Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

March 9– Morning

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

“Yes, he is altogether lovely.” 

—Song of Solomon 5:16

 

The superlative beauty of Jesus is all-attracting; it is not so much to be admired as to be loved. He is more than pleasant and fair; he is truly lovely. Surely God’s people can fully justify the use of this golden word, for he is the object of their warmest love– a love founded in his intrinsic excellence and the complete perfection of his charms.

Look, O disciples of Jesus, to your Master’s lips, and say, “Aren’t they most sweet?” Don’t his words cause your heart to burn within you as he talks with you along the way? When you behold his head adorned with fine gold, tell me: are his thoughts not precious to you? Is your adoration not sweetened with affection as you humbly bow before him? Is there not charm in his every feature, and is not even the aroma on his clothing as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon? Is there anything unattractive about him? Is there anything he does that does not bind your heart to him like a strong chord?

He does not only love us with his heart but also with his arm of power. We anoint all of him with the sweet ointment of our fervent love. We want to imitate him in every way. In all other beings we find some flaw, but in him we find only perfection. Even the best of his favored saints have had stains upon their garments and wrinkles on their faces, but he is nothing but loveliness. Suns have their spots, and the earth has its deserts, but Christ Jesus is gold without alloy, light without darkness, glory without cloud. “Yes, he is altogether lovely.” [M&E]