Evening and Morning
By Charles Haddon Spurgeon
July 29
Morning
"Nevertheless
I am continually with Thee."—Psalm 73:23.
ÒNeverthelessÓ—As if,
notwithstanding all the foolishness and ignorance which David had just been
confessing to God, not one atom the less was it true and certain that David was
saved and accepted, and that the blessing of being constantly in God's presence
was undoubtedly his. Fully conscious of his own lost estate, and of the
deceitfulness and vileness of his nature, yet, by a glorious outburst of faith,
he sings "nevertheless I am continually with
Thee." Believer, you are forced to enter into Asaph's
confession and acknowledgment, endeavour in like
spirit to say "nevertheless, since I belong to Christ I am continually
with God!" By this is meant continually upon His mind, He is always
thinking of me for my good. Continually before His eye;—the eye of the Lord never sleepeth, but is perpetually watching over my welfare.
Continually in His hand, so that none shall be able to pluck me thence.
Continually on His heart, worn there as a memorial, even as the high
priest bore the names of the twelve tribes upon his heart for
ever. Thou always thinkest of me, O God. The
bowels of Thy love continually yearn towards me. Thou art always making
providence work for my good. Thou hast set me as a signet upon thine arm; thy love is strong as death, many waters cannot
quench it; neither can the floods drown it. Surprising grace! Thou seest me in Christ, and though in myself abhorred, Thou beholdest me as wearing Christ's garments, and washed in
His blood, and thus I stand accepted in Thy presence. I am thus continually in
Thy favour—"continually with Thee."
Here is comfort for the tried and afflicted soul;
vexed with the tempest within—look at the calm without. "Nevertheless"—O
say it in thy heart, and take the peace it gives.
"Nevertheless I am continually with Thee."
"All
that the Father giveth Me
shall come to Me."—John 6:37.
This declaration involves the
doctrine of election: there are some whom the Father gave to Christ. It
involves the doctrine of effectual calling: these who are given must and
shall come; however stoutly they may set themselves against it, yet they shall
be brought out of darkness into God's marvellous
light. It teaches us the indispensable necessity of faith; for even
those who are given to Christ are not saved except they come to Jesus. Even they
must come, for there is no other way to heaven but by the door, Christ Jesus.
All that the Father gives to our Redeemer must come to Him, therefore
none can come to heaven except they come to Christ.
Oh! the
power and majesty which rest in the words "shall come." He
does not say they have power to come, nor they may come if they will, but they "shall
come." The Lord Jesus doth by His messengers, His word, and His
Spirit, sweetly and graciously compel men to come in that they may eat of His
marriage supper; and this He does, not by any violation of the free agency of
man, but by the power of His grace. I may exercise power over another man's
will, and yet that other man's will may be perfectly free, because the
constraint is exercised in a manner accordant with the laws of the human mind.
Jehovah Jesus knows how, by irresistible arguments addressed to the understanding,
by mighty reasons appealing to the affections, and by the mysterious influence
of His Holy Spirit operating upon all the powers and passions of the soul, so
to subdue the whole man, that whereas he was once rebellious, he yields
cheerfully to His government, subdued by sovereign love. But how shall those be
known whom God hath chosen? By this result: that they do willingly and joyfully
accept Christ, and come to Him with simple and unfeigned faith, resting upon
Him as all their salvation and all their desire. Reader, have you thus come to
Jesus?