C.H. Spurgeon's Faith's Checkbook
April 10
LOOK AND LIVE
"And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and
it shall come to pass, that everyone that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live" Num.
21:8
This is a glorious gospel type. Jesus, numbered with the transgressors, hangs before us
on the cross. A look to Him will heal us of the serpent-bite of sin; will heal us at once- 'When
he looketh upon it, he shall live." Let the reader who is mourning his sinfulness note the
words -- "Everyone that looketh upon it shall live." Every looker will find this true. I have
found it so. I looked to Jesus and lived at once. I know I did. Reader, if you look to Jesus
you will live too. True, you are swelling with the venom, and you see no hope. True, also
there is no hope but this one. But this is no doubtful cure -- "Everyone that is bitten, when
he looketh upon it, shall live."
The brazen serpent was not lifted up as a curiosity to be gazed upon by the healthy; but
its special purpose was for those who were "bitten." Jesus died as a real Saviour for real sinners.
Whether the bite has made you a drunkard, or a thief, or an unchaste or a profane person,
a look at the Great Saviour will heal you of these diseases, and make you live in holiness and
communion with God. Look and live.
C.H. Spurgeon
Morning By Morning
APRIL 10 — AM
“The place which is called Calvary.” — Luke 23:33
The hill of comfort is the hill of Calvary; the house of consolation is built
with the wood of the cross; the temple of heavenly blessing is founded
upon the riven rock — riven by the spear which pierced His side. No
scene in sacred history ever gladdens the soul like Calvary’s tragedy.
“Is it not strange, the darkest hour
That ever dawned on sinful earth,
Should touch the heart with softer power,
For comfort, than an angel’s mirth?
That to the Cross the mourner’s eye should turn,
Sooner than where the stars of Bethlehem burn?”
Light springs from the midday-midnight of Golgotha, and every herb of the
field blooms sweetly beneath the shadow of the once accursed tree. In that
place of thirst, grace hath dug a fountain which ever gusheth with waters
pure as crystal, each drop capable of alleviating the woes of mankind. You
who have had your seasons of conflict, will confess that it was not at
Olivet that you ever found comfort, not on the hill of Sinai, nor on Tabor;
but Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Golgotha have been a means of comfort to
you. The bitter herbs of Gethsemane have often taken away the bitters of
your life; the scourge of Gabbatha has often scourged away your cares, and
the groans of Calvary yields us comfort rare and rich. We never should
have known Christ’s love in all its heights and depths if He had not died;
nor could we guess the Father’s deep affection if He had not given His Son
to die. The common mercies we enjoy all sing of love, just as the sea-shell,
when we put it to our ears, whispers of the deep sea whence it came; but if
we desire to hear the ocean itself, we must not look at every-day blessings,
but at the transactions of the crucifixion. He who would know love, let him
retire to Calvary and see the Man of sorrows die.
C.H. Spurgeon
Evening By Evening
APRIL 10 — PM
“For there stood by me this night the angel of God.” — Acts 27:23
Tempest and long darkness, coupled with imminent risk of shipwreck, had
brought the crew of the vessel into a sad case; one man alone among them
remained perfectly calm, and by his word the rest were reassured. Paul
was the only man who had heart enough to say, “Sirs, be of good cheer.”
There were veteran Roman legionaries on board, and brave old mariners,
and yet their poor Jewish prisoner had more spirit than they all. He had a
secret Friend who kept his courage up. The Lord Jesus despatched a
heavenly messenger to whisper words of consolation in the ear of His
faithful servant, therefore he wore a shining countenance and spake like a
man at ease.
If we fear the Lord, we may look for timely interpositions when our case
is at its worst. Angels are not kept from us by storms, or hindered by
darkness. Seraphs think it no humiliation to visit the poorest of the
heavenly family. If angel’s visits are few and far between at ordinary
times, they shall be frequent in our nights of tempest and tossing. Friends
may drop from us when we are under pressure, but our intercourse with
the inhabitants of the angelic world shall be more abundant; and in the
strength of love-words, brought to us from the throne by the way of
Jacob’s ladder, we shall be strong to do exploits. Dear reader, is this an
hour of distress with you? then ask for peculiar help. Jesus is the angel of
the covenant, and if His presence be now earnestly sought, it will not be
denied. What that presence brings in heart-cheer those remember who, like
Paul, have had the angel of God standing by them in a night of storm, when
anchors would no longer hold, and rocks were nigh.
“O angel of my God, be near,
Amid the darkness hush my fear;
Loud roars the wild tempestuous sea,
Thy presence, Lord, shall comfort me.”
No comments:
Post a Comment