And he said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV
Brother,
I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Charles Spurgeon, commonly known as the prince of preachers, second only to our God and King Jesus Christ. If you have not heard the name before now, I strongly encourage you to become at least somewhat familiar with him. Charles Spurgeon is just a name under Christ’s which pales in comparison to the glory of God. Nevertheless, Spurgeon’s work for the kingdom is profound. There is a short biography on him and his admirable work for the kingdom in the first few pages of…show more content… Spurgeon regarded his infirmities the same way Paul the apostle regarded the “thorn in the flesh” given to him by God. In Spurgeon’s many weaknesses, Christ’s strength was most certainly made perfect: “'Not by might nor by power but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.' Instruments shall be used, but their intrinsic weakness shall be clearly manifested; there shall be no division of the glory, no diminishing of the honor due to the Great Worker ... Those who are honored of their Lord in public have usually to endure a secret chastening, or to carry a peculiar cross, lest by any means they exalt themselves, and fall into the snare of the devil.” Charles was not a powerful preacher because of his own strength nor innate talents, but because of a faith which was not even by his own works, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV)” Long before Spurgeon was, or any of us were, born or born again, our paths were laid by God so that we could be presented holy and blameless before God through Christ alone. It is by no knowledge or righteousness of our own. Faith in Christ paid the bill for us and that very faith is given to us in our pursuit of him as the call to action initiated by our…show more content… Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31 ESV)” The weight of the grace and mercy presented in texts such as these is pressed on softened hearts in ways that are indescribable. What more can we do than draw nearer and nearer to the cross, be humbled by the Lord’s love for us, and worship him with whole hearts for who he is? That is most certainly the ultimate affectual calling made by our gracious God. Isaiah describes the nature and character of God as the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” when prophesying his coming in to the world wrapped in flesh. What more wonder could there be than in the wisdom of Christ as our counselor? That truly serves as perfect hope and peace as we follow and serve him. The sacrificial love and generosity of God in the atonement of our sins counsels us in a way that can only be found with faith in him. John Calvin was used by God to describe this