Catching Up on Spurgeon

With the holiday, I spent some time this morning catching up on Morning and Evening.  I'd fallen a bit behind in previous weekends.  And there was plenty there to chew on.

5/19 "Upstarts frequently usurp the highest places, while the truly great pine in obscurity.  This is a riddle in providence whose solution will one day gladden the hearts of the upright; … The world is upside down, and therefore, the first are last and the last first. … Patience, then, believer, eternity will right the wrongs of time."

I've really been struggling with this lately.  I pine away in obscurity, like most of humanity.  I doubt though that I am truly great.  But it can be trying to see people pursuing insignificant vocations prospering while you struggle.  Or those who are corrupt prospering.  I've been wrestling with my portion of fulitity, my experience of the curse.  Alas, one day all the wrongs shall be righted.

5/27 Talking about Mephibosheth, who received grace at David's table because of his relation to Jonathan.  "…the Lord indulges us wit hmost familiar intercourse with Himself, because He sees in our countenances the remembrance of His dearly-beloved Jesus.  The Lord's people are dear for another's sake.  … at the gospel feast we learn to glory in infirmities, because the power of Christ resteth upon us." 

It continued into the evening… "The more grace we have, the less we shall think of ourselves, for grace, like light, reveals our impurity.  … A dog may be a worthless animal, and yet by a little kindness it is soon won to love its master, and is faithful unto death; but we forget the goodness of the Lord, and follow not His call."

I am reminded of the DA song "Banquet at the World's End" when the despised of the world take their seats at the eternal feast.  Our pride wants to earn our place at the table- so we work hard to prove our worth.  But grace comes to the humble instead- those who know they deserve no such place, but ask Jesus to grant it to them.  And they receive it, because they are united with Jesus.  The Father treats us as if we were His Son, making us, however unworthy, His sons.

Lastly, 5/28 on memories.  Often our memories haunt us with guilt, shame and regrets,  We fall into depression.  But…

"Widsom can readily transform memory into an angel of comfort. … Like a two-edged sword, his memory first killed his pride with one edge, and then slew his despair with the other (referring to Jeremiah in Lamentations 3). … There is no need for God to create a new thing upon earth to restore believers to joy; if they would prayerfully rake the ashes of the past, they would find light for the present; and if they would turn to the book of truth and the throne of grace, their candle would soon shine as aforetime.  Be it ours to remember the lovingkindness of the Lord, and to rehearse His deeds of grace."

We are prone to only see the darkside of our past.  But we can also behold His loving faithfulness.  As I pray over my daughter at night, I often recall that "His mercies are new every morning, because He is a faithful God."  I need to remember that since I am a pessimist (I grew up under the curse of the Bambino for pity's sake).  Though life may be hard, still God is good because His love endures forever.  And I need regular reminders!