quickness
of perception, tact, energy, promptness, in a word,
complete adaptation for the LordÕs work. Practical common sense is a very
scarce thing among the conductors of Christian enterprises. We might learn from
our enemies if we would, and so make the Philistines sharpen our weapons. This
morning let us note enough to sharpen our zeal during this day by the aid of
the Holy Spirit. See the energy of the Papists, how they compass sea and land
to make one proselyte, are they to monopolize all the earnestness? Mark the
heathen devotees, what tortures they endure in the service of their idols! are they alone to exhibit patience and self-sacrifice?
Observe the prince of darkness, how persevering in his endeavours,
how unabashed in his attempts, how daring in his plans, how thoughtful in his
plots, how energetic in all! The devils are united as one man in their infamous
rebellion, while we believers in Jesus are divided in our service of God, and
scarcely ever work with unanimity. O that from SatanÕs infernal industry we may
learn to go about like good Samaritans, seeking whom we may bless!
EVENING
ÒUnto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.Ó — Ephesians 3:8
The
apostle Paul felt it a great privilege to be allowed to preach the gospel. He
did not look upon his calling as a drudgery, but he
entered upon it with intense delight. Yet while Paul was thus thankful for his
office, his success in it greatly humbled him. The fuller a vessel becomes, the
deeper it sinks in the water. Idlers may indulge a fond conceit of their
abilities, because they are untried; but the earnest worker soon learns his own
weakness. If you seek humility, try hard work; if you would know your nothingness, attempt some great thing for Jesus. If you
would feel how utterly powerless you are apart from the living God, attempt
especially the great work of proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ, and
you will know, as you never knew before, what a weak unworthy thing you are.
Although the apostle thus knew and confessed his weakness, he was never
perplexed as to the subject of his ministry. From his first sermon to his last,
Paul preached Christ, and nothing but Christ. He lifted up the cross, and
extolled the Son of God who bled thereon. Follow his example in all your
personal efforts to spread the glad tidings of salvation, and let ÒChrist and
Him crucifiedÓ be your ever recurring theme. The
Christian should be like those lovely spring flowers which,
when the sun is shining, open their golden cups, as if saying, ÒFill us with
thy beams!Ó but when the sun is hidden behind a cloud, they close their cups
and droop their heads. So should the Christian feel the sweet influence of
Jesus; Jesus must be his sun, and he must be the flower which
yields itself to the Sun of Righteousness. Oh! to
speak of Christ alone, this is the subject which is both Òseed for the sower,
and bread for the eater.Ó This is the live coal for the lip of the speaker, and
the master-key to the heart of the hearer.