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Daily devotions for 04-02-2005:
Devotion: Morning and Evening
Morning Title: The Kiss of Jesus
Evening Title: Seek the Lord
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Morning: The Kiss of Jesus
"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: Seek the Lord
"He shall see His seed; He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord
shall prosper
in His hand." --Isaiah 53:10
Plead for the speedy fulfillment of this promise, all ye who love the Lord. It
is easy work to pray when we are grounded and bottomed, as to our desires, upon
God's own promise. How can He that gave the word refuse to keep it? Immutable
veracity cannot demean itself by a lie, and eternal faithfulness cannot degrade
itself by neglect. God must bless His Son, His covenant binds Him to it. That
which the Spirit prompts us to ask for Jesus, is that which God decrees to give
Him. Whenever you are praying for the kingdom of Christ, let your eyes behold
the dawning of the blessed day which draweth near, when the Crucified shall
receive His coronation in the place where men rejected Him. Courage, you that
prayerfully work and toil for Christ with success of the very smallest kind, it
shall not be so always; better times are before you. Your eyes cannot see the
blissful future: borrow the telescope of faith; wipe the misty breath of your
doubts from the glass; look through it and behold the coming glory.
Reader, let us ask, do you make this your constant prayer? Remember that the
same Christ
who tells us to say, "Give us this day our daily bread," had first given us
this petition,
"Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth as it is in
heaven." Let not your prayers be all concerning your own sins, your own wants,
your own imperfections, your own trials, but let them climb the starry ladder,
and get up to Christ Himself, and then, as you draw nigh to the blood-sprinkled
mercy-seat, offer this prayer continually, "Lord, extend the kingdom of Thy
dear Son."
Such a petition, fervently presented, will elevate the spirit of all your
devotions. Mind that you prove the sincerity of your prayer by labouring to
promote the Lord's glory.
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Spurgeon's Morning & Evening Devotions
Morning, April 3
"Behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom."
- Matthew 27:51
No mean miracle was wrought in the rending of so strong and thick a veil; but
it was not intended merely as a display of power-many lessons were herein
taught us. The old law of ordinances was put away, and like a worn-out vesture,
rent and laid aside. When Jesus died, the sacrifices were all finished, because
all fulfilled in him, and therefore the place of their presentation was marked
with an evident token of decay.
That rent also revealed all the hidden things of the old dispensation: the
mercy-seat could now be seen, and the glory of God gleamed forth above it. By
the death of our Lord Jesus we
have a clear revelation of God, for he was "not as Moses, who put a veil over
his face." Life and immortality are now brought to light, and things which have
been hidden since the foundation of the world are manifest in him.
The annual ceremony of atonement was thus abolished. The atoning blood which
was once every year sprinkled within the veil, was now offered once for all by
the great High Priest, and therefore the place of the symbolical rite was
broken up. No blood of bullocks or of lambs is needed now, for Jesus has
entered within the veil with his own blood.
Hence access to God is now permitted, and is the privilege of every believer in
Christ Jesus. There is no small space laid open through which we may peer at
the mercy-seat, but the rent reaches from the top to the bottom. We may come
with boldness to the throne of the heavenly grace. Shall we err if we say that
the opening of the Holy of Holies in this marvellous manner by our Lord's
expiring cry was the type of the opening of the gates of paradise to all the
saints by virtue of the Passion? Our bleeding Lord hath the key of heaven; he
openeth and no man shutteth; let us enter in with him into the heavenly places,
and sit with him there till our common enemies shall be made his footstool.
Evening, April 3
"The Amen." - Revelation 3:14
The word AMEN solemnly confirms that which went before; and Jesus is the great
Confirmer; immutable, for ever is "the Amen" in all his promises. Sinner, I
would comfort thee with this reflection. Jesus Christ said, "Come unto me all
ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
If you come to him, he will say "Amen" in your soul; his promise shall be true
to you. He said in the days of his flesh, "The bruised reed I will not break."
O thou poor, broken, bruised heart, if thou comest to him, he will say "Amen"
to thee, and
that shall be true in thy soul as in hundreds of cases in bygone years.
Christian, is not this very comforting to thee also, that there is not a word
which has gone out of the Saviour's lips which he has ever retracted? The words
of Jesus shall stand when heaven
and earth shall pass away. If thou gettest a hold of but half a promise, thou
shalt find it true. Beware of him who is called "Clip-promise," who will
destroy much of the comfort of God's
word.
Jesus is Yea and Amen in all his offices. He was a Priest to pardon and cleanse
once, he is Amen as Priest still. He was a King to rule and reign for his
people, and to defend them with
his mighty arm, he is an Amen King, the same still.
He was a Prophet of old, to foretell good things to come, his lips are most
sweet, and drop with honey still-he is an Amen Prophet. He is Amen as to the
merit of his blood; he is Amen as to his righteousness. That sacred robe shall
remain most fair and glorious when nature shall decay. He is Amen in every
single title which he bears; your Husband, never seeking a divorce; your
Friend, sticking closer than a brother; your Shepherd, with you in death's dark
vale; your Help and your Deliverer; your Castle and your High Tower; the Horn
of your strength, your confidence, your joy, your all in all, and your Yea and
Amen in all.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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