Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–
June 5– Evening
by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff
“The one who doesn’t love doesn’t know God.”
—1 John 4:8
The distinguishing mark of a Christian is his confidence in the love of Christ and the yielding of his affections to Christ in return.
First, faith sets her seal upon the man by enabling the soul to say with the apostle, “Christ loved me and gave himself for me.” Then love gives the countersign and stamps upon the heart gratitude and love to Jesus in return. “We love him because he first loved us.” Throughout the history of the Christian Faith, this double-mark was clearly to be seen in all believers in Jesus; they were men who knew the love of Christ and rested upon it as a man leans upon his staff.
The love which they felt towards the Lord was not a quiet emotion which they hid within themselves in the secret chamber of their souls. It wasn’t something they only talked about in their private assemblies when they met on the first day of the week and sang hymns in honor to Christ Jesus the crucified. No! It was a passion with them of such a vehement and all-consuming energy that it was visible in all their actions. It was part of their common talk and could be seen in the common glancing of their eyes. Love to Jesus was a flame which fed upon the core and heart of their being and from there burned its way into the outer man, shining for all to see.
Zeal for the glory of King Jesus was the seal and mark of all genuine Christians. Because of their dependence upon Christ’s love, they dared much, and because of their love for Christ, they did much. And it is the same today. The children of God are ruled in their inmost being by love. The love of Christ restrains them. They rejoice that divine love is set upon them. They feel it shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Spirit, which is given to them. The force of gratitude works out its love for the Savior with a pure and fervent heart. Dear reader, do you love him today? Before you go to sleep tonight, give an honest answer to that weighty question! [M&E]
