Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

August 3– Evening

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

“As [Jesus] went, the people pressed around him.”

—Luke 8:42

Jesus was passing through the crowds on his way to the house of Jairus to raise the ruler’s dead daughter. But he is so generous in goodness that he works another miracle while traveling on the road. It is usually enough for us to work on one thing at a time, and it is often wise to stick to that one thing until it is done. Hastening to the rescue of a drowning friend, we cannot afford to exhaust our strength on someone else in danger. It is enough for a tree to yield one sort of fruit, and for a man to fulfil his own peculiar calling.

But our Master knows no limit of power or boundary of mission. He is so full of grace that like the sun which shines as it rolls onward in its orbit, his path is radiant with lovingkindness. He is a swift arrow of love, which not only reaches its ordained target, but perfumes the air through which it flies. Virtue is always flowing out of Jesus, as sweet odors exude from flowers. Goodness emanates from him as water from a sparkling fountain.

What a delightful encouragement this truth gives us! If our Lord is so ready to heal the sick and bless the needy, then don’t be slow to put yourself in his way so he may smile upon you. Don’t be slow to ask, if he is so ready to give. Receive his Word now and always, so that Jesus may speak through it to your heart. Wherever he is to be found, go there, so that you may obtain his blessing. If he there to heal, then perhaps he will heal you. Surely, he is present even now, for he always comes to hearts which need him. And don’t you need him? Ah, he knows how much you do!

O, Son of David, turn your eye and look upon the distress which is now before you and make me whole.” [M&E]