ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PASTORS (BY SPURGEON)
The earth brings forth according to the period of the year, and with man there is a time for every purpose under heaven. At this season, the world is engaged in congratulating itself and in expressing its complimentary wishes for the good of its citizens; let me suggest extra and more solid work for Christians.
As we think today of the birth of the Savior, let us aspire after a fresh birth of the Savior in our hearts; that as he is already “formed in us the hope of glory,” we may be “renewed in the spirit of our minds;” that we may go again to the Bethlehem of our spiritual nativity and do our first works, enjoy our first loves, and feast with Jesus as we did in the holy, happy, heavenly days of our conversion. Let us go to Jesus with something of that youthful freshness and excessive delight which was so manifest in us when we looked to him at the first; let him be crowned anew by us, for he is still adorned with the dew of his youth, and remains “the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
SERMON ILLUSTRATION (BY SPURGEON)
Spurgeon was a master illustrator. You can use this illustration in your own preaching to describe the glories of Christ’s incarnation.
Alexander the Great was a great master of men, and one of the reasons why all his soldiers loved him so enthusiastically was that if they were on a long march, Alexander did not ride, but tramped along in the heat and dust with the common soldiery. And when the day was hot, and they brought his majesty water, he put it aside and said, “The sick soldiers want it more than I. I will not drink until every soldier has a drink.”
So is it with Christ. In all our afflictions he is afflicted, and he will not have joy until he gives joy to his people. Yes, he has done more than Alexander, for he emptied himself of all his glories, and gave himself to die upon the cross, and consummated the redemption of his people by his own agonies.
RESOURCE FOR PASTORS
Special thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring the Shepherding with Spurgeon newsletter this year. I’m so thankful for the CSB and their partnership over the past year.
Beginning next month, we’ll have a new annual sponsor for 2024 that I know will be a blessing to you and your church.
Click here to learn more about the CSB (and request a free CSB Bible).