Morning & Evening Devotional Reading

 January 6– Evening

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

“The hand of the Lord was upon me in the evening.” 

—Ezekiel 33:22

When God comes in the evening, he may come in His judgment.  And, if so, I should consider the reason for such a visitation and bear the rod of the One who has appointed it. I am not the only one who is chastened at night, so let me cheerfully submit to the affliction and carefully learn from it.

Thankfully, the hand of the Lord may also be felt at night in a manner that strengthens the soul and lifts the spirit towards eternal things. O that I may in this sense feel the Lord’s dealing with me! At such times we are filled with spiritual joy and forget the cares and sorrows of earth. The invisible is near, and the visible loses its power over us. Our body is like a servant waiting at the foot of the hill while our spirit worships on the mountain in the presence of the Lord.

O that a holy season of divine communion may be tenderly given to me this evening! The Lord knows how much I need it. My graces languish, my corruptions rage, my faith is weak, my devotion is cold; all these are reasons why his healing hand should be laid upon me. His hand can cool the heat of my burning brow and calm the chaos of my palpitating heart. That glorious right hand which molded the world can re-create my mind, the unwearied hand which bears the earth’s huge pillars can sustain my spirit, the loving hand which tenderly holds all the saints can cherish me, and the mighty hand which breaks the enemy in pieces can subdue my sins.

Why should I not feel that hand touching me this evening? Come, my soul, address your God with the powerful plea that Jesus’ hands were pierced for your redemption, and you will surely feel that same hand upon you which once touched Daniel and set him upon his knees that he might see visions of God. [M&E]