Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

September 2– Evening

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

“Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe.”

—John 4:48

A craving after miracles was a symptom of a sickly state of mind in our Lord’s day; these people refused solid nourishment and craved mere wonder. The gospel, which they so greatly needed, they did not seek. The miracles Jesus performed did not always give them what they eagerly demanded.

Many nowadays must see signs and wonders or they will not believe. Some have said in their heart, “I must feel deep horror of soul, or I never will believe in Jesus.” But what if you never feel it, as you probably will not? Will you go to hell out of spite against God because he will not treat you like someone else? Another one says to himself, “If I had a dream, or if I could feel a sudden shock of I don’t know what, then I would believe.” Do you think the dream of undeserving mortals dictates the Lord’s actions? You are beggars at his gate asking for mercy, and yet you think you have the right to draw up rules and regulations of how God’s mercy operates?  The Master has a generous spirit but a royal heart. He spurns all dictation and sovereignly acts according to his own will.

Dear reader, do you crave signs and wonders? Why is that? Is not the gospel its own sign and wonder? Isn’t it a miracle of miracles that “God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in him will not die in their sins”? Surely that precious word, “Whosoever will, let him come and take the water of life freely” and that solemn promise, “The one who comes to me I will never cast out,” are better than signs and wonders! A truthful Savior ought to be believed. He is truth itself. Why do you ask proof of the veracity of One who cannot lie? The devils themselves declared him to be the Son of God; will you not trust him?” [M&E]