Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
May 17
Morning
"So to walk even as He walked."—1 John 2:6.
Why should Christians
imitate Christ? They should do it for their own sakes. If they desire to
be in a healthy state of soul—if they would escape the sickness of sin,
and enjoy the vigour of growing grace, let Jesus be
their model. For their own happiness' sake, if they would drink wine on the
lees, well refined; if they would enjoy holy and happy communion with Jesus; if
they would be lifted up above the cares and troubles of this world, let them
walk even as He walked. There is nothing which can so
assist you to walk towards heaven with good speed, as wearing the image of
Jesus on your heart to rule all its motions. It is when, by the power of the
Holy Spirit, you are enabled to walk with Jesus in His very footsteps, that you
are most happy, and most known to be the sons of God. Peter afar off is both
unsafe and uneasy. Next, for religion's sake, strive to be like Jesus.
Ah! poor religion, thou hast been sorely shot at by
cruel foes, but thou hast not been wounded one-half so dangerously by thy foes
as by thy friends. Who made those wounds in the fair hand of Godliness? The professor who used the dagger of hypocrisy. The man who
with pretences, enters the fold, being nought but a wolf in sheep's clothing, worries the flock
more than the lion outside. There is no weapon half so deadly as a Judas-kiss.
Inconsistent professors injure the gospel more than the sneering critic or the
infidel. But, especially for Christ's own sake, imitate His example.
Christian, lovest thou thy Saviour?
Is His name precious to thee? Is His cause dear to thee? Wouldst thou see the
kingdoms of the world become His? Is it thy desire that He should be glorified?
Art thou longing that souls should be won to Him? If so, imitate Jesus; be an "epistle of Christ, known and read of all
men."
Evening
"Thou art My servant;
I have chosen thee."—Isaiah 41:9.
If we have received the
grace of God in our hearts, its practical effect has been to make us God's servants.
We may be unfaithful servants, we certainly are unprofitable ones, but yet,
blessed be His name, we are His servants, wearing His livery, feeding at His
table, and obeying His commands. We were once the servants of sin, but He who
made us free has now taken us into His family and taught us obedience to His
will. We do not serve our Master perfectly, but we would if we could. As we
hear God's voice saying unto us, "Thou art My
servant," we can answer with David, "I am thy servant; Thou hast loosed
my bonds." But the Lord calls us not only His servants, but His chosen ones—"I have chosen
thee." We have not chosen Him first, but He hath chosen us. If we be God's
servants, we were not always so; to sovereign grace
the change must be ascribed. The eye of sovereignty singled us out, and the
voice of unchanging grace declared, "I have loved thee with an everlasting
love." Long ere time began or space was created God had written upon His
heart the names of His elect people, had predestinated them to be conformed
unto the image of His Son, and ordained them heirs of all the fulness of His love, His grace, and His glory. What comfort
is here! Has the Lord loved us so long, and will He yet cast us away? He knew
how stiffnecked we should be, He understood that our
hearts were evil, and yet He made the choice. Ah! our Saviour is no fickle lover. He doth not feel enchanted for awhile with some gleams of beauty from His church's eye, and
then afterwards cast her off because of her unfaithfulness. Nay, He married her
in old eternity; and it is written of Jehovah, "He hateth
putting away." The eternal choice is a bond upon our gratitude and
upon His faithfulness which neither can disown.