Soul winner by C.H. Spurgeon (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example)
(i) indifference and lethargy of sinners;
(ii) unbelief;
(iii) delay;
(iv) carnal security;
(v) despair;
(vi) love of sin;
(vii) men's self-righteousness;
(viii) utter worldliness;
(ix) habits, resorts and company.
Spurgeon's description of the obstacle of men's self-righteousness grabbed me most: 'Another obstacle is put in our way by men's self righteousness. They have not committed any of these sins I have mentioned, they have kept all the commandments from their youth up; what lack they yet? There is no room for Christ in a full heart; and when a man is clothed from head to foot with his own righteousness, he has no need of the righteousness of Christ; at least, he is not conscious of his need, and if the gospel does not convince him of it, Moses must come with the law, and show him what his true state is. That is the real difficulty in many, many cases; the man does not come to Christ because he is not conscious that he is lost, he does not ask to be lifted up because he does not know that he is a fallen creature, he does not feel that he has any need of divine mercy or forgiveness, and therefore he does not seek it.'
I think this obstacle stood out in today's reading because I encountered this obstacle in an elderly person this week. They told me with a perfectly straight face that they have never sinned ever and their conscience is clear - they have never lied, never cheated, never stolen. Of course they weren't able to tell me why Jesus Christ came to die as there is no need for him to die if you are sinless.
The only thing I could try and do was what Spurgeon says to do, hold up the law to try and make them conscious of sin. But it was to no avail in this case.
Next week's reading
Now it's your turn
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