March 13th Evening

0:00You are listening to Morning and Evening, a daily devotional work by Reverend Charles Spurgeon. This reading is brought to you by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College, where you can pursue a gospel-centered degree both on campus or online. Learn more at mbts.edu-apply. Good evening. Today is March the 13th. Then he put forth his hand and took her and pulled her in unto him into the ark. Genesis 8 verse 9. Wearied out with her wanderings, the dove returns at length to the ark as her only resting

1:00place. How heavily she flies, she will drop, she will never reach the ark, but she struggles on. Noah has been looking out for his dove all day long, and he's ready to receive her. She has just strength to reach the edge of the ark, she can hardly light upon it, and he's ready to drop when noah puts forth his hand and pulls her in unto him. Mark that, pulled her in unto him. She did not fly right in herself, but was too fearful or too weary to do so. She flew as far as she could, and then he put forth his hand and pulled her in unto him. This act of mercy was shown to the wandering dove, and she was not chidden for her wanderings. Just as she was, she was pulled into the ark. So you, seeking sinner, with all your sin, will be received. Only return, those are gods to gracious words, only return. What?

2:05Nothing else? No, only return. She had no olive branch in her mouth this time, nothing at all, but just herself and her wanderings. But it is only return, and she does return. And noah pulls her in. Fly, though wanderer. Fly, though fainting one, dove as the art. Those are thinkers thyself to be black as the raven, with the mire of sin. Back, back to the Saviour. Every moment thou weightest, thus but increase thy misery. Thine attempts to plume thyself, and make thyself fit for Jesus, are all vanity. Come thou to him just as thou art. Return thou backsliding Israel. He does not say, return thou repenting Israel. There is such an invitation, doubtless. But thou backsliding one, as a backslider, with all thy backsliding about thee. Return, return, return. Jesus is waiting for thee.

3:10He will stretch for thys hand, and pull thee in, in to himself, thy hearts true home. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all as you rest this night.