SPURGEON.

I follow Jesus. But as I have followed him, the words and wisdom of other men and women of GOD have guided me, convicted me, and inspired me to pursue Jesus with greater vigor, abandon, and zeal. Over the years, GOD has used different voices at different times: In my freshman year of college, some of the audio sermons of Tony Campolo filled me with a passion to follow Jesus more wholeheartedly. Later, the sermons of Jon Piper helped to shape and strengthen my faith.

Recently, one of the men of GOD that has really been helping me to grow has been Charles Haddon Spurgeon. I read a book about him in regards to spiritual leadership with the Teen Staff last summer, but with the advent of 2007 I picked up a devotional he penned called "Morning and Evening." The title is pretty self-explanatory - it has 2 readings for each day, one for the morning and one for the evening. What strikes me most powerfully about it is his passion and zeal for Jesus - every sentence reflects his deep love for GOD. Some passages that I've appreciated:

"The first thing for our soul's health, the first thing for His glory, and the first thing for our own usefulness, is to keep ourselves in perpetual communion with the Lord Jesus... " (Jan. 24th)

"Jesus' College is the only one in which God's truth can be really learned; other schools may teach us what is to be believed, but Christ's alone can show us how to believe it." (Jan. 19th)

"Go on seeking, for it is dangerous to be without thy Lord. Without Christ you are like a sheep without its shepherd; like a tree without water at its roots; like a sere leaf in the tempest - not bound to the tree of life. With thine whole heart seek Him, and He will be found of thee: only give thyself thoroughly up to the search, and verily, thou shalt yet discover him to thy joy and gladness." (Jan. 19th)

Thank you Jesus - thank you for those who have run the race of faith, and for those who are running it now, that their passion and zeal often ignites my own. Thank you for the church - it rocks. See you soon.

[Read "Morning and Evening" online]