Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

August 28– Morning

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

“Oil should fill the lamps.” 

—Exodus 25:6

God’s people desperately need the oil of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Our lamps won’t burn very long without it, and, in fact, will begin to smoke and become offensive. There is no divine oil within the human nature, and, therefore, you must go and find oil for yourself or like the foolish maidens you will have to cry out, “My lamp has gone out.” Even the consecrated lamps in the tabernacle could give no light without oil, and your need is equally as great. Even under the best of circumstances you can’t give light for another hour unless the fresh oil of grace is given to you.

Not every kind of oil can be used in the Lord’s service either. Petroleum was forbidden though it was plentiful. Oils produced from fish or extracted from nuts were also disallowed. Only one oil was accepted by God— the oil from the best olives. In the same way the so-called grace that comes from natural goodness will never do. We must go to the olive press of Gethsemane and draw our supplies from the One who was crushed for his people. The oil of gospel grace is pure and the light produced by it is clear and bright.

Our churches are the Savior’s golden candelabras, and if they are to be lights in this dark world, they must have a good supply of holy oil. Let us pray for ourselves, our ministers, and our churches that they may never lack this oil. The sacred light of truth, holiness, joy, knowledge, and love cannot shine forth from us unless we receive oil from God’s Holy Spirit. [M&E]