Charles Spurgeon Morning and Evening Daily Devotional 18 July 2024
Morning & Evening: Morning Devo, July 18
Thursday, July 18, 2024
SCRIPTURE: They shall go hindmost with their standards. — Num 2:31
MORNING THOUGHT: The camp of Dan brought up the rear when the armies of Israel were on the march. The Danites occupied the last place but what did the position matter—since they were as truly part of the host as were the foremost tribes; they followed the same fiery cloudy pillar, they ate of the same manna, drank of the same spiritual rock, and journeyed to the same inheritance. Come, my heart, cheer up, though you are the last and least; it is your privilege to be in the army, and to fare as they fare, who lead the van.
Someone must be last in honor and esteem, someone must do menial work for Jesus and why not I? In a poor village, among an ignorant peasantry; or in a back street, among degraded sinners—I will work on, and “go last, with my banners.”
The Danites occupied a very useful place. Stragglers have to be picked up upon the march, and lost property has to be gathered from the field. Fiery spirits may dash forward over untrodden paths to learn fresh truth, and win more souls to Jesus; but some of a more conservative spirit may be well engaged in reminding the church of her ancient faith, and restoring her fainting sons. Every position has its duties, and the slowly moving children of God will find their peculiar state, one in which they may be eminently a blessing to the whole host.
The rear guard is a place of danger. There are foes behind us—as well as before us. Attacks may come from any quarter. We read that Amalek fell upon Israel, and slew some of the hindmost of them. The experienced Christian will find much work for his weapons in aiding those poor doubting, desponding, wavering, souls—who are hindmost in faith, knowledge, and joy. These must not be left unaided, and therefore be it the business of well-taught saints to bear their banners among the hindmost. My soul—tenderly watch to help the hindmost this day.
READ EVENING THOUGHT BELOW:
Thursday, July 18, 2024
SCRIPTURE: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path. — Joel 2:8
Locusts always keep their rank, and although their number is legion, they do not crowd upon each other, so as to throw their columns into confusion. This remarkable fact in natural history shows how thoroughly the Lord has infused the spirit of order into His universe, since the smallest animate creatures are as much controlled by it as are the rolling spheres, or the seraphic messengers.
It would be wise for believers to be ruled by the same influence in all their spiritual life. In their Christian graces no one virtue should usurp the sphere of another, or eat out the vitals of the rest for its own support. Affection must not smother honesty; courage must not elbow weakness out of the field; modesty must not jostle energy; and patience must not slaughter resolution.
So also with our duties, one must not interfere with another; public usefulness must not injure private piety; church work must not push family worship into a corner. It is ill to offer God one duty stained with the blood of another. Each thing is beautiful in its season but not otherwise. It was to the Pharisee that Jesus said, “This you ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone.”
The same rule applies to our personal position, we must take care to know our place, take it, and keep to it. We must minister as the Spirit has given us ability, and not intrude upon our fellow servant’s domain. Our Lord Jesus taught us not to covet the high places but to be willing to be the least among the brethren. Far from us be an envious, ambitious spirit, let us feel the force of the Master’s command, and do as He bids us, keeping rank with the rest of the host.
Tonight let us see whether we are keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace, and let our prayer be that, in all the churches of the Lord Jesus, peace and order may prevail.
Morning and Evening’ is the classic daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Charles Spurgeon Morning and Evening Daily Devotional 18 July 2024 written by Charles H. Spurgeon