Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

April 25– Evening

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

“If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.” 

—Revelation 3:20

What is your desire this evening? Is it set upon heavenly things? Are you contemplating eternal love and experiencing the freedom of close communion with God? Do you aspire to know the heights, and depths, and lengths, and breadths of his being and character? If so, then you must draw near to Jesus. You must see him clearly in his preciousness and completeness. You must view him in his work, in his offices, and in his person. The one who understands Christ receives an anointing from the Holy One by which he knows all things. Christ is the great master-key that unlocks all the doors of knowing God.

Is this your prayer tonight, “O that Jesus would dwell in my heart and live there forever”? If so, then open the door, dear Christian, and he will come into your soul. He has been knocking for a long time and desires to have close fellowship with you, and you with him. He meets with you right in your own heart, but he brings the finest food with him and spreads the table. Indeed, the only place he can eat and drink with you is in your heart. And yet, since your cupboards are bare and you have nothing to serve him, he must bring the food and prepare the table.

Fling wide open, then, the doors of your soul, and he will come with that love which you long to feel. He will come with that joy your poor depressed spirit is unable to attain. He will bring the peace which you now lack. He will come with his bottles of wine and sweet apples of love and cheer you until you have no other sickness but that of overwhelming love– love divine. Open the door to him; tell his enemies to leave; give him the keys of your heart, and he will live there forever.

Oh, wondrous love, that brings such a guest to live in such a heart! [M&E]