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

“Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” — 2 Timothy 2:1

Christ has grace beyond measure in himself, but he has not retained it for himself. As a reservoir empties itself into the pipes, so has Christ emptied out his grace for his people. “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” He seems only to have grace in order to distribute to us. He stands like the fountain, always flowing, but only running in order to supply the empty pitchers and the thirsty lips which draw close to it. Like a tree, he bears sweet fruit, not to hang on boughs, but to be gathered by those who have need. Grace, whether its work is to pardon, to cleanse, to preserve, to strengthen, to enlighten, to enliven, or to restore, is forever available to be received from him freely and without price; nor is there one form of the work of grace which he has not bestowed upon his people. As the blood of the body, though flowing from the heart, belongs equally to every member, so the influences of grace are the inheritance of every believer united to the Lamb; and therefore, there is a sweet communion between Christ and his Church, inasmuch as they both receive the same grace. Christ is the head upon which the oil is first poured; but the same oil runs to the very edges of the garments, so that the lowest believer has an anointing of the same costly oil as that which fell upon the head. This is true communion when the sap of grace flows from the trunk to the branch, and when it is recognized that the trunk itself is sustained by the very nourishment which feeds the branch. As we day by day receive grace from Jesus, and more constantly recognize it as coming from him, we shall behold him in communion with us, and enjoy the contentment of communion with him. Let us make daily use of our riches, and ever return to him as to our own Lord in covenant, taking from him the supply of all we need with as much boldness as men take money from their own wallet.