Evening, February 5
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Matthew 11:25
"At that time Jesus answered."
Matthew 11:25
This is a singular way in which to commence a verse--"At that time
Jesus answered." If you will look at the context you will not perceive
that any person had asked him a question, or that he was in
conversation with any human being. Yet it is written, "Jesus answered
and said, I thank thee, O Father." When a man answers, he answers a
person who has been speaking to him. Who, then, had spoken to Christ?
his Father. Yet there is no record of it; and this should teach us that
Jesus had constant fellowship with his Father, and that God spake into
his heart so often, so continually, that it was not a circumstance
singular enough to be recorded. It was the habit and life of Jesus to
talk with God. Even as Jesus was, in this world, so are we; let us
therefore learn the lesson which this simple statement concerning him
teaches us. May we likewise have silent fellowship with the Father, so
that often we may answer him, and though the world wotteth not to whom
we speak, may we be responding to that secret voice unheard of any
other ear, which our own ear, opened by the Spirit of God, recognizes
with joy. God has spoken to us, let us speak to God--either to set our
seal that God is true and faithful to his promise, or to confess the
sin of which the Spirit of God has convinced us, or to acknowledge the
mercy which God's providence has given, or to express assent to the
great truths which God the Holy Ghost has opened to our understanding.
What a privilege is intimate communion with the Father of our spirits!
It is a secret hidden from the world, a joy with which even the nearest
friend intermeddleth not. If we would hear the whispers of God's love,
our ear must be purged and fitted to listen to his voice. This very
evening may our hearts be in such a state, that when God speaks to us,
we, like Jesus, may be prepared at once to answer him.