Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
January 12
Morning
"Ye are
Christ's."—1 Corinthians 3:23.
Ye are
Christ's." You are His by donation, for the Father gave you to the Son;
His by His bloody purchase, for He counted down the price for your redemption;
His by dedication, for you have consecrated yourself to Him; His by relation,
for you are named by his name, and made one of His brethren and joint-heirs. Labour practically to show the world that you are the
servant, the friend, the bride of Jesus. When tempted
to sin, reply, "I cannot do this great wickedness, for I am
Christ's." Immortal principles forbid the friend of Christ to sin. When
wealth is before you to be won by sin, say that you are Christ's, and touch it
not. Are you exposed to difficulties and dangers? Stand fast in the evil day,
remembering that you are Christ's. Are you placed where others are sitting down
idly, doing nothing? Rise to the work with all your powers; and when the sweat
stands upon your brow, and you are tempted to loiter, cry, "No, I cannot stop,
for I am Christ's. If I were not purchased by blood, I might be like Issachar,
crouching between two burdens; but I am Christ's, and cannot loiter." When
the siren song of pleasure would tempt you from the path of right, reply,
"Thy music cannot charm me; I am Christ's." When the cause of God
invites thee, give thy goods and thyself away, for thou art Christ's. Never
belie thy profession. Be thou ever one of those whose manners are Christian,
whose speech is like the Nazarene, whose conduct and conversation are so
redolent of heaven, that all who see you may know that you are the Saviour's, recognizing in you His features of love and His
countenance of holiness. "I am a Roman!" was of old a reason for
integrity; far more, then, let it be your argument for holiness, "I am
Christ's!"
Evening
"I have
yet to speak on God's behalf."—Job 36:2.
We ought not to court
publicity for our virtue, or notoriety for our zeal; but,
at the same time, it is a sin to be always seeking to hide that which God has
bestowed upon us for the good of others. A Christian is not to be a village in
a valley, but "a city set upon a hill;" he is not to be a candle
under a bushel, but a candle in a candlestick, giving light to all. Retirement
may be lovely in its season, and to hide one's self is doubtless modest, but
the hiding of Christ in us can never be justified, and the keeping back
of truth which is precious to ourselves is a sin
against others and an offence against God. If you are of a nervous temperament
and of retiring disposition, take care that you do not too much indulge this
trembling propensity, lest you should be useless to the church. Seek in the
name of Him who was not ashamed of you to do some little violence to your
feelings, and tell to others what Christ has told to you. If thou canst not
speak with trumpet tongue, use the still small voice. If the pulpit must not be
thy tribune, if the press may not carry on its wings thy words, yet say with
Peter and John, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I
thee." By Sychar's well talk to the Samaritan
woman, if thou canst not on the mountain preach a sermon; utter the praises of
Jesus in the house, if not in the temple; in the field, if not upon the
exchange; in the midst of thine own household, if
thou canst not in the midst of the great family of man. From the hidden springs
within let sweetly flowing rivulets of testimony flow forth, giving drink to
every passer-by. Hide not thy talent; trade with it; and thou shalt bring in
good interest to thy Lord and Master. To speak for God will be refreshing to ourselves, cheering to saints, useful to sinners, and honouring to the Saviour. Dumb
children are an affliction to their parents. Lord, unloose all Thy children's
tongue.