Evening, June 20

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"Straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him."

  Mark 1:18

   When they heard the call of Jesus, Simon and Andrew obeyed at once
   without demur. If we would always, punctually and with resolute zeal,
   put in practice what we hear upon the spot, or at the first fit
   occasion, our attendance at the means of grace, and our reading of good
   books, could not fail to enrich us spiritually. He will not lose his
   loaf who has taken care at once to eat it, neither can he be deprived
   of the benefit of the doctrine who has already acted upon it. Most
   readers and hearers become moved so far as to purpose to amend; but,
   alas! the proposal is a blossom which has not been knit, and therefore
   no fruit comes of it; they wait, they waver, and then they forget,
   till, like the ponds in nights of frost, when the sun shines by day,
   they are only thawed in time to be frozen again. That fatal to-morrow
   is blood-red with the murder of fair resolutions; it is the
   slaughter-house of the innocents. We are very concerned that our little
   book of "Evening Readings" should not be fruitless, and therefore we
   pray that readers may not be readers only, but doers, of the word. The
   practice of truth is the most profitable reading of it. Should the
   reader be impressed with any duty while perusing these pages, let him
   hasten to fulfil it before the holy glow has departed from his soul,
   and let him leave his nets, and all that he has, sooner than be found
   rebellious to the Master's call. Do not give place to the devil by
   delay! Haste while opportunity and quickening are in happy conjunction.
   Do not be caught in your own nets, but break the meshes of worldliness,
   and away where glory calls you. Happy is the writer who shall meet with
   readers resolved to carry out his teachings: his harvest shall be a
   hundredfold, and his Master shall have great honour. Would to God that
   such might be our reward upon these brief meditations and hurried
   hints. Grant it, O Lord, unto thy servant!