February 12, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever." — John 14:16 · KJV

The great Father revealed Himself to believers of old, before the coming of His Son, and was known to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as God Almighty. Then Jesus came, and the ever-blessed Son, in His own 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 shown 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 He does. But are we anxious enough to obtain His help, or watchful enough 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 on His revealing or concealing His power. Do we always look up to Him, both for our inner life and our outward service, with the reverent dependence that 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 heavenly flame to burn within us. The Holy Spirit is no temporary gift; He abides with the saints. We have only to seek Him rightly, and He will be found by us. He is jealous, but He is compassionate; if He leaves in anger, He returns in mercy. Condescending and tender, He does not weary of us, but waits to be gracious still. Sin has been hammering my heart to a hardness void of love; let supplying grace, to cross its work, drop down from above.