Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

September 3– Morning

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

“The one my soul loves.” 

—Song of Solomon 1:7

It is good to be able to say to the Lord Jesus, without any “if” or “but,” “You, [Lord] are the One my soul loves!” Many can only say of Jesus that they hope they love him, but only a poor and shallow experience will be content to stay there. No one ought to give any rest to his spirit until he feels quite sure about a matter of such vital importance.

The old saints didn’t generally speak with “buts” and “ifs” and “hopes” and “trusts,” but they spoke positively and plainly. The apostle Paul says, “I know whom I have believed.” And Job says, “I know that my Redeemer lives.”

Get positive knowledge of your love of Jesus, and don’t be satisfied until you can speak of your interest in him as a reality– something that comes to you by having received the witness of the Holy Spirit and his seal upon your soul by faith. True love to Christ is in every case the Holy Spirit’s work, and he must install it in one’s heart.

There is a logical reason why we love Jesus, and it lies in Jesus himself. Why do we love him? Because he loved us first. He “gave himself for us.” We have life through his death. We have peace through his blood.

Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor. Why do we love Jesus? Because of the excellence of who he is. We are filled with a sense of his beauty! An admiration of his charms! A consciousness of his infinite perfection! His greatness, goodness, and loveliness in one resplendent ray combine to enchant the soul until it is so ravished that it exclaims, “Yes, he is altogether lovely.” [M&E]