Morning, May 21

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious."

  1 Peter 2:3

   If:--then, this is not a matter to be taken for granted concerning
   every one of the human race. "If:"--then there is a possibility and a
   probability that some may not have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
   "If:"--then this is not a general but a special mercy; and it is
   needful to enquire whether we know the grace of God by inward
   experience. There is no spiritual favour which may not be a matter for
   heart-searching.

   But while this should be a matter of earnest and prayerful inquiry, no
   one ought to be content whilst there is any such thing as an "if" about
   his having tasted that the Lord is gracious. A jealous and holy
   distrust of self may give rise to the question even in the believer's
   heart, but the continuance of such a doubt would be an evil indeed. We
   must not rest without a desperate struggle to clasp the Saviour in the
   arms of faith, and say, "I know whom I have believed, and I am
   persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto
   him." Do not rest, O believer, till thou hast a full assurance of thine
   interest in Jesus. Let nothing satisfy thee till, by the infallible
   witness of the Holy Spirit bearing witness with thy spirit, thou art
   certified that thou art a child of God. Oh, trifle not here; let no
   "perhaps" and "peradventure" and "if" and "maybe" satisfy thy soul.
   Build on eternal verities, and verily build upon them. Get the sure
   mercies of David, and surely get them. Let thine anchor be cast into
   that which is within the veil, and see to it that thy soul be linked to
   the anchor by a cable that will not break. Advance beyond these dreary
   "ifs;" abide no more in the wilderness of doubts and fears; cross the
   Jordan of distrust, and enter the Canaan of peace, where the Canaanite
   still lingers, but where the land ceaseth not to flow with milk and
   honey.