Daily Devotionals

Charles Spurgeon's "Morning & Evening"

Devotional: October 19th

Morning

“O death, where is thy sting?”

1 Corinthians 15:35-58

We will now finish Paul’s wonderful resurrection chapter.

1 Corinthians 15:35-38

The insinuation is, that a dead body decays and cannot be raised again. Paul has little patience with the sceptical question, and cries,

1 Corinthians 15:35-38

But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his or rather its

1 Corinthians 15:35-38

You cannot tell from looking at a seed what the plant is to be, neither can we determine from our present bodies what their future form will be. How lovely is the flower compared with the shrivelled grain! How fair will our bodies be in comparison with these trembling frames!

1 Corinthians 15:41

As all these things differ from each other, so will the resurrection body differ from that in which we now live. It will be the same body as to identity, yet will it differ in many important points.

1 Corinthians 15:44

It is sown a natural body or a soulish body, animated by the animal life

1 Corinthians 15:44

it is raised a spiritual body fit for the immortal spirit which will quicken it

1 Corinthians 15:44

There is a natural or soulish

1 Corinthians 15:46

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural or for the soul

1 Corinthians 15:48 , 1 Corinthians 15:49

Blessed assurance!

1 Corinthians 15:51 , 1 Corinthians 15:52

Those who are alive when Jesus comes must undergo a transformation ere they can enter heaven.

The saints who now in Jesus sleep,

His own. almighty power shall keep,

Till dawns the bright illustrious day,

When death itself shall die away.

How loud shall our glad voices sing,

When Christ his risen saints shall bring

From beds of dust and silent clay,

To realms of everlasting day!

Evening

It is good to sing praises unto our God

Psalms 147

Having now completed our reading of the life of our Lord up to his resurrection, we will meditate upon a few choice psalms. The first is full of praise and adoration.

Psalms 147:1

Few things are both good and pleasant. Medicine is good, but not pleasant; sin, to the ungodly, is pleasant, but it can never be good. In the praise of God both the good and the pleasant are combined.

Psalms 147:2

With poor self-condemned outcast souls he builds up his church. His grace delights to select such, and to do great things for them.

Psalms 147:4

It will be well to read these two verses over again. The Lord who tells the stars, bends over wounded sinners, and binds up broken hearts condescension like this is amazing. In the contemplation of it we are lost in love and wonder.

Psalms 147:9

The Creator cares for the work of his own hands. Does he hear the ravens cry and will he not hear us when we confess our sins and ask for pardon? Ay, that he will.

Psalms 147:10 , Psalms 147:11

We value men by their strength, God cares more for their weakness; we admire those who can run with speed: he favours those who have learned to rest in his mercy. Let the weak in body and mind be consoled by the fact that the Lord of Mercy cares for them.

Psalms 147:12-15

Whether it be in the realm of nature or grace the word of the Lord brooks no hindrance, yields to no obstacle.

Psalms 147:16

so that the tender plants are protected from the frost

Psalms 147:17

Dwellers in severe climates feel the force of this. It is a striking expression. If the comforts of grace and nature were removed from us we should soon perish. Who can stand before his cold?

Psalms 147:20

We who dwell in this land of privileges ought to be as grateful as ancient Israel. As a family we have been highly favoured, and let us, one and all, unite in praising the Lord.

From all that dwell below the skies

Let the Creator’s praise arise;

Let the Redeemer’s name be sung

Through every land, by every tongue.

Eternal are thy mercies, Lord;

Eternal truth attends thy word:

Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore

Till suns shall rise and set no more.