Evening and Morning
By Charles
Haddon Spurgeon
May 5
Morning
"I will be their God, and they shall be my
people."—2 Corinthians 6:16.
What a sweet title:
"My people!" What a cheering revelation: "Their God!" How
much of meaning is couched in those two words, "My people!" Here is speciality. The whole world is God's; the
heaven, even the heaven of heavens is the Lord's, and He reigneth
among the children of men; but of those whom He hath chosen, whom He hath
purchased to Himself, He saith what He saith not of others—"My people" In this
word there is the idea of proprietorship. In a special manner the
"Lord's portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance."
All the nations upon earth are His; the whole world is in His power; yet are
His people, His chosen, more especially His possession; for He has done more
for them than others; He has bought them with His blood; He has brought them
nigh to Himself; He has set His great heart upon them; He has loved them with
an everlasting love, a love which many waters cannot quench, and which the
revolutions of time shall never suffice in the least degree to diminish. Dear
friends, can you, by faith, see yourselves in that number? Can you look up to
heaven and say, "My Lord and my God: mine by that sweet relationship
which entitles me to call Thee Father; mine by that hallowed fellowship
which I delight to hold with Thee when Thou art pleased to manifest Thyself
unto me as Thou dost not unto the world?" Canst thou read the Book of
Inspiration, and find there the indentures of thy salvation? Canst thou read
thy title writ in precious blood? Canst thou, by humble faith, lay hold of
Jesus' garments, and say, "My Christ"? If thou canst, then God saith of thee, and of others like thee, "My
people;" for, if God be your God, and Christ your
Christ, the Lord has a special, peculiar favour to
you; you are the object of His choice, accepted in His beloved Son.
Evening
"He that handleth a
matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in
the Lord, happy is he."—Proverbs 16:20.
Wisdom is man's true
strength; and, under its guidance, he best accomplishes the ends of his being.
Wisely handling the matter of life gives to man the richest enjoyment, and
presents the noblest occupation for his powers; hence by it he finds good in
the fullest sense. Without wisdom, man is as the wild ass's colt, running
hither and thither, wasting strength which might be
profitably employed. Wisdom is the compass by which man is to steer across the
trackless waste of life; without it he is a derelict vessel, the sport of winds
and waves. A man must be prudent in such a world as this, or he will find no
good, but be betrayed into unnumbered ills. The pilgrim will sorely wound his
feet among the briers of the wood of life if he do not
pick his steps with the utmost caution. He who is in a wilderness infested with
robber bands must handle matters wisely if he would journey safely. If, trained
by the Great Teacher, we follow where He leads, we shall find good, even while
in this dark abode; there are celestial fruits to be gathered this side of
Eden's bowers, and songs of paradise to be sung amid the groves of earth. But
where shall this wisdom be found? Many have dreamed of it, but have not
possessed it. Where shall we learn it? Let us listen to the voice of the Lord,
for He hath declared the secret; He hath revealed to the sons of men wherein
true wisdom lieth, and we have it in the text,
"Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he." The
true way to handle a matter wisely is to trust in the Lord. This is the
sure clue to the most intricate labyrinths of life, follow it and find eternal
bliss. He who trusts in the Lord has a diploma for wisdom granted by
inspiration: happy is he now, and happier shall he be above. Lord, in this
sweet eventide walk with me in the garden, and teach me the wisdom of faith.