Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
February 14
Morning
"And his
allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for
every day, all the days of his life."—2 Kings 25:30.
Jehoiachin was not sent away from the
king's palace with a store to last him for months, but his provision was given
him as a daily pension. Herein he well pictures the happy position of all the
Lord's people. A daily portion is all that a man really wants. We do not
need tomorrow's supplies; that day has not yet dawned, and its wants are as yet
unborn. The thirst which we may suffer in the month of June does not need to be
quenched in February, for we do not feel it yet; if we have enough for each day
as the days arrive we shall never know want. Sufficient for the day is all
that we can enjoy. We cannot eat or drink or wear more than the day's
supply of food and raiment; the surplus gives us the care of storing it, and
the anxiety of watching against a thief. One staff aids a traveller, but a
bundle of staves is a heavy burden. Enough is not only
as good as a feast, but is all that the veriest
glutton can truly enjoy. This is all that we should expect; a craving
for more than this is ungrateful. When our Father does not give us more, we
should be content with his daily allowance. Jehoiachin's
case is ours, we have a sure portion, a portion given
us of the king, a gracious portion, and a perpetual portion.
Here is surely ground for thankfulness.
Beloved Christian reader,
in matters of grace you need a daily supply. You have no store of strength.
Day by day must you seek help from above. It is a very
sweet assurance that a daily portion is provided for you. In the word,
through the ministry, by meditation, in prayer, and waiting upon God you shall
receive renewed strength. In Jesus all needful things are laid up for you. Then
enjoy your continual allowance. Never go hungry while the daily bread of
grace is on the table of mercy.
Evening
"She was
healed immediately."—Luke 8:47.
One of the most touching
and teaching of the Saviour's miracles is before us to-night. The woman was very ignorant. She imagined that
virtue came out of Christ by a law of necessity, without His knowledge or
direct will. Moreover, she was a stranger to the generosity of Jesus'
character, or she would not have gone behind to steal the cure
which He was so ready to bestow. Misery should always place itself right
in the face of mercy. Had she known the love of Jesus' heart, she would have
said, "I have but to put myself where He can see me—His omniscience
will teach Him my case, and His love at once will work my cure." We admire
her faith, but we marvel at her ignorance. After she had obtained the cure, she
rejoiced with trembling: glad was she that the divine virtue had wrought a
marvel in her; but she feared lest Christ should retract the blessing, and put
a negative upon the grant of His grace: little did she comprehend the fulness of His love! We have not so clear a view of Him as
we could wish; we know not the heights and depths of His love; but we know of a
surety that He is too good to withdraw from a trembling soul the gift which it
has been able to obtain. But here is the marvel of it: little as was her
knowledge, her faith, because it was real faith, saved her, and saved her at
once. There was no tedious delay—faith's miracle was instantaneous. If we
have faith as a grain of mustard seed, salvation is our present and eternal
possession. If in the list of the Lord's children we are written as the
feeblest of the family, yet, being heirs through faith, no power, human or
devilish, can eject us from salvation. If we dare not lean our heads upon His
bosom with John, yet if we can venture in the press behind Him, and touch the
hem of his garment, we are made whole. Courage, timid one! thy
faith hath saved thee; go in peace. "Being justified by faith, we have
peace with God."