Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
September 2
Morning
"But
Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell Him of her."—Mark 1:30.
Very interesting is this
little peep into the house of the Apostolic Fisherman. We see at once that
household joys and cares are no hindrance to the full exercise of ministry,
nay, that since they furnish an opportunity for personally witnessing the
Lord's gracious work upon one's own flesh and blood, they may even instruct the
teacher better than any other earthly discipline. Papists and other sectaries
may decry marriage, but true Christianity and household life agree well
together. Peter's house was probably a poor fisherman's hut, but the Lord of
Glory entered it, lodged in it, and wrought a miracle in it. Should our little
book be read this morning in some very humble cottage, let this fact encourage
the inmates to seek the company of King Jesus. God is oftener in little huts
than in rich palaces. Jesus is looking round your room now, and is waiting to
be gracious to you. Into Simon's house sickness had entered, fever in a deadly
form had prostrated his mother-in-law, and as soon as Jesus came they told Him
of the sad affliction, and He hastened to the patient's bed. Have you any
sickness in the house this morning? You will find Jesus by far the best physician,
go to Him at once and tell Him all about the matter. Immediately lay the case
before Him. It concerns one of His people, and therefore will not be trivial to
Him. Observe, that at once the Saviour restored the
sick woman; none can heal as He does. We may not make
sure that the Lord will at once remove all disease from those we love, but we
may know that believing prayer for the sick is far more likely to be followed
by restoration than anything else in the world; and where this avails not, we must
meekly bow to His will by whom life and death are determined. The tender heart
of Jesus waits to hear our griefs, let us pour them
into His patient ear.
Evening
"Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe."—John 4:48.
A craving after marvels was
a symptom of the sickly state of men's minds in our Lord's day;
they refused solid nourishment, and pined after mere wonder. The gospel which they so greatly needed they would not have; the
miracles which Jesus did not always choose to give they eagerly demanded. Many
nowadays must see signs and wonders, or they will not believe. Some have said
in their heart, "I must feel deep horror of soul, or I never will believe
in Jesus." But what if you never should feel it, as probably you never
may? Will you go to hell out of spite against God, because He will not treat
you like another? One has said to himself, "If I
had a dream, or if I could feel a sudden shock of I know not what, then I would
believe." Thus you undeserving mortals dream that my Lord is to be
dictated to by you! You are beggars at His gate, asking for mercy, and you must needs draw up rules and regulations as to how He shall
give that mercy. Think you that He will submit to this? My Master is of a
generous spirit, but He has a right royal heart, He spurns all dictation, and
maintains His sovereignty of action. Why, dear reader, if such be your case, do you crave for signs and wonders? Is not the
gospel its own sign and wonder? Is not this a miracle of miracles, that
"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him might not perish"? Surely that precious word,
"Whosoever will, let him come and take the water of life freely" and
that solemn promise, "Him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast
out," are better than signs and wonders! A truthful Saviour
ought to be believed. He is truth itself. Why will you ask proof of the
veracity of One who cannot lie? The devils themselves declared Him to be the
Son of God; will you mistrust Him?