Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

December 29– Evening

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

“What do you think of Christ?”

—Matthew 22:42

The great test of your soul’s health is found in this question, “What do you think of Christ?” Is he to you “more beautiful than the children of men”— “the chief among ten thousand”— the one who is “altogether lovely”? Wherever Christ is esteemed like this, all the faculties of the spiritual man exercise themselves with energy.

I will assess your spiritual condition with this barometer: Does Christ stand high or low with you? If you have thought little of Christ, if you have been content to live without his presence, if you have cared little for his honor, if you have been neglectful of his laws, then I know your soul is sick; may God grant that it not be sick unto death! But if the first thought of your spirit is, how can I honor Jesus? If the daily desire of your soul is, “O that I knew where I might find him!” I tell you that you may have a thousand disabilities and may even doubt that you are a child of God, and yet I am persuaded that you are safe, since Jesus is great in your esteem.

I don’t care if your clothing is but rags; I only care what you think of his royal apparel. I don’t care that your wounds are open and unsightly; I only care that you think of his wounds to be like glittering rubies. I don’t condemn you for being poor; all I want to know is that you treasure the King in all of his beauty and wealth. Does he have a glorious high throne in your heart? Would you set him higher if you could? Would you be willing to die if you could only add one more trumpet to proclaim his praise? Ah, if these things are true of you, then your soul is well. Regardless of what you may think of yourself, if Christ is great to you, then you will soon be with him. [M&E]