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Charles Spurgeon's Daily DevotionalThis morning devotional prepared for February, 20th.
"God, that comforteth those that are cast down."--2 Corinthians 7:6
And who comforteth like Him? Go to some poor, melancholy,
distressed child of God; tell him sweet promises, and whisper in
his ear choice words of comfort; he is like the deaf adder, he
listens not to the voice of the charmer, charm he never so
wisely. He is drinking gall and wormwood, and comfort him as you
may, it will be only a note or two of mournful resignation that
you will get from him; you will bring forth no psalms of praise,
no hallelujahs, no joyful sonnets. But let _God_ come to His
child, let Him lift up his countenance, and the mourner's eyes
glisten with hope. Do you not hear him sing--
"'Tis paradise, if thou art here;If thou depart, 'tis hell?"
You could not have cheered him: but the Lord has done it; "He is
the God of all comfort." There is no balm in Gilead, but there
is balm in God. There is no physician among the creatures, but
the Creator is Jehovah-rophi. It is marvellous how one sweet
word of God will make whole songs for Christians. One word of
God is like a piece of gold, and the Christian is the
goldbeater, and can hammer that promise out for whole weeks. So,
then, poor Christian, thou needest not sit down in despair. Go
to the Comforter, and ask Him to give thee consolation. Thou art
a poor dry well. You have heard it said, that when a pump is
dry, you must pour water down it first of all, and then you will
get water, and so, Christian, when thou art dry, go to God, ask
Him to shed abroad His joy in thy heart, and then thy joy shall
be full. Do not go to earthly acquaintances, for you will find
them Job's comforters after all; but go first and foremost to
thy "God, that comforteth those that are cast down," and you
will soon say, "In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy
comforts delight my soul."
This afternoon devotional prepared for February, 20th.
"Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be
tempted of the devil."--Matthew 4:1
A Holy character does not avert temptation--Jesus was
tempted. When Satan tempts us, his sparks fall upon tinder; but
in Christ's case, it was like striking sparks on water; yet the
enemy continued his evil work. Now, if the devil goes on
striking when there is no result, how much more will he do it
when he knows what inflammable stuff our hearts are made of.
Though you become greatly sanctified by the Holy Ghost, expect
that the great dog of hell will bark at you still. In the haunts
of men we expect to be tempted, but even seclusion will not
guard us from the same trial. Jesus Christ was led away from
human society into the wilderness, and was tempted of the devil.
Solitude has its charms and its benefits, and may be useful in
checking the lust of the eye and the pride of life; but the
devil will follow us into the most lovely retreats. Do not
suppose that it is only the worldly-minded who have dreadful
thoughts and blasphemous temptations, for even spiritual-minded
persons endure the same; and in the holiest position we may
suffer the darkest temptation. The utmost consecration of
spirit will not insure you against Satanic temptation. Christ
was consecrated through and through. It was His meat and drink
to do the will of Him that sent Him: and yet He was tempted!
Your hearts may glow with a seraphic flame of love to Jesus, and
yet the devil will try to bring you down to Laodicean
lukewarmness. If you will tell me when God permits a Christian
to lay aside his armour, I will tell you when Satan has left off
temptation. Like the old knights in war time, we must sleep with
helmet and breastplate buckled on, for the arch-deceiver will
seize our first unguarded hour to make us his prey. The Lord
keep us watchful in all seasons, and give us a final escape from
the jaw of the lion and the paw of the bear.
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