Morning & Evening – June 15, 2026 | Spurgeon Devotional

Morning

Scripture

And Sarah said, “God has made laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh over me.”

— Genesis 21:6 (ESV)

Devotional

It was far above the power of nature, and even contrary to its laws, that the aged Sarah should be honoured with a son; and even so it is beyond all ordinary rules that I, a poor, helpless, undone sinner, should find grace to bear about in my soul the indwelling Spirit of the Lord Jesus. I, who once despaired, as well I might, for my nature was as dry, and withered, and barren, and accursed as a howling wilderness, even I have been made to bring forth fruit unto holiness. Well may my mouth be filled with joyous laughter, because of the singular, surprising grace which I have received of the Lord, for I have found Jesus, the promised seed, and he is mine forever. This day will I lift up psalms of triumph unto the Lord who has remembered my low estate, for “my heart rejoiceth in the Lord; mine horn is exalted in the Lord; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation.”

I would have all those that hear of my great deliverance from hell, and my most blessed visitation from on high, laugh for joy with me. I would surprise my family with my abundant peace; I would delight my friends with my ever-increasing happiness; I would edify the Church with my grateful confessions; and even impress the world with the cheerfulness of my daily conversation. Bunyan tells us that Mercy laughed in her sleep, and no wonder when she dreamed of Jesus; my joy shall not stop short of hers while my Beloved is the theme of my daily thoughts. The Lord Jesus is a deep sea of joy: my soul shall dive therein, shall be swallowed up in the delights of his society. Sarah looked on her Isaac, and laughed with excess of rapture, and all her friends laughed with her; and thou, my soul, look on thy Jesus, and bid heaven and earth unite in thy joy unspeakable.

Reflection

Spurgeon uses the story of Sarah’s laughter at the birth of Isaac to illustrate the surprising, supernatural joy that comes when God does what is humanly impossible. Just as Sarah’s barren womb was made fruitful by a miracle of grace, so the sinner’s dry and accursed nature is made to bring forth fruit unto holiness by the indwelling Spirit. This is not ordinary religion; it is “beyond all ordinary rules.” The proper response is not quiet gratitude alone but joyous laughter—psalms of triumph, abundant peace, ever-increasing happiness, and a cheerfulness that surprises family, delights friends, edifies the church, and even impresses the world.

What many miss is that this joy is not manufactured by positive thinking or effort. It flows from having found Jesus, the promised seed, as one’s own forever. The Lord Jesus is a “deep sea of joy,” and the soul is invited to dive in and be swallowed up in the delights of his society. The laughter of faith is the overflow of knowing that the low estate has been remembered and that heaven itself joins in the joy unspeakable.

Goad

Am I thus filled with joyous laughter because of the singular, surprising grace I have received, or has my Christian life become dry and dutiful? What would it look like today to treat Jesus as a deep sea of joy and let that joy overflow into my conversations and relationships?

Evening

Scripture

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.’”

— Revelation 3:7 (ESV)

Devotional

Jesus is the keeper of the gates of paradise and before every believing soul he setteth an open door, which no man or devil shall be able to close against it. What joy it will be to find that faith in him is the golden key to the everlasting doors. My soul, dost thou carry this key in thy bosom, or art thou trusting to some deceitful pick-lock, which will fail thee at last? Hear this parable of the preacher, and remember it. The great King has made a banquet, and he has proclaimed to all the world that none shall enter but those who bring with them the fairest flower that blooms. The spirits of men advance to the gate by thousands, and they bring each one the flower which he esteems the queen of the garden; but in crowds they are driven from the royal presence, and enter not into the festive halls. Some bear in their hand the deadly nightshade of superstition, or the flaunting poppies of Rome, or the hemlock of self-righteousness, but these are not dear to the King, the bearers are shut out of the pearly gates. My soul, hast thou gathered the rose of Sharon? Dost thou wear the lily of the valley in thy bosom constantly? If so, when thou comest up to the gates of heaven thou wilt know its value, for thou hast only to show this choicest of flowers, and the Porter will open: not for a moment will he deny thee admission, for to that rose the Porter openeth ever. Thou shalt find thy way with the rose of Sharon in thy hand up to the throne of God himself, for heaven itself possesses nothing that excels its radiant beauty, and of all the flowers that bloom in paradise there is none that can rival the lily of the valley. My soul, get Calvary’s blood-red rose into thy hand by faith, by love wear it, by communion preserve it, by daily watchfulness make it thine all in all, and thou shalt be blessed beyond all bliss, happy beyond a dream. Jesus, be mine forever, my God, my heaven, my all.

Reflection

Spurgeon presents Jesus as the one who opens the door that no one can shut. The only “flower” that gains admission to the King’s banquet is the rose of Sharon—the blood-red rose of Calvary. All other offerings—superstition, self-righteousness, religious show—are rejected. The believing soul that carries this rose by faith, wears it by love, preserves it by communion, and makes it everything by watchfulness will find the Porter opening immediately and the way open all the way to the throne.

The encouragement is intensely personal: the open door is set before every believing soul. The question is whether we are trusting the true key or some deceitful pick-lock. The rose of Sharon must be our all in all if we are to be blessed beyond all bliss.

Goad

Am I carrying the rose of Sharon—Calvary’s blood-red rose—as my all in all by faith, love, communion, and daily watchfulness, or am I still holding other flowers that will be rejected at the gate? What would it look like to treat Jesus as the only key and the only beauty that opens every door?

Tie-In

The morning’s surprising laughter of grace and the evening’s open door secured by the rose of Sharon both proclaim the freeness and sufficiency of Christ. The same Lord who turns barrenness into fruitfulness and causes his people to laugh with joy also holds the key that no one can shut. This is the Milk that sustains every believer. For those ready for deeper Solid Food and Meat, these images point toward the doctrines of effectual calling, the perseverance of the saints, and the believer’s union with Christ as the only ground of confident access to God. Explore the fuller tables on the site for resources that build from this daily joy and assurance into richer theology and practice.

Closing

Spurgeon’s classic text with AI-assisted reflection and formatting to maintain daily consistency and reach.

If these words have stirred something in your heart today, we invite you to sit with it. Share how God met you in the comments or reach out to us.

As we build out the deeper tables of Milk, Solid Food, and Meat for every stage of the journey, know that you are welcome here.

NewGrapes Ministries
Making disciples, not pew-fillers.
Soli Deo Gloria.