Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

December 1– Evening

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

“O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness and wonderful works.”

—Psalm 107:8

If we complained less and praised more, we would be happier and God would be more glorified. Let us daily praise God for common mercies— common, as we frequently call them, and yet so priceless that, when deprived of them, we are ready to die. Let us bless God for the eyes with which we behold the sun, for the health and strength to walk abroad, for the bread we eat, for the clothing we wear.

Let us praise him that we are not cast out among the hopeless or imprisoned with the guilty; let us thank him for liberty, for friends, for family associations and comforts; let us praise him, in fact, for everything which we receive from his bounteous hand, for we deserve little and yet are most generously endowed.

But, dear friend, the sweetest and loudest note in our songs of praise should be of redeeming love. God’s redeeming acts towards his chosen are forever the favorite themes of their praise. If we know what redemption means, we would not withhold our songs of thanksgiving. We have been redeemed from the power of our corruptions, uplifted from the depth of sin in which we were naturally plunged. We have been led to the cross of Christ; our shackles of guilt have been broken off. We are no longer slaves but children of the living God; even now we can go before the throne without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, knowing that, one day, we will finally and most truly stand before him. Even now by faith we wave the palm-branch and wrap ourselves in the beautiful clothing which will be our everlasting wardrobe and will never cease to give thanks to the Lord our Redeemer.

Child of God, can you be silent? Awake, you inheritor of glory! Put your bondage in chains, as you cry with David, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” Let the new month begin with new songs. [M&E]