Evening, February 15
Go To Morning Reading
“Whereby they have made thee glad.”
Psalm 45:8
And who are thus privileged to make the Saviour glad? His church—his people. But is it possible? He makes us glad, but how can we make him glad ? By our love. Ah! we think it so cold, so faint; and so, indeed,
we must sorrowfully confess it to be, but it is very sweet to Christ.
Hear his own eulogy of that love in the golden Canticle: “How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy
love than wine!” See, loving heart, how he delights in you. When you lean your head
on his bosom, you not only receive, but you give him joy; when you
gaze with love upon his all-glorious face, you not only obtain comfort,
but impart delight. Our praise , too, gives him joy—not the song of the lips alone, but the melody of the heart’s deep gratitude. Our gifts , too, are very pleasant to him; he loves to see us lay our time,
our talents, our substance upon the altar, not for the value of what
we give, but for the sake of the motive from which the gift springs.
To him the lowly offerings of his saints are more acceptable than
the thousands of gold and silver. Holiness is like frankincense and myrrh to him. Forgive your enemy, and you
make Christ glad; distribute of your substance to the poor, and he
rejoices; be the means of saving souls, and you give him to see of
the travail of his soul; proclaim his gospel, and you are a sweet
savour unto him; go among the ignorant and lift up the cross, and
you have given him honour. It is in your power even now to break the
alabaster box, and pour the precious oil of joy upon his head, as
did the woman of old, whose memorial is to this day set forth wherever
the gospel is preached. Will you be backward then? Will you not perfume
your beloved Lord with the myrrh and aloes, and cassia, of your heart’s praise? Yes, ye ivory palaces, ye shall hear the songs of the saints!