Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
September 6
Morning
"In the
midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the
world."—Philippians 2:15.
We use lights to make
manifest. A Christian man should so shine in his life, that a person could
not live with him a week without knowing the gospel. His conversation should be
such that all who are about him should clearly perceive whose he is, and whom
he serves; and should see the image of Jesus reflected in his daily actions.
Lights are intended for guidance. We are to help those around us who are
in the dark. We are to hold forth to them the Word of life. We are to point
sinners to the Saviour, and the weary to a divine
resting-place. Men sometimes read their Bibles, and fail to understand them; we
should be ready, like Philip, to instruct the inquirer in the meaning of God's
Word, the way of salvation, and the life of godliness. Lights are also used for
warning. On our rocks and shoals a light-house
is sure to be erected. Christian men should know that there are many false
lights shown everywhere in the world, and therefore the right light is needed.
The wreckers of Satan are always abroad, tempting the ungodly to sin under the
name of pleasure; they hoist the wrong light, be it ours to put up the true
light upon every dangerous rock, to point out every sin, and tell what it leads
to, that so we may be clear of the blood of all men, shining as lights in the
world. Lights also have a very cheering influence, and so have
Christians. A Christian ought to be a comforter, with kind words on his lips,
and sympathy in his heart; he should carry sunshine wherever he goes, and
diffuse happiness around him.
Gracious Spirit dwell with
me; I myself would gracious be, And with words that
help and heal Would thy life in mine reveal, And with actions bold and meek
Would for Christ my Saviour speak.
Evening
"If ye
be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."—Galatians 5:18.
He who looks at his own
character and position from a legal point of view, will not only despair when
he comes to the end of his reckoning, but if he be a wise man he will
despair at the beginning; for if we are to be judged on the footing of
the law, there shall no flesh living be justified. How blessed to know that we
dwell in the domains of grace and not of law! When thinking of my state before
God the question is not, "Am I perfect in myself before the law?"
but, "Am I perfect in Christ Jesus?" That is a very different matter.
We need not enquire, "Am I without sin naturally?"
but, "Have I been washed in the fountain opened for sin and for
uncleanness?" It is not "Am I in myself well pleasing to God?"
but it is "Am I accepted in the Beloved?" The Christian views his
evidences from the top of Sinai, and grows alarmed concerning his salvation; it
were better far if he read his title by the light of Calvary. "Why," saith he, "my faith has unbelief in it, it is not able
to save me." Suppose he had considered the object of his faith
instead of his faith, then he would have said, "There is no failure in Him,
and therefore I am safe." He sighs over his hope: "Ah! my hope is marred and dimmed by an anxious carefulness about
present things; how can I be accepted?" Had he regarded the ground
of his hope, he would have seen that the promise of God standeth
sure, and that whatever our doubts may be, the oath and promise never fail. Ah!
believer, it is safer always for you to be led of the
Spirit into gospel liberty than to wear legal fetters. Judge yourself at what Christ
is rather than at what you are. Satan will try to mar your peace by
reminding you of your sinfulness and imperfections: you can only meet his
accusations by faithfully adhering to the gospel and refusing to wear the yoke
of bondage.