Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

December 1– Morning

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

“[Lord], you have made summer and winter.” 

—Psalm 74:17

Let’s begin this wintry month of December with our God. The cold snows and the piercing winds remind all of us that he keeps his covenant day and night. The regular coming and going of the seasons tends to assure us that he will also keep the glorious covenant he has made with us through Jesus Christ.

When we experience “winter” in our souls, it is not a comfortable season. If “winter” is upon you now, it may be very painful for you. But there is, at least, this comfort— namely, that the Lord himself makes it. He sends the sharp blasts of adversity to nip the buds of expectation; he scatters the frost like ashes over the once-green meadows of our joy. He does it all! He’s the great Winter King; he rules in the realms of frost, and, therefore, you can’t complain. Losses, crosses, heaviness, sickness, poverty, and a thousand other difficulties are of the Lord’s sending, and they come to us with wise design. Frosts kill noxious insects and contain raging diseases; they break and sweeten the soul. O that such good results would always follow our winters of affliction!

When it’s cold, think of how much we prize a warm, glowing fire! In the same way, let’s prize our Lord who is the constant source of warmth and comfort in every time of trouble. Let’s draw near to him and in him find joy and peace. Let’s wrap ourselves in the warm garments of his promises and engage in winter’s work. Let’s not be like the sickly sluggard who won’t plow his field because it’s too cold; certainly, he will end up begging in the summer and have nothing. [M&E]