Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

February 20– Morning

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

“The One who comforts those who are downcast.” 

—2 Corinthians 7:6

 

Who can comfort like God? Go to some poor, melancholy, distressed child of God, and tell him sweet promises, and whisper in his ear choice words of comfort, but he will not hear you. He is like the deaf cobra that cannot hear the music of the charmer. His cup is filled with vinegar and poison, and, though you try to comfort him as you may, he only offers a sigh of resignation.

But let God come to his child; let him encourage, and the mourner’s eyes will glisten with hope. Although you were unable to cheer him, the Lord has done it. “He is the God of all comfort.” It may seem that there is no healing ointment to be found, but it can be found in God. There is no physician among the creatures, but the Creator is Jehovah-rophi (that is, the God who heals). It is marvelous how one sweet word of God will make whole songs for Christians. One word from God is like a piece of gold, and the Christian is the jeweler who can hammer out that promise for weeks.

So, then, poor Christian, you do not need to sit down in despair. Go to the Comforter and ask him to give you encouragement. You are a poor, dry well, and, when a pump is dry, you must pour water down it first of all, and then you will get water out; so, go to God, and ask him to pour his joy into your heart, and then your joy will be full. Do not go to your friends, because they may be like Job’s comforters, but go first and foremost to your “God who comforts those that are cast down. [M&E]