Morning, August 1, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of corn.” — Ruth 2:2

Depressed and anxious Christian, come and glean today in the broad field of promise. Here are an abundance of precious promises, which exactly meet your needs. Take this one: “He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking wick.” Does that match your case? A reed, helpless, insignificant, and weak, a bruised reed, out of which no music can come; weaker than weakness itself; a reed, and that reed bruised, yet, he will not break you; but on the contrary, will restore and strengthen you. You are like a smoking wick: no light, no warmth can come from you, but he will not quench you; he will blow with his sweet breath of mercy till he fans you to a flame.

Would you glean another ear? ” Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” What caring words! Your heart is tender, and the Master knows it, and so he speaks so gently to you. Won’t you obey him, and come to him even now? Take another ear of corn: “Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you,” declares the Lord, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.” How can you fear with such a wonderful reassurance as this? And you can gather ten thousand such golden ears as these! “I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud and your sins like a heavy mist.” Or this, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” Or this, “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”

Our Master’s field is very abundant; behold the armloads. See, there they lie before you, poor, nervous believer! Gather them up, make them your own, for Jesus calls you to take them. Don’t be afraid, only believe! Draw together these sweet promises, thresh them out by meditation and feast on them with joy.