Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

October 28– Morning

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

“I have chosen you out of the world.” 

—John 15:19

Here we see from the very words of Jesus that God’s grace is distinguishing and discriminating, for some– not all– are made the special objects of divine affection. Don’t be afraid to ponder this high doctrine of election. When your mind is most heavy and depressed, you will find it to be a bottle of refreshment. Those who doubt the doctrines of grace or throw them into the shadows miss the richest clusters of grapes; they miss out on the finest wines and the best cuts of meat. There is no healing for the soul to compare with it. It is honey to enlighten your heart, and it will teach you to love and learn the mysteries of God’s Kingdom. Come and eat without fear of becoming fat. Meat from the King’s table will hurt none who belong to his court. Desire to have your mind enlarged so that you may comprehend more and more the eternal, everlasting, discriminating love of God.

When you have climbed the mountain of election, then pursue its sister mountain: the covenant of grace. God’s covenants are the large rocks behind which we find our safety for the battle. They are the quiet resting-places of trembling spirits. As the hymn writer puts it…

“His oath, his covenant, his blood,
Support me in the raging flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
This still is all my strength and stay.”

If Jesus himself took on the task of bringing me to glory, and, if the Father promised that he would give me to the Son as part of the infinite reward for his suffering, then my soul is safe until the day that God is unfaithful— until the day that Jesus ceases to be the Truth.

When David danced before the ark, he told his wife, Michal, that election made him do so. Come, my soul, exult before the God of grace and leap for joy. [M&E]