Daily Devotionals

Charles Spurgeon's "Morning & Evening"

Devotional: September 19th

Morning

“Let your loins be girded about.”

Luke 12:35-48

Luke 12:35

Eastern garments require to be girded up when a man begins to work. The Saviour tells us to be prepared for service towards God, and for testimony before men. We are to get ready, and to keep ready.

Luke 12:36

We are to live in expectation, waiting to hear the knock of our Master at the door. Are we so living? Do we look for the coming of the Lord?

Luke 12:37

This is not according to the manner of men, for what master will wait upon his servants? Yet the condescending love of Jesus promises to us this high honour. Who would not cheerfully obey such a Lord?

Luke 12:38-40

Watch and wait: at any moment Jesus may be here. What manner of persons ought we to be, who live in such an expectation?

Luke 12:41

It had a bearing upon all, but the Lord, in answer to Peters question, proceeded to show its special bearing upon ministers of the gospel.

Luke 12:42

It was anciently the steward’s duty to allot to every member of the family his regular portion, and so are the stewards of Christ to instruct all classes of persons, giving to each the teaching most appropriate.

Luke 12:43-46

The most terrible punishments will be richly deserved by those who, being placed in the responsible position of caring for the souls of others, shall dare to neglect them, and shall even use their power and influence to tyrannise over them and oppress them. May the Lord send us faithful ministers, and keep them faithful.

Luke 12:47 , Luke 12:48

God’s judgments will be exactly according to right, and none shall have cause to complain. The highest degree of punishment will fall to the lot of some of us if we neglect the gospel, for we have much light and knowledge; and therefore, our sin will be the greater.

Ye servants of the Lord,

Each in his office wait,

Observant of his heavenly word,

And watchful at his gate.

Let all your lamps be bright,

And trim the golden flame:

Gird up your loins as in his sight,

For awful is his name.

Watch! ‘tis your Lord’s command;

And while we speak he’s near;

Mark the first signal of his hand,

And ready all appear.

Evening

“Thou art loosed from thine infirmity.”

Luke 13:11-17

We are now about to consider one of our Lord’s miracles, wrought upon a woman who had long been in sorrow. May it comfort any who are spiritually in a like condition.

Luke 13:11

Poor creature, to be so long deformed, so long made to suffer at every step she took! Her condition was very grievous, but she did not stay away from public worship. If she had done so, she would not have been found by Jesus in the synagogue.

Luke 13:12 , Luke 13:13

When souls which have long been bowed down are graciously made upright, they never fail to give praise to God.

Isaiah 49:13-16

There are many persons to be found who are bowed down with despondency of spirit, and cannot lift up themselves to enjoy a comfortable hope. Let such take heart from the case before us; and let them also remember that the Lord does not now forget the sorrowful and broken-hearted. We see this expressly stated in Isaiah 49:13-16.

Hebrews 2:14-18

That he might be able to sympathise with downcast souls, and bear with their infirmities, Jesus himself became a man like ourselves. Troubled hearts should think of this, and be of good cheer. The Holy Spirit speaks of him most sweetly in Hebrews 2:14-18.

Darkness and doubts had veil’d my mind,

And drown’d my eyes in tears,

Till, like the sun, my Saviour’s face,

Dispell’d my gloomy fears.

Oh, what immortal joys I felt,

And raptures all divine,

When Jesus told me I was his,

And my beloved mine!

In vain the tempter frights my soul,

And breaks my peace in vain;

One glimpse, dear Saviour, of thy face

Revives my joys again.