Evening, June 14, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“Open shame belongs to us, O Lord … because we have sinned against You.” — Daniel 9:8

A deep sense and clear vision of sin, its wickedness, and the punishment which it deserves, should make us lie low before the throne. We have sinned as Christians. It is sad to say that it it should be so. Favored as we have been, we have yet been ungrateful: privileged beyond most, we have not brought forth fruit in proportion. Who is there—although he may have been engaged in the Christian warfare many years—that will not blush when he looks back upon the past? As for our days before we were born again, may they be forgiven and forgotten; but since then, though we have not sinned as before, yet we have sinned against light and against love—light which has truly penetrated our minds, and love in which we have rejoiced. Oh, the atrocity of the sin of a pardoned soul! An unpardoned sinner sins cheaply compared with the sin of one of God’s own elect ones, who has had communion with Christ and leaned his head into Jesus’ embrace. Look at David! Many will talk of his sin, but I entreat you to look at his repentance, and hear his broken bones, as each one of them moans out its sorrowful confession! Mark his tears, as they fall upon the ground, and the deep sighs with which he accompanies the softened music of his harp! We have erred: let us, therefore, seek the spirit of repentance. Look, again, at Peter! We speak much of Peter’s denying his Master. Remember, it is written, “He wept bitterly.” Have we no denials of our Lord to be lamented with tears? Alas! These sins of ours, before and after conversion, would consign us to the place of inextinguishable fire if it were not for the sovereign mercy which has made us different, snatching us like brands from the fire. My soul, bow down under a sense of your natural sinfulness, and worship your God. Admire the grace which saves you—the mercy which spares you—the love which pardons you!