Encouragement from the Prince of Preachers

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SPURGEON’S MORNING AND EVENING DEVOTIONAL

He shall build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory.” Zechariah 6:13

Christ Himself is the builder of His spiritual temple, and He has built it on the mountains of His unchangeable affection, His omnipotent grace, and His infallible truthfulness. But as it was in Solomon’s temple, so in this; the materials need making ready.

There are the “Cedars of Lebanon,” but they are not framed for the building; they are not cut down, and shaped, and made into those planks of cedar, whose odoriferous beauty shall make glad the courts of the Lord’s house in Paradise. There are also the rough stones still in the quarry, they must be hewn thence, and squared. All this is Christ’s own work.

Each individual believer is being prepared, and polished, and made ready for his place in the temple; but Christ’s own hand performs the preparation-work. Afflictions cannot sanctify, excepting as they are used by Him to this end.

Our prayers and efforts cannot make us ready for heaven, apart from the hand of Jesus, who fashioneth our hearts aright.

As in the building of Solomon’s temple, “there was neither hammer, nor axe, nor any tool of iron, heard in the house,” because all was brought perfectly ready for the exact spot it was to occupy- so is it with the temple which Jesus builds; the making ready is all done on earth.

When we reach heaven, there will be no sanctifying us there, no squaring us with affliction, no planing us with suffering. No, we must be made meet here- all that Christ will do beforehand; and when He has done it, we shall be ferried by a loving hand across the stream of death, and brought to the heavenly Jerusalem, to abide as eternal pillars in the temple of our Lord.

Beneath His eye and care,
The edifice shall rise,
Majestic, strong, and fair,
And shine above the skies.

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FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE PRINCE OF PREACHERS

This devotion reminds us that our life’s aim must be the emulation of Christ. This means God allows difficulties and trials to come our way for our good, which leads to our sanctification. With this as our perspective it should motivate us to praise God because He uses all things for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28). If you enjoyed this devotion from Spurgeon, add the Morning and Evening Devotional to your library today!

Looking to fill your library with Spurgeon? We offer a few resources written by Spurgeon, the Price of Preachers, such as:

• Spurgeon Study Bible Notes.
• Lost Sermons of C.H. Spurgeon.
• The Olive Tree Charles Haddon Spurgeon Collection (103 vols.).
• Spurgeon’s Sermons, The Complete Set (63 Vols.).

Don’t wait any longer! Add them to your Olive Tree library today!