Spurgeon Daily Devotional – April 17, 2026

Morning Devotional

‘Ye are come to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.’ (Hebrews 12:24)

Reader, have you come to the blood of sprinkling? The question is not whether you have come to a knowledge of doctrine, or an observance of ceremonies, or to a certain form of experience, but have you come to the blood of Jesus? The blood of Jesus is the life of all vital godliness. If you have truly come to Jesus, we know how you came—the Holy Spirit sweetly brought you there. You came to the blood of sprinkling with no merits of your own. Guilty, lost, and helpless, you came to take that blood, and that blood alone, as your everlasting hope. You came to the cross of Christ, with a trembling and an aching heart; and oh! what a precious sound it was to you to hear the voice of the blood of Jesus! The dropping of his blood is as the music of heaven to the penitent sons of earth. We are full of sin, but the Saviour bids us lift our eyes to him, and as we gaze upon his streaming wounds, each drop of blood, as it falls, cries, ‘It is finished; I have made an end of sin; I have brought in everlasting righteousness.’ Oh! sweet language of the precious blood of Jesus! If you have come to that blood once, you will come to it constantly. Your life will be ‘Looking unto Jesus.’ Your whole conduct will be epitomized in this—’To whom coming.’ Not to whom I have come, but to whom I am always coming. If thou hast ever come to the blood of sprinkling, thou wilt feel thy need of coming to it every day. He who does not desire to wash in it every day, has never washed in it at all. The believer ever feels it to be his joy and privilege that there is still a fountain opened. Past experiences are doubtful food for Christians; a present coming to Christ alone can give us joy and comfort. This morning let us sprinkle our door-post fresh with blood, and then feast upon the Lamb, assured that the destroying angel must pass us by.

My Morning Reflection

My dear friends, let’s sit together in the presence of our Lord this morning and let these words settle deep into our hearts. I remind you that Christianity is not a checklist of doctrines or ceremonies. It is a living relationship with the living Christ whose blood speaks volumes. Have you truly come to that blood? The Holy Spirit is the gentle guide who brings us there in our guilt and helplessness. There is no other way.

The voice of that blood is the sweetest sound in all the universe to a penitent heart. It declares ‘It is finished!’ over every failure, every sin, every accusation. It brings in everlasting righteousness. This is not a one-time visit; it is to be the constant posture of our lives—always coming, always looking to Jesus.

Like a father encouraging his child, I urge you: make this your daily delight. Come fresh every morning. Don’t live on stale experiences. The fountain is open. The Lamb awaits. Sprinkle your heart anew and walk in the confidence that the destroyer passes over those covered by this blood.

This truth should make us slow down, ponder, and worship. The weight and beauty of what Christ has done is staggering. Let it transform how you face this day.

Nectared Goad: Beloved, have you come *today* to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel? What is holding you back from this fresh encounter with your Savior?

Evening

‘We would see Jesus.’ (John 12:21)

Evermore the worldling’s cry is, ‘Who will show us any good?’ He seeks satisfaction in earthly comforts, enjoyments, and riches. But the quickened sinner knows of only one good. ‘O that I knew where I might find Him!’ When he is truly awakened to feel his guilt, if you could pour the gold of India at his feet, he would say, ‘Take it away: I want to find Him.’ It is a blessed thing for a man, when he has brought his desires into a focus, so that they all centre in one object. When he has fifty different desires, his heart resembles a mire of stagnant water, spread out into a marsh, breeding miasma and pestilence; but when all his desires are brought into one channel, his heart becomes like a river of pure water, running swiftly to fertilize the fields. Happy is he who hath one desire, if that one desire be set on Christ, though it may not yet have been realized. If Jesus be a soul’s desire, it is a blessed sign of divine work within. Such a man will never be content with mere ordinances. He will say, ‘I want Christ; I must have him—mere ordinances are of no use to me; I want himself; do not offer me these; you offer me the empty pitcher, while I am dying of thirst; give me water, or I die. Jesus is my soul’s desire. I would see Jesus!’ Is this thy condition, my reader, at this moment? Hast thou but one desire, and is that after Christ? Then thou art not far from the kingdom of heaven. Hast thou but one wish in thy heart, and that one wish that thou mayst be washed from all thy sins in Jesus’ blood? Canst thou really say, ‘I would give all I have to be a Christian; I would give up everything I have and hope for, if I might but feel that I have an interest in Christ?’ Then, despite all thy fears, be of good cheer, the Lord loveth thee, and thou shalt come out into daylight soon, and rejoice in the liberty wherewith Christ makes men free.

My Evening Reflection

As the day winds down, I come alongside you as a loving uncle in the faith to reflect on this evening’s reading. How the world chases after so many ‘goods,’ yet the soul awakened by grace has but one supreme desire: to see Jesus.

When all desires converge on Christ, the heart is no longer a stagnant marsh but a flowing river bringing life wherever it goes. This is divine grace at work. Mere forms and ordinances will never satisfy the heart that has tasted of the real thing.

My friend, is Jesus your one desire? Do you cry out for Him above all else? If so, take heart. You are near the kingdom. The Lord who loves you will not hide Himself forever.

Let this evening be marked by that simple, powerful prayer: ‘We would see Jesus.’ In your family, in your work, in your quiet moments—seek His face.

Nectared Goad: Is ‘We would see Jesus’ the one controlling desire of your heart this evening? If other things have taken precedence, what will you do tonight to reorder your affections around Him?

Daily Tie-In

Calvin teaches us in his writings on the Institutes and commentaries that the blood of sprinkling is the fulfillment of all Old Testament shadows, speaking better things because it is the blood of the divine Son who secures eternal redemption and bold access to the throne. It is not the blood of animals or of Abel that avails, but this precious blood that cries out mercy and justification.

Edwards, in his careful analysis of true religious affections, shows that the genuine work of the Spirit produces a heart with singular desire for Christ Himself. The marsh of worldly, divided loves is replaced by a pure river of affection fixed on seeing and savoring Jesus. This is the evidence of authentic grace.

As we meditate on these truths, may we feel the weight and beauty of the gospel. Let the blood speak peace to you. Let your desire be fixed on seeing Jesus. This is the path of deep discipleship and joyful obedience.

Drawn from our local library. Read slowly. Absorb the depth. Walk in the better things Christ has secured for you.