Morning, June 13
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Revelation 22:17
"Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."
Revelation 22:17
Jesus says, "take freely." He wants no payment or preparation. He seeks
no recommendation from our virtuous emotions. If you have no good
feelings, if you be but willing, you are invited; therefore come! You
have no belief and no repentance,--come to him, and he will give them
to you. Come just as you are, and take "Freely," without money and
without price. He gives himself to needy ones. The drinking fountains
at the corners of our streets are valuable institutions; and we can
hardly imagine any one so foolish as to feel for his purse, when he
stands before one of them, and to cry, "I cannot drink because I have
not five pounds in my pocket." However poor the man is, there is the
fountain, and just as he is he may drink of it. Thirsty passengers, as
they go by, whether they are dressed in fustian or in broadcloth, do
not look for any warrant for drinking; its being there is their warrant
for taking its water freely. The liberality of some good friends has
put the refreshing crystal there and we take it, and ask no questions.
Perhaps the only persons who need go thirsty through the street where
there is a drinking fountain, are the fine ladies and gentlemen who are
in their carriages. They are very thirsty, but cannot think of being so
vulgar as to get out to drink. It would demean them, they think, to
drink at a common drinking fountain: so they ride by with parched lips.
Oh, how many there are who are rich in their own good works and cannot
therefore come to Christ! "I will not be saved," they say, "in the same
way as the harlot or the swearer." What! go to heaven in the same way
as a chimney sweep. Is there no pathway to glory but the path which led
the thief there? I will not be saved that way. Such proud boasters must
remain without the living water; but, "Whosoever will, let him TAKE THE
WATER OF LIFE FREELY."