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May 13

Morning

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. — Ps 30:5

Christian! If you are in a night of trial, think of the morrow; cheer up your heart with the thought of the coming of your Lord. Be patient, for

“Lo! He comes with clouds!”

Be patient! The Gardener waits until He reaps His harvest. Be patient; for you know who has said, “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give to every man according as his work shall be.” If you are ever so wretched now, remember

“A few more rolling suns, at most,
Will land you on fair Canaan’s coast.”

Your head may be crowned with thorny troubles now but it shall wear a starry crown before long. Your hand may be filled with cares—it shall sweep the strings of the harp of heaven soon. Your garments may be soiled with dust now—they shall be snow-white by-and-by. Wait a little longer.

Ah! how despicable our troubles and trials will seem—when we look back upon them! Looking at them here in the prospect, they seem immense; but when we get to heaven we shall then

“With transporting joys recount,
The labors of our feet.”

Our trials will then seem light and momentary afflictions. Let us go on boldly; if the night is ever so dark—the morning comes; which is more than they can say—who are shut up in the darkness of hell. Do you know what it is thus to live on the future—to live on expectation—to antedate heaven? Happy believer, to have so sure, so comforting a hope. It may be all dark now but it will soon be light. It may be all trial now but it will soon be all happiness. What does it matter, though “weeping may endure for a night“—when “joy comes in the morning?”


Evening

Thou art my portion, O Lord. — Ps 119:57

Look at your possessions, O believer and compare your portion with the lot of your fellow men.

Some of them have their portion in the field; they are rich, and their harvests yield them a golden increase; but what are harvests compared with your God, who is the God of harvests? What are bursting granaries compared with Him, who is the Gardener, and feeds you with the bread of heaven?

Some have their portion in the city; their wealth is abundant, and flows to them in constant streams, until they become a very reservoir of gold; but what is gold compared with your God? You could not live on it; your spiritual life could not be sustained by it. Put it on a troubled conscience and could it allay its pangs? Apply it to a desponding heart and see if it could relieve a solitary groan, or give one grief the less? But you have God, and in Him you have more than gold or riches ever could buy.

Some have their portion in that which most men love—applause and fame; but ask yourself, is not your God more to you than that? What if a myriad clarions should be loud in your applause, would this prepare you to pass the Jordan, or cheer you in prospect of judgment? No! there are griefs in life which wealth cannot alleviate; and there is the deep need of a dying hour, for which no riches can provide.

But when you have God for your portion, you have more than all else put together. In Him every need is met, whether in life or in death. With God for your portion you are rich indeed, for He will supply your needs, comfort your heart, assuage your grief, guide your steps, be with you in the dark valley and then take you home, to enjoy Him as your portion forever! “I have enough,” said Esau; this is the best thing a worldly man can say but Jacob replies, “I have all things,” which is a note too high for carnal minds.


Morning and Evening - May 13

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


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