Morning and Evening

Charles H. Spurgeon

July 15, 2010

Morning Reading

The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go
out.--Leviticus 6:13

Keep the altar of private prayer burning. This is the very life of all
piety. The sanctuary and family altars borrow their fires here, there-
fore let this burn well. Secret devotion is the very essence, evidence,
and barometer, of vital and experimental religion.

Burn here the fat of your sacrifices. Let your closet seasons be, if
possible, regular, frequent, and undisturbed. Effectual prayer availeth
much. Have you nothing to pray for? Let us suggest the Church, the
ministry, your own soul, your children, your relations, your
neighbours, your country, and the cause of God and truth throughout the
world. Let us examine ourselves on this important matter. Do we engage
with lukewarmness in private devotion? Is the fire of devotion burning
dimly in our hearts? Do the chariot wheels drag heavily? If so, let us
be alarmed at this sign of decay. Let us go with weeping, and ask for
the Spirit of grace and of supplications. Let us set apart special
seasons for extraordinary prayer. For if this fire should be smothered
beneath the ashes of a worldly conformity, it will dim the fire on the
family altar, and lessen our influence both in the Church and in the
world.

The text will also apply to the altar of the heart. This is a golden
altar indeed. God loves to see the hearts of His people glowing towards
Himself. Let us give to God our hearts, all blazing with love, and seek
His grace, that the fire may never be quenched; for it will not burn if
the Lord does not keep it burning. Many foes will attempt to extinguish
it; but if the unseen hand behind the wall pour thereon the sacred oil,
it will blaze higher and higher. Let us use texts of Scripture as fuel
for our heart's fire, they are live coals; let us attend sermons, but
above all, let us be much alone with Jesus.

Evening Reading

He appeared first to Mary Magdalene.--Mark 16:9

Jesus "appeared first to Mary Magdalene," probably not only on account
of her great love and persevering seeking, but because, as the context
intimates, she had been a special trophy of Christ's delivering power.
Learn from this, that the greatness of our sin before conversion should
not make us imagine that we may not be specially favoured with the very
highest grade of fellowship. She was one who had left all to become a
constant attendant on the Saviour. He was her first, her chief object.
Many who were on Christ's side did not take up Christ's cross; she did.
She spent her substance in relieving His wants. If we would see much of
Christ, let us serve Him. Tell me who they are that sit oftenest under
the banner of His love, and drink deepest draughts from the cup of
communion, and I am sure they will be those who give most, who serve
best, and who abide closest to the bleeding heart of their dear Lord.
But notice how Christ revealed Himself to this sorrowing one--by a
word, "Mary." It needed but one word in His voice, and at once she knew
Him, and her heart owned allegiance by another word, her heart was too
full to say more. That one word would naturally be the most fitting for
the occasion. It implies obedience. She said, "Master." There is no
state of mind in which this confession of allegiance will be too cold.
No, when your spirit glows most with the heavenly fire, then you will
say, "I am Thy servant, Thou hast loosed my bonds." If you can say,
"Master," if you feel that His will is your will, then you stand in a
happy, holy place. He must have said, "Mary," or else you could not
have said, "Rabboni." See, then, from all this, how Christ honours
those who honour Him, how love draws our Beloved, how it needs but one
word of His to turn our weeping to rejoicing, how His presence makes
the heart's sunshine.