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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING
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Tuesday, April 1, 2008
MORNING:
"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth."
-- Song of Solomon 1:2
For several days we have been dwelling upon the Saviour's passion, and
for some little time to come we shall linger there. In beginning a new
month, let us seek the same desires after our Lord as those which
glowed in the heart of the elect spouse. See how she leaps at once to
him; there are no prefatory words; she does not even mention his name;
she is in the heart of her theme at once, for she speaks of him who was
the only him in the world to her. How bold is her love! it was much
condescension which permitted the weeping penitent to anoint his feet
with spikenard-it was rich love which allowed the gentle Mary to sit at
his feet and learn of him-but here, love, strong, fervent love, aspires
to higher tokens of regard, and closer signs of fellowship. Esther
trembled in the presence of Ahasuerus, but the spouse in joyful liberty
of perfect love knows no fear. If we have received the same free
spirit, we also may ask the like. By kisses we suppose to be intended
those varied manifestations of affection by which the believer is made
to enjoy the love of Jesus. The kiss of reconciliation we enjoyed at
our conversion, and it was sweet as honey dropping from the comb. The
kiss of acceptance is still warm on our brow, as we know that he hath
accepted our persons and our works through rich grace. The kiss of
daily, present communion, is that which we pant after to be repeated
day after day, till it is changed into the kiss of reception, which
removes the soul from earth, and the kiss of consummation which fills
it with the joy of heaven. Faith is our walk, but fellowship sensibly
felt is our rest. Faith is the road, but communion with Jesus is the
well from which the pilgrim drinks. O lover of our souls, be not
strange to us; let the lips of thy blessing meet the lips of our
asking; let the lips of thy fulness touch the lips of our need, and
straightway the kiss will be effected.
EVENING:
"It is time to seek the Lord."
-- Hosea 10:12
This month of April is said to derive its name from the Latin verb
aperio, which signifies to open, because all the buds and blossoms are
now opening, and we have arrived at the gates of the flowery year.
Reader, if you are yet unsaved, may your heart, in accord with the
universal awakening of nature, be opened to receive the Lord. Every
blossoming flower warns you that it is time to seek the Lord; be not
out of tune with nature, but let your heart bud and bloom with holy
desires. Do you tell me that the warm blood of youth leaps in your
veins? then, I entreat you, give your vigour to the Lord. It was my
unspeakable happiness to be called in early youth, and I could fain
praise the Lord every day for it. Salvation is priceless, let it come
when it may, but oh! an early salvation has a double value in it. Young
men and maidens, since you may perish ere you reach your prime, "It is
time to seek the Lord." Ye who feel the first signs of decay, quicken
your pace: that hollow cough, that hectic flush, are warnings which you
must not trifle with; with you it is indeed time to seek the Lord. Did
I observe a little grey mingled with your once luxurious tresses? Years
are stealing on apace, and death is drawing nearer by hasty marches,
let each return of spring arouse you to set your house in order. Dear
reader, if you are now advanced in life, let me entreat and implore you
to delay no longer. There is a day of grace for you now-be thankful for
that, but it is a limited season and grows shorter every time that
clock ticks. Here in this silent chamber, on this first night of
another month, I speak to you as best I can by paper and ink, and from
my inmost soul, as God's servant, I lay before you this warning, "It is
time to seek the Lord." Slight not that work, it may be your last call
from destruction, the final syllable from the lip of grace.
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MORNING & EVENING from HEARTLIGHT /\/\
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Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
and preacher Charles Spurgeon. It's part of HEARTLIGHT Magazine,
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