Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

January 1– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, Revised and Edited by W. C. Neff

“They ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.” 

—Joshua 5:12

Israel’s wanderings in the wilderness were all over, and the promised rest in the land of Canaan had begun. No more moving tents, fiery serpents, fierce Amalekites, and howling wildernesses; they came to “the land flowing with milk and honey.”

This year, perhaps, this may be your case or mine. We may find ourselves with Jesus in the eternal rest that remains for the people of God. Before crossing the Jordan river, unbelief can seize us; but let’s rest assured that we have already experienced more difficulties than death at its worst can cause us. Let us put every fearful thought out of our minds and rejoice that this year we may find ourselves “forever with the Lord.”

Now, most of us will remain on earth this year to serve the Lord by our lives. If this is the Lord’s plan, this text still applies to us, for we who have believed have already entered into our rest. One day we will be with the Lord, but even now we are preserved in Christ Jesus and have the Holy Spirit. In Heaven we will have ultimate triumph over our enemies, but, even now, we have victories, too.

This year we will gather heavenly fruits here on earth where faith and hope can make the desert like the garden of the Lord. Even now, let’s eat the food of angels. Let’s feed on Jesus and, by so doing, eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan this year! [M&E]