Evening, October 22
Go To Morning Reading
“He shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.”
John 16:15
There are times when all the promises and doctrines of the Bible are
of no avail, unless a gracious hand shall apply them to us. We are
thirsty, but too faint to crawl to the water-brook. When a soldier
is wounded in battle it is of little use for him to know that there
are those at the hospital who can bind up his wounds, and medicines
there to ease all the pains which he now suffers: what he needs is
to be carried thither, and to have the remedies applied. It is thus
with our souls, and to meet this need there is one, even the Spirit
of truth, who takes of the things of Jesus, and applies them to us.
Think not that Christ hath placed his joys on heavenly shelves that
we may climb up to them for ourselves, but he draws near, and sheds
his peace abroad in our hearts. O Christian, if thou art tonight labouring
under deep distresses, thy Father does not give thee promises and
then leave thee to draw them up from the Word like buckets from a
well, but the promises he has written in the Word he will write anew
on your heart. He will manifest his love to you, and by his blessed
Spirit, dispel your cares and troubles. Be it known unto thee, O mourner,
that it is God’s prerogative to wipe every tear from the eye of his people. The good
Samaritan did not say, “Here is the wine, and here is the oil for you;” he actually poured in the oil and the wine. So Jesus not only gives
you the sweet wine of the promise, but holds the golden chalice to
your lips, and pours the life-blood into your mouth. The poor, sick,
way-worn pilgrim is not merely strengthened to walk, but he is borne
on eagles’ wings. Glorious gospel! which provides everything for the helpless,
which draws nigh to us when we cannot reach after it—brings us grace before we seek for grace! Here is as much glory in
the giving as in the gift. Happy people who have the Holy Ghost to
bring Jesus to them.