Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

September 5– Morning

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

“Woe is me that I journey in Mesech; that I dwell in the tents of Kedar.” 

—Psalm 120:5

As a Christian you have to live in the middle of an ungodly world, and it is of little use for you to cry, “Woe is me.” Jesus did not pray that you should be taken out of the world, and what he didn’t pray for you shouldn’t desire. Better it is in the Lord’s strength to meet the difficulty and glorify him in it.

The enemy is ever on the watch to detect inconsistency in your conduct; therefore, be holy. Remember that the eyes of others are upon you and that more is expected from you than from others. Strive to give no occasion for blame. Let your goodness be the only fault they can find in you.

Seek to be useful as well as consistent. Maybe you think you cannot serve God until you’re in “a more favorable position.” Not so! The worse the people are around you the more they need your efforts. If they’re crooked, it is more necessary that you are straight; if they’re perverse, the more they need to see the truth. Shouldn’t the physician be where there are many sick? Where does the soldier win honor but in the hottest fire of battle?

And when you grow weary of the strife and sin that meets you on every hand, remember that all the saints of history have endured the same trial. They were not carried on beds of comfort to heaven, and you must not expect to travel more easily. They had to risk their lives unto death, and you will not be crowned until you also have endured hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, “stand fast in the faith where you are, and be strong.” [M&E]