July 28

Charles Spurgeon · Faith's Checkbook

BOW DOWN; BE LIFTED UP

   "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may
   exalt you in due time." I Peter 5:6

   This is tantamount to a promise: if we will bow down, the Lord will
   lift us up. Humility leads to honor: submission is the way to
   exaltation. That same hand of God which presses us down is waiting to
   raise us up when we are prepared to bear the blessing. We stoop to
   conquer. Many cringe before men, and yet miss the patronage they crave;
   but he that humbles himself under the hand of God shall not fail to be
   enriched, uplifted, sustained, and comforted by the ever-gracious One.
   It is a habit of Jehovah to cast down the proud, and lift up the lowly.

   Yet there is a time for the Lord's working. We ought now to humble
   ourselves, even at this present moment; and we are bound to keep on
   doing so whether the Lord lays His afflicting hand upon us or not. When
   the Lord smites, it is our special duty to accept the chastisement with
   profound submission. But as for the Lord's exaltation of us, that can
   only come "in due time," and God is the best judge of that day and
   hour. Do we cry out impatiently for the blessing? Would we wish for
   untimely honor? What are we at? Surely we are not truly humbled, or we
   should wait with quiet submission. So let us do.