For I have many in this city. Acts 18:10
“This should be a great encouragement to try to do good, since God has among the vilest of the vile, the most reprobate, the most debauched and drunken, an elect people who must be saved. When you take the Word to them, you do so because God has ordained you to be the messenger of life to their souls, and they must receive it, for so the decree of predestination runs. They are as much redeemed by blood as the saints before the eternal throne. They are Christ’s property, and yet perhaps they are lovers of the ale-house, and haters of holiness; but if Jesus Christ purchased them he will have them. God is not unfaithful to forget the price which his Son has paid. He will not suffer his substitution to be in any case an ineffectual, dead thing. Tens of thousands of redeemed ones are not regenerated yet, but regenerated they must be; and this is our comfort when we go forth to them with the quickening Word of God.
Nay, more, these ungodly ones are prayed for by Christ before the throne. “Neither pray I for these alone,” saith the great Intercessor, “but for them also which shall believe on me through their word.” Poor, ignorant souls, they know nothing about prayer for themselves, but Jesus prays for them. Their names are on his breastplate, and ere long they must bow their stubborn knee, breathing the penitential sigh before the throne of grace. “The time of figs is not yet.” The predestinated moment has not struck; but, when it comes, they shall obey, for God will have his own; they must, for the Spirit is not to be withstood when he cometh forth with fulness of power—they must become the willing servants of the living God. “My people shall be willing in the day of my power.” “He shall justify many.” “He shall see of the travail of his soul.” “I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong.” ”
Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.
He loved it too! Another keeper 😉
Now it’s off to the greenbean cassarole. Enjoy your day you two.
We live in an evil world system, but we are not defeated. We are more than conquerors in Christ and we must remind ourselves of our job to go forth in joy and bring His message of hope and strength. Thank you for sharing this. There are many out there who need to hear the Word of God and we are His ambassadors…..a much higher calling than any appointed by the President. Happy Thanksgiving my friend!
This was a great encouragement! Is the picture featured in this post public domain? I’d like to use it for a future post on my blog of it is.
Hi Charlene — yes indeed! I found the pic in public domain. Hope you had a beautiful Thanksgiving day!
“…yet perhaps they are lovers of the ale-house, and haters of holiness; but if Jesus Christ purchased them he will have them.”
Beautiful truth! The whole excerpt is chock full of His wond’rous truth! Thanking God for you and your heart, Christina!