A Little Spark a Little Flame

This unfailing love of His is what kindled the fire in their souls, and in addition, there was all the wonderful skill of His love in doing it. Love is the most skillful operator in the world. He draws their hearts out, and He goes with them and lights up this fire. Observe how easy it would have been to extinguish it. I grant it was but a little spark; still, He fans it, ministers to it, adds the fuel of His grace to that little flame which He Himself had kindled.
Then notice what happens. As they journeyed they drew near to the village whither they went, and the evening was upon them. But He (oh, the blessedness of it) had become necessary, so necessary to them. This mysterious Stranger who had walked that road with them, had imprinted Himself upon the fleshy tables of their hearts. He who had walked as the unknown Stranger, as far as they were concerned, had so gotten possession of their affections and souls, that when the moment comes that He would withdraw, when "He made as though He would have gone further," then it was that they "constrained Him." Luke 24:28, 29.
How blessed all this is! The deepest love was manifested in that action of the Blessed One. If you look at it merely from the outside, you would fail to see the blessedness of it. But He drew off that He might draw out. Though He essayed to leave them, His heart was toward them, and He had so gotten into the affections and souls of those poor disciples that they could not go in without Him. "They constrained Him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." v. 29. How gladly He went! That is why He drew off. Forever blessed be His name, He loves to be constrained. He kindled the fire in their souls, and when He had opened the door, He went in to abide. He was constrained.
It is the same in respect to ourselves. By faith we can have Christ with us now. It is an immense thing to have His own blessed person spiritually with us, to have His company, His presence, and to know He is with us according to His word. "I will not leave you comfortless [orphans]: I will come to you." John 14:18. We need the sustainment, comfort and joy of that blessed presence as He conducts us and leads us on step by step. What a blessed reality it all is! It is not that it belongs to a chosen few. Far from it; it is the portion of all His people; it is for you, beloved friends. You may have Him in your home as your companion, your friend, to walk beside you, to solace you, to cheer up the lonely moments of your life. How blessed it is!
“Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." Do you think it was difficult to constrain Him? Do you suppose He wanted much pressing? He wanted just as much constraining from them as would kindle into a holy flame that ebbing fire in their hearts. Then we are told, "He went in to tarry with them." v. 29. He became their guest, for I have no doubt they entertained Him. Beloved friends, there is nothing that entertains our Lord Jesus Christ more than a weary, desolate heart that turns to Him.