Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

 March 9– Evening

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

“[Jesus said to his disciples,] ‘Remain in me.’” 

—John 15:4

Communion with Christ is a certain cure for every illness. Whether it is the bitterness of despair or the sugary overabundance of earthly delight, close fellowship with the Lord Jesus will remove the unpleasantness from the one and the overindulging from the other.

If you live near to Jesus, dear Christian, it is a matter of secondary importance whether you live on the mountain of honor or in the valley of humiliation. When you live near to Jesus, you are covered with the wings of God and are supported with the everlasting arms. Let nothing keep you from that holy intimacy which is the choice privilege of a soul wedded to the One you love. Don’t be content with a brief conversation, but thoroughly enjoy his company. Jesus should not be like a friend who calls every now and then but one with whom we walk and talk every day.

You have a difficult road before you, O traveler to heaven, so be sure to travel with your guide. You must pass through the fiery furnace, so, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, be sure to have the Son of God as your companion. Yes, you must storm the Jericho of your own corruptions, but don’t engage in that warfare until, like Joshua, you have seen the Captain of the Lord’s army with his sword drawn in his hand. When you have to face the Esau of your past temptations, don’t meet him until you have wrestled with the Angel of the Lord and prevailed.

In every case, in every condition, you will need Jesus, but most of all when the iron gates of death open to you. Keep close to your soul’s Husband; lean your head upon his chest; ask to be refreshed with the spiced wine from his vineyard, and you will be found in him without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. Since you have lived with him here, you will remain with him forever. [M&E]