The Greatest Joy

Devotionals
Published January 8, 2026

January 08, 2026

For your love is better than wine. – Song of Songs 1:2

Nothing gives the believer so much joy as fellowship with Christ. He has enjoyment as others have in the common mercies of life—he can be glad both in God’s gifts and God’s works; but in all these separately, yes, and in all of them added together, he does not find such substantial delight as in the matchless person of his Lord Jesus. He has wine that no vineyard on earth ever yielded; he has bread that all the cornfields of Egypt could never bring forth. Where can such sweetness be found as we have tasted in communion with our Beloved? In our esteem, the joys of earth are little better than husks for pigs compared with Jesus, the heavenly manna. We would rather have one mouthful of Christ’s love and a sip of his fellowship than a whole world full of carnal delights. What is that chaff to the wheat? What is the sparkling paste to the true diamond? What is a dream to the glorious reality? What is life’s merriment compared to our Lord Jesus in His most despised estate? If you know anything of the inner life, you will confess that our highest, purest, and most enduring joys must be the fruit of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. No spring yields such sweet water as that well of God, which was dug with the soldier’s spear. All earthly bliss is of the earth earthy, but the comforts of Christ’s presence are like Himself, heavenly. We can review our communion with Jesus and find in it no empty regrets; there are no dregs in this wine, no dead flies in this ointment. The joy of the Lord is solid and enduring. Vanity has not looked upon it, but discretion and prudence testify that it abides the test of years and is in time and in eternity worthy to be called “the only true delight.” For nourishment, consolation, exhilaration, and refreshment, no wine can rival the love of Jesus. Let us drink to the full this evening.

Devotional material is taken from “Morning and Evening,” written by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and updated by Alistair Begg. Copyright (c) 2003, Good News Publishers and used by Truth For Life with written permission. Today’s Bible Reading material is taken from McCheyne Bible reading plan and used by Truth For Life with permission. Scripture quotations are taken from Holy Bible: English Standard Version, copyright (c) 2001, Good News Publishers.

Additional Resources

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

Rest With Our Champion

Rest With Our Champion

July 27, 2026 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? - Romans 8:33 Most blessed challenge! How unanswerable it is! Every sin of the elect was laid upon the great Champion of our salvation, and by the atonement carried away. There is no sin in God's book...

read more
With Princes

With Princes

July 26, 2026 … To make them sit with princes. - Psalm 113:8 Our spiritual privileges are of the highest order. "With princes" is the place of select society. "Indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ."1 There is no more select society...

read more
Wayward Sheep

Wayward Sheep

July 25, 2026 … In their distress earnestly seek me. - Hosea 5:15 Losses and adversities are frequently the means that the Great Shepherd uses to bring home His wandering sheep; like fierce dogs they worry the wanderers back to the fold. Well-fed lions defy our...

read more
Consider God’s Mightiness

Consider God’s Mightiness

July 24, 2026 His camp is exceedingly great. - Joel 2:11 Consider, my soul, the mightiness of the Lord who is your glory and defense. He is a man of war; Jehovah is His name. All the forces of heaven are at His command; legions wait at His door; cherubim and seraphim,...

read more

We're Social

Church is not a building. We extend God's love to our community and online through all our social media channels.

Connect today!

Visit Calvary Baptist

Calvary Baptist Church

9388 Village Hwy
Concord, VA 24538
Phone (434) 993-3128

Service Times

Sunday School 9:45am
Sunday Worship Service 11:00am
Sunday AWANA & Youth Group 5:30pm
Sunday Adult Fellowship Group 5:30pm
Wednesday Bible Study & Youth Program 7:00pm

Pin It on Pinterest