Evening, December 26
Go To Morning Reading
“Lo, I am with you alway.”
Matthew 28:20
The Lord Jesus is in the midst of his church; he walketh among the
golden candlesticks; his promise is, “Lo, I am with you alway.” He is as surely with us now as he was with the disciples at the lake,
when they saw coals of fire, and fish laid thereon and bread. Not
carnally, but still in real truth, Jesus is with us. And a blessed
truth it is, for where Jesus is, love becomes inflamed . Of all the things in the world that can set the heart burning, there
is nothing like the presence of Jesus! A glimpse of him so overcomes
us, that we are ready to say, “Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me.” Even the smell of the aloes, and the myrrh, and the cassia, which
drop from his perfumed garments, causes the sick and the faint to
grow strong. Let there be but a moment’s leaning of the head upon that gracious bosom, and a reception of
his divine love into our poor cold hearts, and we are cold no longer,
but glow like seraphs, equal to every labour, and capable of every
suffering. If we know that Jesus is with us, every power will be developed , and every grace will be strengthened, and we shall cast ourselves
into the Lord’s service with heart, and soul, and strength; therefore is the presence
of Christ to be desired above all things. His presence will be most realized by those who are most like him . If you desire to see Christ, you must grow in conformity to him.
Bring yourself, by the power of the Spirit, into union with Christ’s desires, and motives, and plans of action, and you are likely to
be favoured with his company. Remember his presence may be had . His promise is as true as ever. He delights to be with us. If he
doth not come, it is because we hinder him by our indifference. He
will reveal himself to our earnest prayers, and graciously suffer
himself to be detained by our entreaties, and by our tears, for these
are the golden chains which bind Jesus to his people.