May 20, Morning

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Marvellous lovingkindness." — Psalm 17:7 · KJV

When we give our hearts along with our gifts, we give well, but we often have to admit we fail at that. Not so our Master and Lord. His kindnesses are always carried out with the love of His heart. He does not send us the cold leftovers and broken scraps from His luxurious table; He dips our morsel in His own dish and seasons what He provides with the spices of His fragrant affection. When He places the golden tokens of His grace in our hands, He accompanies the gift with such a warm pressure of our hand that the manner of His giving is as precious as the gift itself. He will come into our houses on His errands of kindness, and He does not behave like some stiff visitors in a poor man's cottage; He sits down at our side, neither despising our poverty nor scolding us for our weakness. Beloved, with what smiles He speaks! What golden sentences fall from His gracious lips! What loving embraces He gives us! If He had given us only pennies, the way He gave them would have turned them to gold; and as it is, His costly gifts are set in a golden basket by His pleasant manner. It is impossible to doubt the sincerity of His generosity, for a wounded, loving heart is stamped on the face of every benefit He bestows. He gives generously and never scolds. Not one hint that we are a burden to Him, not one cold look for those who live on His bounty; instead He rejoices in His mercy and holds us close while He pours out His very life for us. There is a fragrance in His perfume that nothing but His heart could produce; there is a sweetness in His honeycomb that could not be there unless the very essence of His soul's affection had been mixed into it. What rare fellowship such wholehearted love creates! May we taste and know its blessedness continually.