Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

October 13– Evening

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

“Love is strong as death.”

—Song of Solomon 8:6

Whose love can be as mighty as the conqueror of monarchs and the destroyer of the human race? Would it not sound like satire if it were applied to my poor, weak, and scarcely living love for Jesus my Lord? I do love him, and perhaps, by his grace, I could even die for him, but as for my love in itself, it can scarcely endure a scoffing jest– much less a cruel death.

Surely this is the love of the One I love– the love of Jesus, the matchless lover of souls. His love was indeed stronger than the most terrible death, for it endured the trial of the cross triumphantly. It was a lingering death, but love survived the torment; a shameful death, but love despised the shame; a punishing death, but love bore our sins; a forsaken, lonely death from which the eternal Father hid his face, but love endured the curse and gloried over all.

Never has there been such love, and never has there been such death. It was a desperate duel, but love won the day. What then, my heart? Are no emotions excited within you at the contemplation of such heavenly affection? Yes, my Lord, I long– I pant– to feel your love flaming like a furnace within me. Come you yourself, and excite the passion of my spirit.

“For every drop of crimson blood shed to make me live,
I wish I had a thousand lives to you, my God, to give!”

Why should I have no hope of loving Jesus with a love as strong as death? He deserves it; I desire it. The martyrs felt such love, and they were merely flesh and blood, so why shouldn’t I? They mourned their weakness and yet out of weakness were made strong. Grace gave them all their unflinching consistency, and there is the same grace for me. Jesus, lover of my soul, shed abroad such love– even your love– in my heart this evening. [M&E]