December 9 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Obadiah 10–11

Devotional

Brotherly kindness was due from Edom to Israel in the time of need. But instead of that, the men of Esau sided with Israel’s foes. The sentence before us lays special stress on the word “you.” Like when Caesar cried to Brutus, “you too, Brutus?” a bad action may be all the worse because of the person who has committed it.

When we sin—we who are the chosen favourites of heaven—we sin with an emphasis. Ours is a crying offence because we are so especially favoured. If an angel should lay his hand upon us while we are doing evil, need he use any other rebuke than the question, “What, you? What are you doing here?” Much forgiven, much delivered, much instructed, much enriched, much blessed—shall we dare to put forth our hand unto evil? God forbid!

A few minutes of confession may be beneficial to you this morning, gentle reader. Have you never been as the wicked? When some laughed at immorality and the joke was not altogether offensive to your ear, were you not like one of them? When hard things were spoken against the things of God and you stayed bashfully silent—to onlookers, were you not like one of them? When the lovers of this world were bartering and driving hard bargains in the market, were you not like one of them? When they were pursuing vanity with alacrity and you were as greedy for it as they were, were you not like one of them? Could any difference be discerned between you and them? Is there any difference?

This brings us to the moment of truth. Be honest with your own soul. Make sure that you really are a new creature in Christ Jesus. But when this is sure, walk circumspectly, lest any should again be able to say, “Even you were like one of them.” If you don’t want to share their doom in eternity, then why be like them here? Do not come into their secret lest you come into their ruin. Side with the afflicted people of God, and not with the world.

[July 23]

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