Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

March 2– Morning

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

“All the Israelites went down to (their enemies), the Philistines, so that every man could sharpen his plowshare, pitch fork, axe, and sickle.” 

—2 Samuel 13:20

 

Just as the nation of Israel had to fight their enemy, the Philistines, we believers in Jesus Christ are engaged in a great war with evil. Because this war is so intense, every weapon within our reach must be used. Preaching, teaching, praying, giving– all must be brought into action, and talents that we thought were not suitable for service must now be used. Even rough farm tools (like a share, coulter, axe, and mattock) may all be quite useful in killing Philistines. Killing, after all, does not need to be elegantly done so long as it is effective. Each moment of time, in season or out of season; each fragment of ability, educated or uneducated; each opportunity, favorable or unfavorable, must be used.

The fact is that most of our tools need sharpening, don’t they? We need quickness of perception, tact, energy, promptness– in a word, complete abandonment for the Lord’s work. And we must plan our strategy well. It is amazing how often practical common sense is a very scarce thing among the conductors of Christian enterprises. We could learn from our enemies in this regard, and, in this way, cause them to sharpen our weapons.

Today, with the help of the Holy Spirit, let us at least be wise enough to sharpen our zeal for God. Have you noticed the energy of other religious groups– how they travel over land and sea to make one convert? Are they to monopolize all determination? Look at how the secular world lives in constant devotion to its material gods. Are they alone to exhibit patience and self-sacrifice? O that we may learn from these ungodly examples and allow our enemies to sharpen our weapons for battle. [M&E]