What Christianity needs today

Morning - Spurgeon

"Only ye shall not go very far away." — Exo 8:28

This is a crafty word from the lip of the arch-tyrant Pharaoh. If the poor bondaged Israelites must needs go out of Egypt, then he bargains with them that it shall not be very far away; not too far for them to escape the terror of his arms, and the observation of his spies. After the same fashion, the world loves not the non-conformity of nonconformity, or the dissidence of dissent; it would have us be more charitable and not carry matters with too severe a hand. Death to the world, and burial with Christ, are experiences which carnal minds treat with ridicule, and hence the ordinance which sets them forth is almost universally neglected, and even condemned. Worldly wisdom recommends the path of compromise, and talks of "moderation." According to this carnal policy, purity is admitted to be very desirable, but we are warned against being too precise; truth is of course to be followed, but error is not to be severely denounced. "Yes," says the world, "be spiritually minded by all means, but do not deny yourself a little gay society, an occasional ball, and a Christmas visit to a theatre. What's the good of crying down a thing when it is so fashionable, and everybody does it?" Multitudes of professors yield to this cunning advice, to their own eternal ruin. If we would follow the Lord wholly, we must go right away into the wilderness of separation, and leave the Egypt of the carnal world behind us. We must leave its maxims, its pleasures, and its religion too, and go far away to the place where the Lord calls his sanctified ones. When the town is on fire, our house cannot be too far from the flames. When the plague is abroad, a man cannot be too far from its haunts. The further from a viper the better, and the further from worldly conformity the better. To all true believers let the trumpet-call be sounded, "Come ye out from among them, be ye separate."

Thankful to be in His service

A few days ago we arrived back to Croatia. I'm thankful to be back to work with the people God has called me too. Last night I preached in the Croatian language. Although it was certainly rusty I felt God's presence through the service.

After we said our last amen and dismissed a young man, who has been visiting the church with his parents, came up to me and wanted to talk. We went outside together and he said that he wanted to tell me something. This young man told me that every time he has come to the church and heard me preach it was as though I was speaking directly to him. He said everything he has been struggling with was addressed through the sermon as though it was for him. He was amazed that this could happen.

What a joy to explain to him the Bible is for everyone and has the answers to all our problems. I also told him the Holy Spirit knows what he needs and can use the preacher to speak to him. I count it a great joy to be in the service of our King! What a joy to be used by Him!