Evening and Morning
By Charles
Haddon Spurgeon
May 14
Morning
"Joint heirs with Christ."—Romans 8:17.
The boundless realms of His
Father's universe are Christ's by prescriptive right. As "heir of all
things," He is the sole proprietor of the vast creation of God, and He has
admitted us to claim the whole as ours, by virtue of that deed of joint-heir-ship which the Lord hath ratified with His chosen people. The golden streets of paradise, the pearly gates, the river of
life, the transcendent bliss, and the unutterable glory, are, by our blessed
Lord, made over to us for our everlasting possession. All
that He has He shares with His people. The crown royal He has placed
upon the head of His Church, appointing her a kingdom, and calling her sons a
royal priesthood, a generation of priests and kings. He uncrowned
Himself that we might have a coronation of glory; He would not sit upon His own
throne until He had procured a place upon it for all who overcome by His blood.
Crown the head and the whole body shares the honour.
Behold here the reward of every Christian conqueror! Christ's throne, crown, sceptre, palace, treasure, robes, heritage, are yours. Far
superior to the jealousy, selfishness, and greed, which admit of no
participation of their advantages, Christ deems His happiness completed by His
people sharing it. "The glory which thou gavest
me have I given them." "These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be
full." The smiles of His Father are all the sweeter to Him, because His
people share them. The honours of His kingdom are
more pleasing, because His people appear with Him in glory. More valuable to
Him are His conquests, since they have taught His people to overcome. He
delights in His throne, because on it there is a place for them. He rejoices in
His royal robes, since over them His skirts are spread. He delights the more in
His joy, because He calls them to enter into it.
Evening
"He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and
carry them in His bosom."—Isaiah 40:11.
Who is He of whom such
gracious words are spoken? He is THE GOOD SHEPHERD. Why doth He carry the lambs
in His bosom? Because He hath a tender heart, and any weakness at once melts
His heart. The sighs, the ignorance, the feebleness of the little ones of
His flock draw forth His compassion. It is His office, as a faithful
High Priest, to consider the weak. Besides, He purchased them with blood,
they are His property: He must and will care for that which cost Him so
dear. Then He is responsible for each lamb, bound by covenant
engagements not to lose one. Moreover, they are all a part of His glory and
reward.
But
how may we understand the expression, "He will carry them"?
Sometimes He carries them by not permitting them to endure much trial.
Providence deals tenderly with them. Often they are "carried" by
being filled with an unusual degree of love, so that they bear up and
stand fast. Though their knowledge may not be deep, they have great sweetness
in what they do know. Frequently He "carries" them by giving them a
very simple faith, which takes the promise just as it stands, and
believingly runs with every trouble straight to Jesus. The simplicity of their
faith gives them an unusual degree of confidence, which carries them above the
world.
"He
carries the lambs in His bosom." Here is boundless affection.
Would He put them in His bosom if He did not love them much? Here is tender
nearness: so near are they, that they could not possibly be nearer. Here is
hallowed familiarity: there are precious love-passages between Christ
and His weak ones. Here is perfect safety: in His bosom who can hurt
them? They must hurt the Shepherd first. Here is perfect rest and sweetest
comfort. Surely we are not sufficiently sensible of the infinite tenderness
of Jesus!