Devotedness of Heart (John 14:13)

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 6
Listen from:
How much blessing is lost by souls from being occupied with some action or blessing from Christ, instead of making Himself the aim and object of the heart. In John 14, in a striking and beautiful way, He presupposes that nothing can cheer the heart during His absence but Himself — that the vacancy caused by His absence never can be otherwise filled. He therefore promises to come for us! No sweeter word could be said in parting than this, “I will come again”! It was a promise filled with every joy to the widowed hearts of those He was leaving behind. But there is more: He adds, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (vs. 18). He promises to come for us, and while we wait for that moment, He will come to us; what more could the heart desire! It is very precious. He will come for us and He will come to us — one in person, and the other by the Holy Spirit whom He was about to send. But “come” is the word by which He would cheer and sustain the heart. The heart which knows most of His coming to us will most truly desire and look out for His coming for us.
Oh for more personal affection for Him! Out of personal love to Christ Himself, one may admire and feel their need of Him without the sense of giving up anything here. This is devotedness — it is the heart seeing such worth in Christ that it lays aside as weights those things which hinder the soul’s enjoyment of Him. Christian Truth, Vol. 8:5-6