April 17
Charles Spurgeon · Faith's Checkbook
ENEMIES AT PEACE
"When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at
peace with him" Prov. 16:7
I must see that my ways please the Lord. Even then I shall have
enemies; and, perhaps, all the more certainly because I endeavor to do
that which is right. But what a promise this is! The Lord will make the
wrath of man to praise Him, and abate it so that it shall not distress
me.
He can constrain an enemy to desist from harming me, even though he has
a mind to do so. This He did with Laban, who pursued Jacob, but did not
dare to touch him. Or He can subdue the wrath of the enemy, and make
him friendly, as He did with Esau, who met Jacob in a brotherly manner,
though Jacob had dreaded that he would smite him and his family with
the sword. The Lord can also convert a furious adversary into a brother
in Christ, and a fellow-worker, as He did with Saul of Tarsus. Oh, that
He would do this in every case where a persecuting spirit appears!
Happy is the man whose enemies are made to be to him what the lions
were to Daniel in the den, quiet and companionable! When I meet death,
who is called the last enemy, I pray that I may be at peace. Only let
my great care be to please the Lord in all things. Oh, for faith and
holiness; for these are a pleasure unto the Most High!