Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
--James 1:2-4
One of the great preachers of all time was a man by the name of Charles Spurgeon. Spurgeon was a British preacher in the late 19th century who led a church in London that was reputed to be the largest church in the world during its day.
Spurgeon was such a powerful preacher. Yet by his own admission, he battled a deep, dark depression his entire life.
He even wrote a chapter called “The Minister and His Faithing Fits” in his book, Lectures to My Students. In this chapter, Spurgeon spoke about how a servant of God should respond to dark days in life.
From Spurgeon’s point of view, he knew that whenever he experienced a time of darkness or depression, God was preparing him for a greater season of service than he had ever known before. He knew that God used depression in his life like a “John the Baptist”…as a forerunner of greater things to come.
Maybe today, you need to see your dark hour…your dark day…as a “John the Baptist.”
Perhaps this dark hole in your life is just a forerunner of something better to come as you look to God and listen to Him in spite of how you may be feeling on the inside! Give your dark hour to God…wait patiently on Him…and see what He can do!
Maybe you need to see your dark hour as a forerunner of good things to come.
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”
Luke 15:1–2
The Pharisees and religious leaders hated Jesus for many reasons. He pointed out their hypocrisy and refused to follow their additions to God’s law, choosing instead to keep the law as God had given it. But of all the things that Jesus did that infuriated them, nothing sparked more outrage than the fact that Jesus loved “sinners.” Of course the Pharisees were just as sinful as those they condemned, but their approach to those they held in contempt was to have nothing to do with them at all. They thought that by avoiding sinners at all costs, they were avoiding contamination.
Jesus never tolerated sin, but He was gracious and kind to sinners and was happy to spend time showing them the way of salvation. “The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children” (Matthew 11:19). Jesus knew the need of sinners was not condemnation but repentance and salvation, and He interacted with them in a way that made them want to hear the message.
The world often views Christians as being harsh and judgmental because we still believe in right and wrong, and because we believe right and wrong are defined by the Bible. We should never abandon the truth or compromise our message in order to reach the lost, but we should be compassionate and loving in our dealings with others so that they know we care for their souls. There is still a Heaven and a Hell, and every person we meet needs God’s salvation.
Today’s Growth Principle:
There is no such thing as a Christian who is too focused on reaching the lost with the gospel.
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