Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
by C. H. Spurgeon
Wednesday Morning, July 13
God said to Jonah, Doest thou well to be angry?
Jonah 4:9
Anger is not always or necessarily sinful, but it has such a tendency to run wild that whenever it displays itself, we should be quick to question its character, with this enquiry, Doest thou well to be angry? It may be that we can answer, YES. Very frequently anger is the madman's firebrand, but sometimes it is Elijah's fire from heaven. We do well when we are angry with sin, because of the wrong which it commits against our good and gracious God; or with ourselves because we remain so foolish after so much divine instruction; or with others when the sole cause of anger is the evil which they do. He who is not angry at transgression becomes a partaker in it. Sin is a loathsome and hateful thing, and no renewed heart can patiently endure it. God himself is angry with the wicked every day, and it is written in His Word, Ye that love the Lord, hate evil. Far more frequently it is to be feared that our anger is not commendable or even justifiable, and then we must answer, NO. Why should we be fretful with children, passionate with servants, and wrathful with companions? Is such anger honourable to our Christian profession, or glorifying to God? Is it not the old evil heart seeking to gain dominion, and should we not resist it with all the might of our newborn nature? Many professors give way to temper as though it were useless to attempt resistance; but let the believer remember that he must be a conqueror in every point, or else he cannot be crowned. If we cannot control our tempers, what has grace done for us? Some one told Mr. Jay that grace was often grafted on a crab-stump. Yes, said he, but the fruit will not be crabs. We must not make natural infirmity an excuse for sin, but we must fly to the cross and pray the Lord to crucify our tempers, and renew us in gentleness and meekness after His own image.
Evening, July 13
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
Psalm 56:9
It is impossible for any human speech to express the full meaning of this delightful phrase, God is for me. He was for us before the worlds were made; he was for us, or he would not have given his well-beloved son; he was for us when he smote the Only-begotten, and laid the full weight of his wrath upon him--he was for us, though he was against him; he was for us, when we were ruined in the fall--he loved us notwithstanding all; he was for us, when we were rebels against him, and with a high hand were bidding him defiance; he was for us, or he would not have brought us humbly to seek his face. He has been for us in many struggles; we have been summoned to encounter hosts of dangers; we have been assailed by temptations from without and within--how could we have remained unharmed to this hour if he had not been for us? He is for us, with all the infinity of his being; with all the omnipotence of his love; with all the infallibility of his wisdom; arrayed in all his divine attributes, he is for us,--eternally and immutably for us; for us when yon blue skies shall be rolled up like a worn out vesture; for us throughout eternity. And because he is for us, the voice of prayer will always ensure his help. When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies be turned back. This is no uncertain hope, but a well grounded assurance--this I know. I will direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up for the answer, assured that it will come, and that mine enemies shall be defeated, for God is for me. O believer, how happy art thou with the King of kings on thy side! How safe with such a Protector! How sure thy cause pleaded by such an Advocate! If God be for thee, who can be against thee?
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Days of Heaven Upon Earth by Rev. A. B. Simpson
"Even Christ pleased not Himself" (Rom. xv. 3).
Let this be a day of self-forgetting ministry for Christ and others. Let us not once think of being ministered unto, but say ever with Him: "I am among you as He that doth serve." Let us not drag our burdens through the day, but drop all our loads of care and be free to carry His yoke and His burden. Let us make the happy exchange, giving ours and taking His. Let the covenant be: "Thou shalt abide for Me, I also for thee." So shall we lose our heaviest load—ourselves—and so shall we find our highest joy, divine love, the more blessed "to give" than "to receive." Let us do good to all men as we have opportunity. Let us lose no opportunity of blessing, and let us study ingenious ways of service and usefulness. Especially let us seek to win souls.
The Days of Heaven are busy days,
They serve continually,
So spent for Thee and Thine, our days,
As the Days of Heaven would be.
The Days of Heaven are loving days,
As one they all agree,
So linked in loving unity
May our days as Heaven be.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OT8aTjVZHVI&feature=player_embedded
In The valley- Sovereign Grace Music
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