November 30 Daily Devotional

Morning and Evening

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out” (Leviticus 6:13).

Bible Reading

Leviticus 6:8–13

Devotional

Keep the altar of secret prayer burning. This is the very life of all piety. The altars of public and family worship borrow their fires here, therefore let this burn well. Secret devotion is the very essence, evidence, and gauge of a living, first-hand religion.

Burn the fat of your sacrifices here. As much as possible, let your closet seasons be regular, frequent, and undisturbed. “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (Jas. 5:16). Do you have nothing to pray for? Let us suggest the church, the ministry of the Word, your own soul, your children, your relations, your neighbours, your country, and the cause of God and truth throughout the world.

Let us examine ourselves on this important matter. Do we engage in private devotion with lukewarmness? Is the fire of devotion burning dimly in our hearts? Do the chariot wheels drag heavily? If so, then let us be alarmed at this sign of decay. Let us go with weeping and plead for the Spirit of grace and supplication (Zech. 12:10). Let us set apart special seasons for extraordinary prayer. If this fire gets smothered beneath the ashes of a worldly conformity, then it will dim the fire on the family altar and lessen our influence both in the church and in the world.

The text will also apply to the altar of the heart. This is a golden altar indeed. God loves to see the hearts of his people glowing towards himself. Let us give our hearts to God all ablaze with love and seek his grace that the fire may never be quenched—for it will not burn if the Lord does not keep it burning. Many foes will try to extinguish it. But if the unseen hand behind the wall pours the sacred oil on it then it will blaze higher and higher. Let us use texts of Scripture as fuel for our heart’s fire; they are live coals. Let us attend sermons. But above all, let us spend much time with Jesus praying in secret.

[July 15]

Extracted from C. H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening (public domain), language modernized by Larry E. Wilson.