Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

 March 13– Evening

by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“Then [Noah] put forth his hand to receive the dove and pulled her in unto him in the ark.” 

—Genesis 8:9

After the flood, before the waters subsided, Noah released a dove to find the first signs of vegetation. But the dove was unable to find any and became weary, causing her to return to the ark since it was her only resting place. As she approaches the ark, notice how heavily she flies. She fears she will drop into the water. What if she never reaches the ark? But she struggles on.

Noah has been looking out for his dove all day long and is ready to receive her. Her strength has run out, but Noah puts forth his hand and pulls her in unto him. Notice that it says he “pulled her in unto him.” She did not fly directly into the ark by herself; she was too fearful or too weary to do so. She flew as far as she could, but Noah put forth his hand and pulled her in unto himself. This act of mercy was shown to the wandering dove. In her wearied, desperate condition she was pulled into the ark.

Dear, seeking sinner, even with all your sin, God will receive you. “Only return”– those are God’s two gracious words: “only return.” What! Nothing else? No, “only return.” The dove had no olive branch in her mouth to offer Noah; she had nothing at all— only herself and her wanderings. She simply returned, and Noah pulled her in. Fly to God, you wanderer! Fly, O fainting one, like the dove you are. Even though you think of yourself as dark as the raven with the dirt of sin upon you, go back; return to the Savior!

Every moment you wait you increase your misery. Your attempts to plume yourself to make yourself fit for Jesus are all powerless. Come to him just as you are. Return, return, return! Jesus is waiting for you! He will stretch forth his hand and “pull you in”– in to himself, your heart’s true home. [M&E]