Spurgeon: November AM
* 11/14/AM
"I will cut off them that worship and that swear by the Lord,
and that swear by Malcham."
--Zephaniah 1:5
Such persons thought themselves safe because they were with
both parties: they went with the followers of Jehovah, and bowed
at the same time to Malcham. But duplicity is abominable with
God, and hypocrisy His soul hateth. The idolater who distinctly
gives himself to his false god, has one sin less than he who
brings his polluted and detestable sacrifice unto the temple of
the Lord, while his heart is with the world and the sins
thereof. To hold with the hare and run with the hounds, is a
dastard's policy. In the common matters of daily life, a double-
minded man is despised, but in religion he is loathsome to the
last degree. The penalty pronounced in the verse before us is
terrible, but it is well deserved; for how should divine justice
spare the sinner, who knows the right, approves it, and
professes to follow it, and all the while loves the evil, and
gives it dominion in his heart?
My soul, search thyself this morning, and see whether thou
art guilty of double-dealing. Thou professest to be a follower
of Jesus--dost thou truly love Him? Is thy heart right with God?
Art thou of the family of old Father Honest, or art thou a
relative of Mr. By-ends? A name to live is of little value if I
be indeed dead in trespasses and sins. To have one foot on the
land of truth, and another on the sea of falsehood, will involve
a terrible fall and a total ruin. Christ will be all or
nothing. God fills the whole universe, and hence there is no
room for another god; if, then, He reigns in my heart, there
will be no space for another reigning power. Do I rest alone on
Jesus crucified, and live alone for Him? Is it my desire to do
so? Is my heart set upon so doing? If so, blessed be the mighty
grace which has led me to salvation; and if not so, O Lord,
pardon my sad offence, and unite my heart to fear Thy name.