Evening and Morning
By Charles
Haddon Spurgeon
March 14
MORNING
ÒLet him that thinketh he standeth take heed
lest he fall.Ó — 1 Corinthians 10:12
It is a curious fact, that there is such a thing as
being proud of grace. A man says, ÒI have great faith, I shall not fall; poor
little faith may, but I never shall.Ó ÒI have fervent love,Ó says another, ÒI
can stand, there is no danger of my going astray.Ó He
who boasts of grace has little grace to boast of. Some who do this imagine that
their graces can keep them, knowing not that the stream must flow constantly
from the fountain head, or else the brook will soon be
dry. If a continuous stream of oil comes not to the lamp, though it burn brightly to-day, it will smoke to-morrow, and noxious
will be its scent. Take heed that thou gloriest not
in thy graces, but let all thy glorying and confidence be in Christ and His
strength, for only so canst thou be kept from falling. Be much more in prayer.
Spend longer time in holy adoration. Read the Scriptures more earnestly and
constantly. Watch your lives more carefully. Live nearer to God. Take the best
examples for your pattern. Let your conversation be redolent of heaven. Let
your hearts be perfumed with affection for menÕs souls. So live that men may
take knowledge of you that you have been with Jesus, and have learned of Him;
and when that happy day shall come, when He whom you love shall say, ÒCome up
higher,Ó may it be your happiness to hear Him say, ÒThou hast fought a good
fight, thou hast finished thy course, and henceforth there is laid up for thee
a crown of righteousness which fadeth not away.Ó On,
Christian, with care and caution! On, with holy fear and trembling! On, with
faith and confidence in Jesus alone, and let your constant petition be, ÒUphold
me according to Thy word.Ó He is able, and He alone, ÒTo keep you from falling,
and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding
joy.Ó
EVENING
ÒI will take heed to my ways.Ó — Psalm 39:1
Fellow-pilgrim, say not in your heart, ÒI will go
hither and thither, and I shall not sin;Ó for you are never so out of danger of
sinning as to boast of security. The road is very miry,
it will be hard to pick your path so as not to soil your garments. This is a
world of pitch; you will need to watch often, if in handling it you are to keep
your hands clean. There is a robber at every turn of the road to rob you of
your jewels; there is a temptation in every mercy; there is a snare in every
joy; and if you ever reach heaven, it will be a miracle of divine grace to be
ascribed entirely to your FatherÕs power. Be on your guard. When a man carries
a bomb-shell in his hand, he should mind that he does
not go near a candle; and you too must take care that you enter not into
temptation. Even your common actions are edged tools; you must mind how you
handle them. There is nothing in this world to foster a ChristianÕs piety, but
everything to destroy it. How anxious should you be to look up to God, that He may keep you! Your prayer should be, ÒHold thou me up, and I
shall be safe.Ó Having prayed, you must also watch;
guarding every thought, word, and action, with holy jealousy. Do not expose
yourselves unnecessarily; but if called to exposure, if you are bidden to go
where the darts are flying, never venture forth without your shield; for if
once the devil finds you without your buckler, he will rejoice that his hour of
triumph is come, and will soon make you fall down wounded by his arrows. Though
slain you cannot be; wounded you may be. ÒBe sober; be vigilant, danger may be
in an hour when all seemeth securest to thee.Ó
Therefore, take heed to thy ways, and watch unto prayer. No man ever fell into
error through being too watchful. May the Holy Spirit guide us in all our ways,
so shall they always please the Lord.