Morning, January 26
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Matthew 6:26
"Your heavenly Father."
Matthew 6:26
God's people are doubly his children, they are his offspring by
creation, and they are his sons by adoption in Christ. Hence they are
privileged to call him, "Our Father which art in heaven." Father! Oh,
what precious word is that. Here is authority: "If I be a Father, where
is mine honour?" If ye be sons, where is your obedience? Here is
affection mingled with authority; an authority which does not provoke
rebellion; an obedience demanded which is most cheerfully
rendered--which would not be withheld even if it might. The obedience
which God's children yield to him must be loving obedience. Do not go
about the service of God as slaves to their taskmaster's toil, but run
in the way of his commands because it is your Father's way. Yield your
bodies as instruments of righteousness, because righteousness is your
Father's will, and his will should be the will of his child.
Father!--Here is a kingly attribute so sweetly veiled in love, that the
King's crown is forgotten in the King's face, and his sceptre becomes,
not a rod of iron, but a silver sceptre of mercy--the sceptre indeed
seems to be forgotten in the tender hand of him who wields it.
Father!--Here is honour and love. How great is a Father's love to his
children! That which friendship cannot do, and mere benevolence will
not attempt, a father's heart and hand must do for his sons. They are
his offspring, he must bless them; they are his children, he must show
himself strong in their defence. If an earthly father watches over his
children with unceasing love and care, how much more does our heavenly
Father? Abba, Father! He who can say this, hath uttered better music
than cherubim or seraphim can reach. There is heaven in the depth of
that word--Father! There is all I can ask; all my necessities can
demand; all my wishes can desire. I have all in all to all eternity
when I can say, "Father."