Reverence and Awe

» Today's reading at Blue Letter Bible

Morning

"Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away." — Song 2:10

"Fair weather is smiling upon the face of the earth, and He would not have me spiritually asleep while nature is all around me awaking from her winter's rest. He bids me "Rise up," and well He may, for I have long enough been lying among the pots of worldliness. He is risen; I am risen in Him, why then should I cleave unto the dust?"

Spurgeon is exhorting us to wake up. He seems to be likening our focus on the things of this world to be sleeping amongst the pots of worldliness and clinging to dust. He asks the question: "He is risen, I am risen in Him, why should I cleave unto the dust?" Our propensity to continue to return to the dust of the world and wallow in its filth is confounding. Note that Spurgeon qualifies his question with the statement that God has given us the power to overcome (He is risen, I am risen in Him).

The theme set forth in Spurgeon’s eloquent narrative is that God is calling us away from the world: "'Come away' has no harsh sound in it to my ear, for what is there to hold me in this wilderness of vanity and sin?" God is calling us to get away, as one may call a child away from the flames of a campfire. He does it out of love and concern because He knows the pain and scars that will be sure to follow.

It is this final question and prayer set forth in Spurgeon’s morning devotion that allows us to be both confident and to rest. "But Lord, how can a stone rise, how can a lump of clay come away from the horrible pit? O raise me, draw me. Thy grace can do it. Send forth Thy Holy Spirit to kindle sacred flames of love in my heart, and I will continue to rise until I leave life and time behind me, and indeed come away."

Only by God’s Grace, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can we rise above the world until we leave it behind.


Evening

"If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him." — Revelation 3:20

Spurgeon starts by inquiring as to where our priorities lie. For me this is a reminder that some of us strive to the point of exhaustion trying to attain what God has already provided for us. He exhorts us to draw near to Jesus to a point where we have a proper perspective of who He is. The "Great Master Key of all the chambers of God: There is no treasure-house of God which will not open and yield up all its wealth to the soul that lives near to Jesus."

All the riches the world has to offer cannot compare to the satisfaction that the contents of the chambers of God have to offer.

Jesus desires to come in and sup with us. Spurgeon goes on to point out that He brings the provision for this encounter and we are reminded that our cupboards are bare; we have nothing to offer. A humbling thought that reminds me of bringing a meal to a sick friend. If it were not for the display of practical love, they would not get the sustenance that they need and would surely perish. There is nothing that the recipient can do except allow the provider in, enjoy the fellowship and receive what is freely given to them.

Thanks be to God, He will always be at the door for us with all the goods necessary to fill our bare cupboards; let’s make sure we let Him in.

Labels: Devotional, Morning and Evening, Spurgeon