Charles Spurgeon's "Morning & Evening" Devotional for November 18

 Charles Spurgeon's "Morning & Evening" Devotional for November 18

Morning

“Receive ye one another, as Christ also received us.”

Romans 15:1-16

Romans 15:1

If any course of action which would be safe to us would be dangerous to weaker brethren, we must consider their infirmity and deny ourselves for their sakes.

Romans 15:2-4

Jerome says, “Love the scriptures, and wisdom will love thee.” Chrysostom says, “Is it not absurd, that in money matters men will not trust to others, but the counters are produced and the sum cast up; yet, in their soul’s affairs, men are led and drawn away by the opinions of others, and this when they have an exact scale and an exact rule, viz., the declaration of the divine laws? Therefore, I entreat and beseech you all, that, not minding what this or that man may say about these things, you would consult the Holy Scriptures concerning them.”

Romans 15:6

Among Christians there must be unity, and especially in Christian families, so that all our powers may be undividedly employed in praising God. If we are jealous one of another, or use angry language, and quarrelsome words, we cannot glorify God as we ought.

Romans 15:7

If the Lord Jesus has indeed received us, and bears with our weaknesses and follies, well may we have patience with one another, and show pity to each other’s infirmities.

Romans 15:8

Jesus, our Lord, became the servant of the Jews, and preached among them in fulfilment of prophecy; shall we not become the servants of others for their good? Nor did his ministry end with Israel; but we, who are Gentiles, share the blessing; therefore, like our Lord, we should seek the good of all mankind and live to bless them.

Romans 15:15 , Romans 15:16

As Paul was peculiarly the apostle of the Gentiles, he was the more anxious that in the Gentiles the gospel should produce the acceptable fruit of mutual love. Every man should give most attention to that part of the work with which the Lord has entrusted him, with the one pure motive that God may be glorified thereby. Paul was insatiable for the glory of God and the prosperity of the church; let us be filled with the same zeal.

Lord, if thou hast made us strong,

Let us learn to help the weak;

Bearing with each other long,

While the good of all we seek.

May we with one heart and mind

Seek the glory of thy name;

In one sacred league combined,

All our aims and hopes the same.

Evening

“Love one another.”

Romans 16

Romans 16:1 , Romans 16:2

This godly woman laid herself out for usefulness, and even the apostle was indebted to her. Should not the sisters of the household imitate her?

Romans 16:3-5

Both the heads of the family were saved, hence the household grew into a church.

Romans 16:6

This is the third woman whom Paul commends in this chapter as working for the Lord: sex is no hindrance to service.

Romans 16:7

These relatives of Paul were converted before he became a Christian. Did their prayers lead up to his call by grace?

Romans 16:8-10

But not Aristobulus. It is sad to find the head of a gracious household himself unsaved.

Romans 16:11-13

Two sisters, and both believers. It is well when it is so.

Romans 16:11-13

The mother of Rufus had no doubt been so kind to Paul that he calls hey his mother. Love begets love.

Romans 16:21 , Romans 16:22

Tertius, the amanuensis, could not help putting in this line for himself. Christianity is the mother of courtesy. Kind words cost little, but are of great value.

Romans 16:23 , Romans 16:24

Paul cannot finish. He writes postscript after postscript. Letter writing was a serious business in his day, and as he might never be able to write again, he wishes to say all he can. The last postscript is a delightful doxology in which we can heartily unite.

To God the only wise,

Our Saviour and our King,

Let all the saints below the skies,

Their humble praises bring.

Copyright Statement
This resource was produced before 1923 and therefore is considered in the "Public Domain".