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\ / Charles Spurgeon's MORNING & EVENING http://www.heartlight.org/
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Monday, March 9, 2009
MORNING:
"Yea, he is altogether lovely."
-- Song of Solomon 5:16
The superlative beauty of Jesus is all-attracting; it is not so much to
be admired as to be loved. He is more than pleasant and fair, he is
lovely. Surely the people of God can fully justify the use of this
golden word, for he is the object of their warmest love, a love founded
on the intrinsic excellence of his person, the complete perfection of
his charms. Look, O disciples of Jesus, to your Master's lips, and say,
"Are they not most sweet?" Do not his words cause your hearts to burn
within you as he talks with you by the way? Ye worshippers of Immanuel,
look up to his head of much fine gold, and tell me, are not his
thoughts precious unto you? Is not your adoration sweetened with
affection as ye humbly bow before that countenance which is as Lebanon,
excellent as the cedars? Is there not a charm in his every feature, and
is not his whole person fragrant with such a savour of his good
ointments, that therefore the virgins love him? Is there one member of
his glorious body which is not attractive?-one portion of his person
which is not a fresh lodestone to our souls?-one office which is not a
strong cord to bind your heart? Our love is not as a seal set upon his
heart of love alone; it is fastened upon his arm of power also; nor is
there a single part of him upon which it does not fix itself. We anoint
his whole person with the sweet spikenard of our fervent love. His
whole life we would imitate; his whole character we would transcribe.
In all other beings we see some lack, in him there is all perfection.
The best even of his favoured saints have had blots upon their garments
and wrinkles upon their brows; he is nothing but loveliness. All
earthly suns have their spots: the fair world itself hath its
wilderness; we cannot love the whole of the most lovely thing; but
Christ Jesus is gold without alloy-light without darkness-glory without
cloud-"Yea, he is altogether lovely."
EVENING:
"Abide in me."
-- John 15:4
Communion with Christ is a certain cure for every ill. Whether it be
the wormwood of woe, or the cloying surfeit of earthly delight, close
fellowship with the Lord Jesus will take bitterness from the one, and
satiety from the other. Live near to Jesus, Christian, and it is a
matter of secondary importance whether thou livest on the mountain of
honour or in the valley of humiliation. Living near to Jesus, thou art
covered with the wings of God, and underneath thee are the everlasting
arms. Let nothing keep thee from that hallowed intercourse, which is
the choice privilege of a soul wedded to THE WELL-BELOVED. Be not
content with an interview now and then, but seek always to retain his
company, for only in his presence hast thou either comfort or safety.
Jesus should not be unto us a friend who calls upon us now and then,
but one with whom we walk evermore. Thou hast a difficult road before
thee: see, O traveller to heaven, that thou go not without thy guide.
Thou hast to pass through the fiery furnace; enter it not unless, like
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, thou hast the Son of God to be thy
companion. Thou hast to storm the Jericho of thine own corruptions:
attempt not the warfare until, like Joshua, thou hast seen the Captain
of the Lord's host, with his sword drawn in his hand. Thou art to meet
the Esau of thy many temptations: meet him not until at Jabbok's brook
thou hast laid hold upon the angel, and prevailed. In every case, in
every condition, thou wilt need Jesus; but most of all, when the iron
gates of death shall open to thee. Keep thou close to thy soul's
Husband, lean thy head upon his bosom, ask to be refreshed with the
spiced wine of his pomegranate, and thou shalt be found of him at the
last, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. Seeing thou hast
lived with him, and lived in him here, thou shalt abide with him for
ever.
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=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
JUST LIKE JESUS: LEARNING TO HAVE A HEART LIKE HIS, by Max Lucado
In his best-selling book Just Like Jesus, Max Lucado explains that God
loves you just the way you are ... but He refuses to leave you that
way.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?153
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
MORNING & EVENING from HEARTLIGHT /\/\
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http://www.heartlight.org/spurgeon \/
Morning & Evening is the classic devotional by 19th-century writer
and preacher Charles Spurgeon. It's part of HEARTLIGHT Magazine,
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