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December 12

Morning

His ways are everlasting. — Hab 3:6

What He has done at one time, He will do yet again. Man’s ways are variable but God’s ways are everlasting. There are many reasons for this most comforting truth—among them are the following:

The Lord’s ways are the result of wise deliberation; He orders all things according to the counsel of His own will. Human action is frequently the hasty result of passion, or fear, and is followed by regret and alteration. But nothing can take the Almighty by surprise, or happen otherwise than He has foreseen.

His ways are the outgrowth of an immutable character, and in them the fixed and settled attributes of God are clearly to be seen. Unless the Eternal One Himself can undergo change—His ways, which are Himself in action—must remain forever the same. Is He eternally just, gracious, faithful, wise, tender? Then His ways must ever be distinguished for the same excellences. Beings act according to their nature—when those natures change, their conduct varies also; but since God cannot know the shadow of a turning, His ways will abide everlastingly the same.

Moreover there is no reason from without—which could reverse the divine ways, since they are the embodiment of irresistible might. The earth is said, by the prophet, to be cleft with rivers; mountains tremble; the deep lifts up its hands; and sun and moon stand still—when Jehovah marches forth for the salvation of His people. Who can stay His hand?

But it is not might alone, which gives stability; God’s ways are the manifestation of the eternal principles of right, and therefore can never pass away. Sin breeds decay and involves ruin but the true and the good have about them a vitality which ages cannot diminish. This morning let us go to our heavenly Father with confidence, remembering that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever and in Him the Lord is ever gracious to His people!


Evening

They have dealt treacherously against the Lord. — Hos 5:7

Believer, here is a sorrowful truth! You are the beloved of the Lord, redeemed by blood, called by grace, preserved in Christ Jesus, accepted in the Beloved, on your way to heaven. Yet, “you have dealt treacherously” with God, your best friend; treacherously with Jesus, whose you are; treacherously with the Holy Spirit, by whom you have been quickened unto eternal life!

How treacherous you have been in the matter of vows and promises. Do you remember the love of your espousals, that happy time—the springtide of your spiritual life? Oh, how closely did you cling to your Master then! saying, “He shall never charge me with indifference! My feet shall never grow slow in the way of His service! I will not allow my heart to wander after other loves—in Him is every store of ineffable sweetness. I give all up for my Lord Jesus’ sake.”

Has it been so?

Alas! if conscience speaks, it will say, “He who promised so well—has performed most ill. Prayer has oftentimes been slurred—it has been short but not sweet; brief but not fervent. Communion with Christ has been forgotten. Instead of a heavenly mind, there have been carnal cares, worldly vanities and thoughts of evil. Instead of service, there has been disobedience; instead of fervency, lukewarmness; instead of patience, petulance; instead of faith, confidence in an arm of flesh! And as a soldier of the cross, there has been cowardice, disobedience, and desertion, to a very shameful degree.”

“You have dealt treacherously.” Treachery to Jesus! What words shall be used in denouncing it! Words avail little—let our penitent thoughts execrate the sin which is so surely in us. Treacherous to Your wounds, O Jesus! Forgive us, and let us not sin again! How shameful to be treacherous to Him—who never forgets us but who this day stands with our names engraved on His breastplate before the eternal throne!


Morning and Evening - December 12

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


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