Evening, May 9
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
"Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field ... let us see if the
vine flourish."
Song of Solomon 7:11,12
The church was about to engage in earnest labour, and desired her
Lord's company in it. She does not say, "I will go," but "let us go."
It is blessed working when Jesus is at our side! It is the business of
God's people to be trimmers of God's vines. Like our first parents, we
are put into the garden of the Lord for usefulness; let us therefore go
forth into the field. Observe that the church, when she is in her right
mind, in all her many labours desires to enjoy communion with Christ.
Some imagine that they cannot serve Christ actively, and yet have
fellowship with him: they are mistaken. Doubtless it is very easy to
fritter away our inward life in outward exercises, and come to complain
with the spouse, "They made me keeper of the vineyards; but mine own
vineyard have I not kept;" but there is no reason why this should be
the case except our own folly and neglect. Certain is it that a
professor may do nothing, and yet grow quite as lifeless in spiritual
things as those who are most busy. Mary was not praised for sitting
still; but for her sitting at Jesus' feet. Even so, Christians are not
to be praised for neglecting duties under the pretence of having secret
fellowship with Jesus: it is not sitting, but sitting at Jesus' feet
which is commendable. Do not think that activity is in itself an evil:
it is a great blessing, and a means of grace to us. Paul called it a
grace given to him to be allowed to preach; and every form of Christian
service may become a personal blessing to those engaged in it. Those
who have most fellowship with Christ are not recluses or hermits, who
have much time to spare, but indefatigable labourers who are toiling
for Jesus, and who, in their toil, have him side by side with them, so
that they are workers together with God. Let us remember then, in
anything we have to do for Jesus, that we can do it, and should do it
in close communion with him.