Morning, June 15

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will
   laugh with me."

  Genesis 21:6

   It was far above the power of nature, and even contrary to its laws,
   that the aged Sarah should be honoured with a son; and even so it is
   beyond all ordinary rules that I, a poor, helpless, undone sinner,
   should find grace to bear about in my soul the indwelling Spirit of the
   Lord Jesus. I, who once despaired, as well I might, for my nature was
   as dry, and withered, and barren, and accursed as a howling wilderness,
   even I have been made to bring forth fruit unto holiness. Well may my
   mouth be filled with joyous laughter, because of the singular,
   surprising grace which I have received of the Lord, for I have found
   Jesus, the promised seed, and he is mine forever. This day will I lift
   up psalms of triumph unto the Lord who has remembered my low estate,
   for "my heart rejoiceth in the Lord; mine horn is exalted in the Lord;
   my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies, because I rejoice in thy
   salvation."

   I would have all those that hear of my great deliverance from hell, and
   my most blessed visitation from on high, laugh for joy with me. I would
   surprise my family with my abundant peace; I would delight my friends
   with my ever-increasing happiness; I would edify the Church with my
   grateful confessions; and even impress the world with the cheerfulness
   of my daily conversation. Bunyan tells us that Mercy laughed in her
   sleep, and no wonder when she dreamed of Jesus; my joy shall not stop
   short of hers while my Beloved is the theme of my daily thoughts. The
   Lord Jesus is a deep sea of joy: my soul shall dive therein, shall be
   swallowed up in the delights of his society. Sarah looked on her Isaac,
   and laughed with excess of rapture, and all her friends laughed with
   her; and thou, my soul, look on thy Jesus, and bid heaven and earth
   unite in thy joy unspeakable.