Daily Devotionals

Charles Spurgeon's "Morning & Evening"

Devotional: December 16th

Morning

“Speak not evil of one another, brethren.”

James 4

James 4:1

Quarrels certainly do not come from heaven. If we always acted under the rule of grace, love would create perfect peace at home and abroad.

James 4:2

Praying is better than fighting. If God will give us what we ask, why need we fight for it?

James 4:3

If any say that they have prayed and not received, it is clear that their motive was selfish, and therefore God would not gratify them.

James 4:4

Ye adulterers and adulteresses who give to worldly things the love which is due to Christ alone

James 4:4

How can you then love worldliness, and make earthly treasures your grand pursuit?

James 4:6

The testimony of Scripture concerning man’s nature is manifestly true. We are by nature selfish and envious; but grace will enable us to conquer our inbred sins, if we humbly own them, and ask for help to overcome them.

James 4:7

He is a coward, assail him boldly and he will quit the field.

James 4:9

Voluntarily sorrow for sin, or you will have to suffer for it eternally. Mourn at the cross, or you will weep before the throne.

James 4:11

The man who is severe upon his brother sets himself up to be a better judge than God. He would have those punished whom God has not punished; and thus he sits in judgment upon God, as though he were wiser than the Judge of all the earth.

James 4:13 , James 4:14

To count on life as if we had a lease of it is madness. If it be wrong to boast of to-morrow, what folly must it be to be plotting and planning for a great while to come? It is our duty and privilege to live by the day.

James 4:15

This should be your general mode of speech. The mere use of the letters D. V. is an evasion of the rule: to live hour by hour, as those who will soon give an account, is the true mode of living.

Lest any should say, “We know all this, for we are fully persuaded that unless God lets us live we can do nothing,” James adds, “Do you know so well? then you are all the more bound to do well, for knowledge involves responsibility.”

Tomorrow, Lord, is thine,

Lodged in thy sovereign hand;

And if its sun arise and shine,

It shines by thy command.

The present moment flies,

And bears our life away;

Oh, make thy servants truly wise,

That they may live to-day.

To Jesus may we fly,

Swift as the morning light;

Lest life’s young golden beams should die,

In sudden endless night.

Evening

“Stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

James 5

James 5:1

The ungodly rich live only for this world as brutes do, and therefore the time shall come, when, like whipped or wounded beasts, they will howl in dismay. Those who by oppression cause the poor to weep shall themselves weep eternally.

James 5:2 , James 5:3

Goods ill gotten and greedily hoarded have heaven’s curse upon them. Such treasure is only accumulated wrath. Who would wish to increase a heap which shall cause his own flesh to burn?

James 5:4

Covetousness is capable of any and every meanness, and will enrich itself even from the earnings of the poor. The Lord of Hosts is the Guardian of the needy, and he will avenge their wrongs.

James 5:5-8

The great ones who wickedly persecute the righteous will soon be reckoned with, and the poor despised child of God shall speedily have his reward.

James 5:9

Wrongs will so soon be righted that we may well bear with them a little longer.

James 5:12

Our word is our bond; and anything beyond it is forbidden. Let us shun swearing of all kinds.

James 5:13-15

Use the means and pray. Medicine and supplication should go together. We send for the doctor and his draughts, why not send for the elders and their prayers?

James 5:16-18

This is not confession to a priest, but mutual acknowledgment of any wrong done to each other.

James 5:16-18

There are saints on earth whose prayers are equally prevalent. Why should we not be like them?

Behold the throne of grace!

The promise calls me near,

There Jesus shows a smiling face,

And waits to answer prayer.

My soul, ask what thou wilt,

Thou canst not be too bold;

Since his own blood for thee he spilt,

What else can he withhold?

Thine image, Lord, bestow,

Thy presence and thy love;

I ask to serve thee here below,

And reign with thee above.