Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

August 5– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“Should your brothers go to war while you stay here?”

—Numbers 32:6

Family has its obligations. The Reubenites and Gadites would have been unbrotherly if they had claimed the land which had been conquered to that point in Israel’s conquest and had left the rest of the tribes of Israel to fight for their own territories. We have received much through the sufferings of the saints in years gone by, and if we do not advance the cause of Christ and come to the aid of our brothers and sisters, we are unworthy to be enrolled in her ranks.

Our brothers and sisters are at war, combating the errors of the age and rescuing those who are dying amid the ruins of the fall; if we fold our hands in idleness, we need be warned, lest the curse of the City of Meroz fall upon us which fell upon it for its inactivity and unwillingness to aid God’s people. The Master of the vineyard says to us, “Why do you stand here all day idle?” And what excuse can we possibly give to him?

Serving Jesus becomes the duty of all because it is cheerfully and abundantly rendered by some. When we hear the toils of devoted missionaries and fervent ministers throughout history, we are shamed if we sit still in apathy. Shrinking from trial is the temptation of those who are at ease in Zion: they want to escape the cross and yet wear the crown. If the most precious are tried in the fire, are we to escape the crucible? If the diamond must be cut upon the wheel, are we to be made perfect without suffering?

It is a cowardly pride for a soldier of the cross to choose a downy pillow and a silken couch. We would be far wiser if we would first resign ourselves to God’s will and let the grace of God make us pleased with the soldier’s pillow we have been given. Let us learn to gather lilies at the foot of the cross. [M&E]