Evening, February 12

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you
   forever."

  John 14:16

   The Great Father revealed himself to believers of old before the coming
   of his Son, and was known to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as the God
   Almighty. Then Jesus came, and the ever-blessed Son in his own proper
   person, was the delight of his people's eyes. At the time of the
   Redeemer's ascension, the Holy Spirit became the head of the present
   dispensation, and his power was gloriously manifested in and after
   Pentecost. He remains at this hour the present Immanuel--God with us,
   dwelling in and with his people, quickening, guiding, and ruling in
   their midst. Is his presence recognized as it ought to be? We cannot
   control his working; he is most sovereign in all his operations, but
   are we sufficiently anxious to obtain his help, or sufficiently
   watchful lest we provoke him to withdraw his aid? Without him we can do
   nothing, but by his almighty energy the most extraordinary results can
   be produced: everything depends upon his manifesting or concealing his
   power. Do we always look up to him both for our inner life and our
   outward service with the respectful dependence which is fitting? Do we
   not too often run before his call and act independently of his aid? Let
   us humble ourselves this evening for past neglects, and now entreat the
   heavenly dew to rest upon us, the sacred oil to anoint us, the
   celestial flame to burn within us. The Holy Ghost is no temporary gift,
   he abides with the saints. We have but to seek him aright, and he will
   be found of us. He is jealous, but he is pitiful; if he leaves in
   anger, he returns in mercy. Condescending and tender, he does not weary
   of us, but awaits to be gracious still.


   Sin has been hammering my heart

   Unto a hardness, void of love,

   Let supplying grace to cross his art

   Drop from above.