John 16:15

There are times when all the promises and doctrines of the Bible are of no avail, unless a gracious hand applies them to us. We are thirsty, but too faint to crawl to the water-brook. When a soldier is wounded in battle, it is of little use for him to know that there are those at the hospital who can bind up his wounds, and medicines there to ease all the pains which he now suffers: what he needs is to be carried there, and to have the remedies applied.

It is thus with our souls, and to meet this need there is one, namely the Spirit of truth, who takes from the things of Jesus and applies them to us. Do not think that Christ has placed his joys on heavenly shelves so that we can climb up to them for ourselves; rather, he draws near and spreads his peace in our hearts.

O Christian, if you are tonight laboring under deep distresses, your Father does not give you promises and then leave you to draw them up from the Word like buckets from a well; instead, the promises he has written in the Word he will write anew on your heart. He will manifest his love to you, and by his blessed Spirit, dispel your cares and troubles.

Let it be known to you, O mourner, that it is God’s prerogative to wipe every tear from the eye of his people. The good Samaritan did not say, “Here is the wine, and here is the oil for you;” he actually poured in the oil and the wine. So Jesus not only gives you the sweet wine of the promise, but holds the golden chalice to your lips and pours the life-blood into your mouth.

The poor, sick, way-worn pilgrim is not merely strengthened to walk, but is borne on eagles’ wings. Glorious gospel! It provides everything for the helpless, it draws near to us when we cannot reach for it—it brings us grace before we seek for grace! There is as much glory in the giving as in the gift. Happy are the people who have the Holy Ghost to bring Jesus to them.