The Lord Jesus is in the midst of His church; He walketh among
the golden candlesticks; His promise is, "Lo, I am with you alway."
He is as surely with us now as He was with the disciples at the lake,
when they saw coals of fire, and fish laid thereon and bread. Not
carnally, but still in real truth, Jesus is with us. And a blessed
truth it is, for where Jesus is, love becomes inflamed. Of all the
things in the world that can set the heart burning, there is nothing
like the presence of Jesus! A glimpse of Him so overcomes us, that we
are ready to say, "Turn away Thine eyes from me, for they have
overcome me." Even the smell of the aloes, and the myrrh, and the
cassia, which drop from His perfumed garments, causes the sick and
the faint to grow strong. Let there be but a moment's leaning of the
head upon that gracious bosom, and a reception of His divine love
into our poor cold hearts, and we are cold no longer, but glow like
seraphs, equal to every labour, and capable of every suffering. If we
know that Jesus is with us, every power will be developed, and every
grace will be strengthened, and we shall cast ourselves into the
Lord's service with heart, and soul, and strength; therefore is the
presence of Christ to be desired above all things. His presence will
be most realized by those who are most like Him. If you desire to see
Christ, you must grow in conformity to Him. Bring yourself, by the
power of the Spirit, into union with Christ's desires, and motives,
and plans of action, and you are likely to be favoured with His
company. Remember His presence may be had. His promise is as true as
ever. He delights to be with us. If He doth not come, it is because
we hinder Him by our indifference. He will reveal Himself to our
earnest prayers, and graciously suffer Himself to be detained by our
entreaties, and by our tears, for these are the golden chains which
bind Jesus to His people.
