Spurgeon Mar. 17: Morning & Evening Be a Peacemaker & Remember the Poor

MORNING "Remember the poor." Galatians 2:10

WHY does God allow so many of His children to be poor? He could make them all rich if He pleased; He could lay bags of gold at their doors; He could send them large annual incomes; or He could scatter round their houses an abundance of provisions, as once He made the quail to lie in heaps around their camp of Israel and rained bread out of heaven to feed them. There is no necessity they should be poor, except that He sees it to be best. "The cattle on a thousand hills are His; He could supply them; He could make the richest, the greatest, and the mightiest bring all their power and riches to the feet of His children, for the hearts of all people are in His control. But He does not choose to do so; He allows them to suffer want, He allows them to pine in penury and obscurity. Why is this? There are many reasons: one is, to give us, who are favored with enough, an opportunity of showing our love to Jesus. We show our love to Christ when we sing of Him and when we pray to Him; but if there were no sons of need in the world we would lose the sweet privilege of showing our love, by ministering in almsgiving to His poorer children; He has ordained that we should therefore prove that our love stands not in word only, but in deed and in truth. If we truly love Christ, we will care for those who are loved by Him. Those who are dear to Him will be dear to us. Let us then look upon it not as a duty but as a privilege to relieve the poor of the Lord's flock --- remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, "Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these, you have done it unto me." Surely this assurance is sweet enough, and this motive strong enough to lead us to help others with a willing hand and a loving heart --- recollecting that all we do for His people is graciously accepted by Christ as done to Himself.

EVENING "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9

THIS is the seventh of the beatitudes: and seven was the number of perfection among Hebrews. It may be that our Saviour placed the peacemaker, Himself, the seventh on the list because he most nearly approaches the perfect man in Christ Jesus. He who would have perfect blessedness, so far as it can be enjoyed on earth, must attain to this seventh benediction, and become a peacemaker. There is a significance also in the position of the text. The verse which precedes it speaks of the blessedness of the pure-in-heart: for they shall see God." It is well to understand that we are to be "first pure, then peaceable." Our peaceable-ness is never to be a compact with sin, or toleration of evil. WE must set our faces like flints against everything which is contrary to God and His holiness: purity being in our souls a settled matter, we can go on to peaceable-ness. Not less does the verse that follows seem to have been put there on purpose. However peaceable we may be in this world, yet we shall be misrepresented and misunderstood: and no wonder, for even the Prince of Peace, by His very peacefulness, brought fire upon the earth. He Himself, though He loved mankind, and did no evil, was "despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Lest, therefore, the peaceable in heart should be surprised when they meet with enemies, it is added in the following verse, "Blessed are they whic are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" Thus, the peacemakers are not only pronounced to be blessed, but they are surrounded with blessings. Lord, give us grace to climb to this seventh beatitude! Purify our minds that we may be "first pure, then peaceable," and fortify our souls, that our peace-ableness may not lead us into cowardice and despair, when for Your sake we are persecuted.

1. Invitation to Link to attend online virtual traditional 150+ years old church at 8:45 am CDT every Sunday morning: (Select Live Stream)Live Stream | First Baptist Church, Garland, TX (fbcgarland.org)

2. Invitation to Link to attend online Zoom meeting of FBCG Barnabas Sunday School Department at 10:00 am CDT every Sunday morning: (You will be connected by the Zoom meeting manager)https://us05web.zoom.us/j/2899163560?pwd=UVRqWWtxNlJXRkhXdTBVZzZmNUxLQT09