Evening, April 2, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“He will see His offspring, he will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.” — Isaiah 53:10

Appeal for the speedy fulfilment of this promise, all you who love the Lord. It is easy work to pray when, as to our desires, we are grounded and settled upon God’s own promise. How can he that gave the word refuse to keep it? Immutable truth cannot demean itself by a lie, and eternal faithfulness cannot degrade itself by neglect. God must bless his Son, his covenant binds him to it. That which the Spirit prompts us to ask for Jesus, is that which God decrees to give him. Whenever you are praying for the kingdom of Christ, let your eyes behold the dawning of the blessed day which draws near, when the Crucified shall receive his coronation in the place where men rejected him. Take courage, you that prayerfully work and toil for Christ with success of the very smallest kind; it shall not be so always; better times are before you. Your eyes cannot see the delightful future: borrow the telescope of faith, wipe the misty breath of your doubts from the glass and look through it to behold the coming glory. Reader, let us ask, do you make this your constant prayer? Remember that the same Christ who tells us to say, “Give us this day our daily bread,” had first given us this petition, “Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Do not let your prayers all be concerning your own sins, your own wants, your own imperfections, your own trials; but let them climb the starry ladder, and get up to Christ himself, and then, as you draw near to the blood-sprinkled mercy-seat, offer this prayer continually, “Lord, extend the kingdom of your dear Son.” Such a petition, fervently presented, will elevate the spirit of all your devotions. Take mind that you prove the sincerity of your prayer by laboring to promote the Lord’s glory.