Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

December 30– Morning

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

“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning.” 

—Ecclesiastes 7:8

Look at the beginning of Jesus’ life. He was despised and rejected by men— a man of sorrows and familiar with grief. Ah, but look at his end! He sits at his Father’s right hand until he conquers his enemies. Just as Christ was in this world, so you must be. You must pick up your cross, or you will never wear the crown; you must wade through the mud, or you will never walk the golden pavement. But cheer up! “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning.”

Notice the creeping caterpillar; how ugly it looks! But it’s just the beginning. Look again later and you’ll see it with gorgeous wings, playing in the sunbeams, sipping at the flowers, full of happiness and life; that is the end of it. You are that caterpillar– until you are wrapped up in the chrysalis of death; but, then, when Christ appears, you will be like him. Be content to be like him now—as lowly as a worm—for you will be satisfied when you wake up in his likeness.

Consider the rough-looking diamond—how it is cut on all sides. It loses an awful lot of itself– much that seemed too costly. But then the finished jewel is put upon the monarch’s head with trumpets sounding. A glittering ray flashes forth, beaming from that very diamond. You are like that diamond, dear Christian, but you are in the cutting process now. Let faith and patience have their perfect work, for the day will come when the crown will be set upon the King’s head. Remember! “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning.” [M&E]