Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

December 26– Evening

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

“Don’t forget, I am always with you.”

—Matthew 28:20

The Lord Jesus is right in the middle of his church. He walks among the golden candlesticks. His promise is, “Behold, I am with you always.” He is as surely with us now as he was with the disciples beside the lake when he made a charcoal fire and prepared fish and bread for them to eat. No, he is not here in the flesh, but he is truly here. Jesus is with us.

This is a blessed truth, for where Jesus is, love becomes enflamed. Of all the things in the world that can set the heart burning, there is nothing like the presence of Jesus! A glimpse of him so overcomes us that we are ready to say, “Turn your eyes away from me.” The smell of aloes, myrrh, and cassia, which drop from his perfumed garments, cause the sick and the faint to grow strong.

Take a moment this evening to lean your head upon his gracious chest and receive his divine love into your poor cold heart; if you will, then you will be cold no longer! You will glow like an angel, empowered for every task and capable of every suffering. If Jesus is with us, every power will be developed, every grace will be strengthened, and we will serve the Lord with heart, soul, and strength.

The presence of Christ is to be desired above all things, and his presence is known most vividly by those who are most like him. If you desire to see Christ, you must grow in conformity to him. Let the power of the Holy Spirit bring you into union with Christ’s desires, motives, and actions, and you will be favored with his company. If he does not come, it is because we hinder him by our indifference. He reveals himself to our earnest prayers and is graciously detained by our requests and tears— for these are the golden chains which bind Jesus to his people. [M&E]