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January 23

Morning

I have exalted one chosen out of the people. — Ps 89:19

Why was Christ chosen out of the people? Speak, my heart, for heart-thoughts are best. Was it not that He might be able to be our brother, in the blessed tie of kindred blood? Oh, what relationship there is between Christ and the believer! The believer can say, “I have a Brother in heaven; I may be poor but I have a Brother who is rich, and is a King, and will He allow me to lack, while He is on His throne? Oh, no! He loves me; He is my Brother!” Believer, wear this blessed thought, like a necklace of diamonds, around the neck of your memory; put it, as a golden ring, on the finger of recollection, and use it as the King’s own seal, stamping the petitions of your faith with confidence of success. He is a brother born for adversity, treat Him as such.

Christ was also chosen out of the people that He might know our needs and sympathize with us. “He was tempted in all points like as we are—yet without sin.” In all our sorrows we have His sympathy. Temptation, pain, disappointment, weakness, weariness, poverty—He knows them all—for He has felt them all. Remember this, Christian, and let it comfort you. However difficult and painful your road—it is marked by the footsteps of your Savior; and even when you reach the dark valley of the shadow of death, and the deep waters of the swelling Jordan—you will find His footprints there! In all places wherever we go—He has been our forerunner. Each burden we have to carry—has once been laid on the shoulders of Immanuel.

“His way was much rougher and darker than mine;
Did Christ, my Lord, suffer and shall I repine?”

Take courage! Royal feet have left a blood-red track upon the road, and consecrated the thorny path forever!


Evening

We will remember thy love more than wine. — Song 1:4

Jesus will not let His people forget His love. If all the love they have enjoyed should be forgotten, He will visit them with fresh love. “Do you forget my cross?” says He, “I will cause you to remember it; for at My table I will manifest Myself anew to you. Do you forget all I did for you in the council-chamber of eternity? I will remind you of it, for you shall need a counselor, and shall find Me ready at your call.” Mothers do not let their children forget them. If the boy has gone to Australia, and does not write home, his mother writes, “Has John forgotten his mother?” Then there comes back a sweet letter, which proves that the gentle reminder was not in vain.

So is it with Jesus, He says to us, “Remember Me,” and our response is, “We will remember Your love!” We will remember Your love and its matchless history. It is ancient as the glory which You had with the Father, before the world was. We remember, O Jesus, Your eternal love, when You became our Surety, and espoused us as Your betrothed. We remember the love which suggested the sacrifice of Yourself, the love which, until the fullness of time, mused over that sacrifice, and long for the hour whereof in the volume of the book it was written of You, “Lo, I come!” We remember Your love, O Jesus as it was manifest to us in Your holy life, from the manger of Bethlehem to the garden of Gethsemane. We track You from the cradle to the grave—for every word and deed of Yours was love and we rejoice in Your love, which death did not exhaust. We remember Your love which shone resplendent in Your resurrection. We remember that burning fire of love, which will never let You hold Your peace until Your chosen ones are all safely housed, until Zion are glorified, and Jerusalem settled on her everlasting foundations of light and love in heaven!


Morning and Evening - January 23

Public domain content taken from Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon.


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