An all-round ministry by CH Spurgeon (Available from Amazon or free here) - Conclude Chapter 5 (A new departure).
Spurgeon recommends:
(i) repentance for all our mistakes and shortcomings;
(ii) renewal of our consecration;
(iii) a return to our earliest Bible-readings;
(iv) a revival of the first aims of our spiritual career - pleasing God and winning souls;
(v) a return to our first prayers and wtchfulness.
Good encouragement to compare ourselves with Jesus: 'Do you not wish to hide your head when you contrast yourself with your Lord? He saved others, and therefore could not save Himself; but we are keen to guard ourselves and our reputations, and often act as if we thought self-preservation the highest law of nature. Our Lord endured great contradiction of sinners against Himself, while we are provoked if we are thwarted in any degree. He loved His sheep, and followed them when they went astray; but we have far too little pity even upon those who gather at our call. We are far, far, far below the true glory of the Well-beloved, and even fall short of our poor ideal of Him. Neither in private in His prayers, nor in public in His life, or His ministry, or His teaching, do we approximate to Him so nearly as we should; and yet, to fall short of likeness to Him, ought to make us blush and weep. We cannot afford, therefore, to run down.'
Great last sentence. We are already too far behind Jesus to let ourselves run down any further!
Commence Chapter 6 (Light. Fire. Faith. Life. Love.) by reading up to, but not including, Point III (Faith).
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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