Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

December 16– Morning

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

“Come unto me.” 

—Matthew 11:28

The cry of the Christian religion is the gentle word, “Come.” The Jewish law harshly said, “Go, watch your steps, and be careful where you walk. Break the commandments, and you’ll die; keep them, and you’ll live!” The law ruled with terror, and it was, in this sense, an ever-present scourge to sinful men.

The gospel, however, draws men with arms of love. Jesus is the good Shepherd going before his sheep, calling them to follow him, and ever leading them onwards with the sweet word, “Come.” The law repels, the gospel attracts. The law shows the distance between God and man; the gospel bridges that awful chasm and brings the sinner across it.

From the first moment of your spiritual life until you are ushered into glory, the language of Christ to you will be, “Come, come unto me.” As a mother puts out her finger to her little child and encourages it to walk by saying, “Come,” even so does Jesus. He will always be ahead of you, calling you to follow him as the soldier follows his captain. And when you come to the solemn hour of death, he will usher you into the presence of God with the sweet words, “Come, you who are blessed of my Father.”

And, even further than this, is not only Christ’s cry to you, but, if you’re a believer, this is your cry to Christ— “Come! come!” You will long for his second advent; you will say, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Come, Lord, and stay with me. Occupy the throne of my heart; reign there without a rival, and consecrate me entirely to your service.” [M&E]