Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

 February 28– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“The barrel of flour and cruse of oil did not fail according to the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah.” 

—1 Kings 17:16

Here we see the faithfulness of divine love. It is clear this woman had daily necessities. She had herself and her son to feed in a time of famine. And now, in addition, she was supposed to feed the prophet Elijah, too. Although the need was more than she could bear, her supply of flour and oil did not run out, but God provided her constant supply. Each day she took what she needed from the barrel, and yet each day it remained the same.

You, dear reader, have daily necessities. And because they come so frequently you are apt to fear that the barrel of flour will one day be empty, and the cruse of oil will fail you. But rest assured that, according to the Word of God, this shall not be the case. Though each day brings its trouble, God will bring its help. Even if you live a long life and your needs should be as many as the sands of the seashore, yet God’s grace and mercy will last through all your necessities, and you shall never know a real lack.

For three long years, this widow never saw a rain cloud, and the stars never wept a holy tear of dew upon the wicked earth. Famine, desolation, and death made the land a howling wilderness, but this woman never was hungry. She always had joyful abundance. The same will be true of you. You will see the sinner’s hope perish, for he trusts in his own strength. You will see the proud Pharisee’s confidence totter, for he builds his hope upon the sand. You will see even your own plans blasted and withered, but you will find your safety in the rock of God Himself. “Your bread will be given to you, and your water will be sure.” It is better to have God for your guardian, than the world’s largest bank. You can spend the wealth of the world, but God’s riches you can never exhaust. [M&E]