You Have Made Summer and Winter
You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.
– Psalm 74:17 (ESV)
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My soul, begin this wintry month with God. The cold snows and the piercing winds all remind you that He keeps His covenant with day and night and serve to assure you that He will also keep that glorious covenant that He has made with you in the person of Christ Jesus. He who is true to His Word in the revolutions of the seasons of this poor sin-polluted world will not prove unfaithful in His dealings with His own well-beloved Son.
Winter in the soul is by no means a comfortable season, and if it is upon you just now, it will be very painful to you: But there is this comfort, namely, that the Lord makes it. He sends the sharp blasts of adversity to nip the buds of expectation. He scatters the frozen dew like ashes over the once fresh green meadows of our joy. He dispenses His icy morsels, freezing the streams of our delight. He does it all; He is the great Winter King and rules in the realms of frost, and therefore you cannot murmur. Losses, crosses, heaviness, sickness, poverty, and a thousand other ills are of the Lord’s sending and come to us with wise design. Frosts kill harmful insects and restrain raging diseases; they break up the clods and sweeten the soul. O that such good results would always follow our winters of affliction!
How we prize the fire just now! How pleasant is its cheerful glow! Let us in the same manner prize our Lord, who is the constant source of warmth and comfort in every time of trouble. Let us draw near to Him, and in Him find joy and peace in believing. Let us wrap ourselves in the warm garments of His promises, and keep working, unlike the lazy man who refuses to plow because it is too cold; in the summer he will have nothing and will be forced to beg for bread.
– Morning and Evening: December 1 (Spurgeon)
O, Creator,
How I love Thee! I marvel at your handiwork; the intricacies in your divine order of all things.
I step outside, and nearly topple over by the harsh bone-chilling wind, and quickly revolt. But then, I pause, and remember your goodness. I think upon your sovereign grace. I recall your steadfast love, and ponder your faithfulness - even in this. Aye, in all things! And, I smile broadly, with a new-founded affection for the “gentle” touch. What, at first passing, felt reproachful; soon takes on a strong embrace. The lonely heart-ache my soul felt, once cold, hardened, aloof; is warmed by your clasp.
I cannot see, or feel your grip on me - not really. And yet, I know you enfold me tenderly in your arms. How? By grace, through faith, I know. It’s not two bodies jointly held Together, but two spirits in blessed communion. My humble, lowly spirit meets yours. And You, somehow - mystery of mysteries! - communicate this comfort; you circumvent the seemingly impossible (to me!) chasm between body and soul; You hold me tightly.
You leave me breathless, yes, partially because of the intense gust, in a physical sort of realm (ha!), but also by impressing your awesome glory upon my soul. I am amazed, O my loving King, how you orchestrate all things for the purposes of your holy will. Nothing in all of creation is outside your control. You, at any given point in time, can choose (with delight!), to command any one of your infinitely numbered elements, creatures, laws, principles, things seen or unseen, to fulfill your passion.
O, my sweet Savior! Who am I, that You are mindful of me? What am I to You? How is it that I, your creature, have become your mode of affection? Your, beloved? O, Lord, my God, I am deeply humbled, and at the same time, everflowing with joy! Your love…it astounds me.
Amen.
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Thinking on this icy gust just a bit more…it’s comforting, yes, but it’s also jarring. As Spurgeon says, “He sends the sharp blasts of adversity to nip the buds of expectation“.
O, my soul! What is your expectation? Is it comfort? Is it ease? Is it to bask in the warmth of sunshine for all your days? Is it to be lulled to sleep in tepid pleasantries all whilst your cold heart hardens? As clay, baked in the sun, becomes hard as a rock? Is that the fulfillment of your desire?
No. O, beloved (said softly). No. That is not it. That is a misplaced dream. That is a lost understanding of joy, my soul. Hey now, there, there. Come now; that isn’t what you want. Not really.
But, of course, you didn’t know that until your Beloved took your breath away. Aye. Indeed.
And so beloved, as you step outside, as you are once again struck by the icy blast, as it penetrates through your coat, your skin, and buries itself deep within your bones; as it dislodges whatever comfort you once had; call to memory His steadfast love, graciously supplied to you. Rejoice in His goodness! Take heart, O my soul, for you have been kissed by the King! He has indeed moved mountains to come to you here and now.
O, beloved! This is no obnoxious intrusion. Oh no. This is the practical application of His heavenly grace. Revel in this discomfort, beloved! You asked, through faith, to see that which cannot be seen, to hear that which cannot be heard, to know of His great love for you, practically speaking. Well?
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O, my gracious God! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Thank you for taking notice of me! Not just that…no, but loving me! Thank you for showing me your love through faith. Thank you for the powerful work of your Spirit! O, Lord, my God, I am awed by your amazing grace. Your tenderness. Thank you for your embrace. I will cherish it always.
- Your beloved,
Amen.