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Morning and Evening

September 17, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Encourage him." — Deuteronomy 1:38 · KJV

God uses His people to encourage one another. He did not say to an angel, "Gabriel, My servant Joshua is about to lead My people into Canaan — go, encourage him." God never works needless miracles; if His purposes can be accomplished by ordinary means, He will not use miraculous agency. Gabriel would not have been half so fit for the work as Moses. A brother's sympathy is more precious than an angel's embassy; the angel, swift of wing, knew the Master's bidding better than the people's temper, but he had never felt the hardness of the road, nor seen the fiery serpents, nor led the stiff-necked multitude through the wilderness as Moses had. We should be glad that God usually works for man by man; it forms a bond of brotherhood, and, being mutually dependent, we are fused more completely into one family. Brethren, take the text as God's message to you. Labor to help others, and above all strive to encourage them. Talk cheerily to the young and anxious seeker; lovingly try to remove the stumbling blocks from his way. When you find a spark of grace in the heart, kneel down and fan it into a flame. Leave the young believer to discover the roughness of the road by degrees, but tell him of the strength that dwells in God, of the sureness of the promise, and of the charms of communion with Christ. Aim to comfort the sorrowful and to hearten the despondent. Speak a word in season to him that is weary, and encourage the fearful to go on their way with gladness. God encourages you by His promises; Christ encourages you as He points to the heaven He has won for you; and the Spirit encourages you as He works in you to will and to do of His own good pleasure. Imitate divine wisdom, and encourage others, according to the word of this evening.