Morning, September 3
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Song of Solomon 1:7
"Thou whom my soul loveth."
Song of Solomon 1:7
It is well to be able, without any "if" or "but," to say of the Lord
Jesus--"Thou whom my soul loveth." Many can only say of Jesus that they
hope they love him; they trust they love him; but only a poor and
shallow experience will be content to stay here. No one ought to give
any rest to his spirit till he feels quite sure about a matter of such
vital importance. We ought not to be satisfied with a superficial hope
that Jesus loves us, and with a bare trust that we love him. The old
saints did not generally speak with "buts," and "ifs," and "hopes," and
"trusts," but they spoke positively and plainly. "I know whom I have
believed," saith Paul. "I know that my Redeemer liveth," saith Job. Get
positive knowledge of your love of Jesus, and be not satisfied till you
can speak of your interest in him as a reality, which you have made
sure by having received the witness of the Holy Spirit, and his seal
upon your soul by faith.
True love to Christ is in every case the Holy Spirit's work, and must
be wrought in the heart by him. He is the efficient cause of it; but
the logical reason why we love Jesus lies in himself. Why do we love
Jesus? Because he first loved us. Why do we love Jesus? Because he
"gave himself for us." We have life through his death; we have peace
through his blood. Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became
poor. Why do we love Jesus? Because of the excellency of his person. We
are filled with a sense of his beauty! an admiration of his charms! a
consciousness of his infinite perfection! His greatness, goodness, and
loveliness, in one resplendent ray, combine to enchant the soul till it
is so ravished that it exclaims, "Yea, he is altogether lovely."
Blessed love this--a love which binds the heart with chains more soft
than silk, and yet more firm than adamant!