Evening, February 15, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“All Your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made You glad.” — Psalm 45:8

And who is this, privileged to make the Savior glad? It is his church—his people. But is it possible? He makes us glad, but how can we make him glad? Ah! By our love, though we think it so cold, and so faint; and so it is, indeed; we must sorrowfully confess it to be, but it is very precious to Christ. Hear his own tribute of that love in the Golden Canticle, Solomon’s Song of Songs: “How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine!” See, loving heart, how he delights in you. When you lean your head in his embrace, you not only receive, but you give him joy; when you gaze with love upon his fully glorious face, you not only obtain comfort, but impart delight. Our praise, too, gives him joy—not the song from our lips alone, but the melody of our heart’s deep gratitude. Our gifts, too, are very pleasant to him; he loves to see us lay our time, our talents, our resources upon the altar, not for the value of what we give, but for the sake of the motive from which the gift springs. To him the lowly offerings of his people are more acceptable than thousands of piles of gold and silver. Holiness is like frankincense and myrrh to him. Forgive your enemy, and you make Christ glad; distribute of your substance to the poor, and he rejoices; be the instrument of saving souls, and you show him the results of the travail of his soul; proclaim his gospel, and you are a sweet savor unto him; go among the unenlightened and lift up the cross, and you have given him honor. It is in your power even now to break the alabaster box, and pour the precious oil of joy upon his head, as did the woman of old, whose memorial is to this day set forth wherever the gospel is preached. Will you step backward then? Will you not anoint your beloved Lord with the myrrh and aloes, and cassia, of your heart’s praise? Yes, you ivory palaces, you shall hear the songs of the redeemed!