Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

December 23– Morning

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

“Friend, come up here, and have a better seat at my table.” 

—Luke 14:10

When the life of grace first begins in the soul, we do indeed draw near to God, but it is with great fear and trembling. We are aware of our guilt and are humbled by it, falling down before the grandeur and majesty of Jehovah. In “bashfulness” we take the lowest seat in God’s house.

As the Christian grows in grace, he never forgets his humble position before God nor loses that holy awe which must surround a gracious man who lives in the presence of God; and yet, his fear has all its terror taken out of it; it becomes a holy reverence and no more an overshadowing dread. He is called up higher, to greater access to God in Christ Jesus.

That man now walks in the splendor of God’s presence, veiling his face like the glorious angels. Clothed in the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ, he is able to approach the throne and see there a God of love, goodness, and mercy.

Bowing as humbly as before, the one who walks with God enjoys a more sacred liberty of intercession. While lying prostrate before God’s infinite glory, he is sustained by the refreshing consciousness of being fully accepted in Christ. In this way, the believer is invited to take the higher seat and is enabled to exercise the privilege of rejoicing in God, drawing near to him in holy confidence. [M&E]