Tag Archives: Charles Spurgeon

Missionary or Imposter?

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How can you tell the difference between the ‘real deal’ and imposter? One proven method is to compare a known truth side by side to the counterfeit. A fake twenty-dollar bill will be revealed to be different from the real one. A counterfeit painting will reveal flaws when examined with the authentic one. Jesus said: “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” (Matthew 7:16-17)

A person can say many things, write many things, and act in many ways, but we all are known by our fruit. Think for a moment on your life passions, not what you want to be remembered by but those passions which actually drive your day-to-day actions, those that fill you with such joy. Is it not reasonable to believe that others who are close to you will also know your passions by your behavior?

Famed preacher Charles Spurgeon* put it this way:
“If Jesus is precious to you, you will not be able to keep your good news to yourself; you will be whispering it into your child’s ear; you will be telling it to your husband; you will be earnestly imparting it to your friend. Every Christian here is either a missionary or an impostor. Recollect that. You either try to spread abroad the kingdom of Christ, or else you do not love him at all. It cannot be that there is a high appreciation of Jesus and a totally silent tongue about him. Of course I do not mean by that, that those who use the pen are silent: they are not. And those who help others to use the tongue, or spread that which others have written, are doing their part well: but that man who says, “I believe in Jesus,” but does not think enough of Jesus ever to tell another about him, by mouth, or pen, or tract, is an impostor. You are either doing good, or you are not good yourself. Be wise in your generation, and speak of him in fitting ways and at fitting times, and so in every place proclaim the fact that Jesus is most precious to your soul.”

Missionary or imposter? It is a hard question for us to honestly face, but one whose answer defines our life and our faith. Recall what is most precious to you and bear the fruit you were meant to bear today. Go light your world.

“Unto you therefore which believe He is precious.” 1 Peter 2:7

* Charles Spurgeon, 1873, Sword and the Trowel

The Price Of Worry

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What kind of a car passenger are you? I am often the passenger these days and I have nothing to worry about. My wife is a very safe driver with almost a perfect 45 year driving record. And yet not being in control (or thinking I am), I find my foot sometimes seems to press to the passenger side floorboard when we draw close to a car in front of us or come to a stop a little too quickly. I don’t want to admit it, but it is a form of worry.

Worry is an unproductive type of stress. At best, unproductive stress dampens the spirit of joy that God offers; at worst, it shortens our lives. I wonder how many seconds or minutes of life are given up to fretting uselessly about small things: Will I be able to get to the store, will the store have any bread left, will I get home in time? And of course, the famous, “What if?” and “what will others think?” The list goes on and on, doesn’t it?

Author Sarah Young comments that “worry is a form of rebellion.” By worrying, we rebel against our trust in own ability, our trust in others, and our trust in God.

The opposite of worry is assurance. And assurance is built on trust. We trust in ourselves, our abilities, our circumstances, our finances, our health, our God. (Hint: One of these is always trustworthy.) When you worry, what (or who) are you not trusting? Family, friends, and coworkers, God? I think we all realize how fleeting some of these are. Having lived a very healthy life, I would never have guessed I would be suddenly diagnosed with Leukemia. Health, work, finances, even daily relationships are suddenly and significantly affected. Some in this situation, or similar, have come to a point where it seemed pointless to trust God.

But faith brings hope and light to a dark world. Faith is the assurance of a good outcome even in a bad situation. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “A little faith will bring your soul to heaven. A great faith will bring heaven to your soul.”

Here’s to putting down worry and picking up peace and assurance!

“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” Isaiah 32:17

“My grace is sufficient for you.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9