posted by Phil Johnson
The PyroManiacs devote some space each weekend to highlights from The Spurgeon Archive. The following excerpt is from "The First Appearance of the Risen Lord to the Eleven," a sermon preached Sunday morning, 10 april 1887.
ind if you can, beloved, one occasion in which Jesus inculcated doubt, or bade men dwell in uncertainty.
The apostles of unbelief are everywhere to day, and they imagine that they are doing God service by spreading what they call "honest doubt." This is death to all joy! Poison to all peace! The Savior did not so. He would have them take extraordinary measures to get rid of their doubt. . . .O beloved, you that are troubled and vexed with thoughts, and therefore get no comfort out of your religion because of your mistrust, your Lord would have you come very near to him, and put his gospel to any test which will satisfy you. He cannot bear you to doubt. He appeals tenderly, saying, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" He would at this moment still encourage you to taste and see that the Lord is good. He would have you believe in the substantial reality of his religion, and handle him and see: trust him largely and simply, as a child trusts its mother and knows no fear.
5 comments:
"He would at this moment still encourage you to taste and see that the Lord is good."
So true, and yet at times so difficult. Living by faith, and tasting the truth and goodness of Jesus, and not sight may be my greatest battle here on Earth.
We should trust God's light of truth more than we trust a wall switch to light up a room.
I'm with you, donsands.
Spurgeon seems to be describing two different kinds of doubts here: the outright doubt of skepticism, and the more subtle, insidious kinds of doubts that we as believers entertain.
These are doubts that we need God's firm and steady hand to correct us of: doubts of assurance, doubts of God's protection and providence, doubts that He answers our prayers.
I needed this today, just as I needed Psalm 73 a couple of days ago.
AMEN ~ recently while concerned and with a little salt/thirst focus with someone into details but details that sorely missed the truth boat and finding myself being called from the computer to the front of home, the God's grace to you thought originally in mind that didn't get typed was added as a postscript. UGH ~ how awful. Sure thankful God knows our heart motives and our frailties and isn't dethroned by the mark misses or the onlooker turned up noses and down thumbs.
This post hits me in a terrible weak spot.
Stefan said: These are doubts that we need God's firm and steady hand to correct us of: doubts of assurance, doubts of God's protection and providence, doubts that He answers our prayers.
That is an excellent observation.
God has been so good to address various doubts or concerns I have had. Just last weekend I blogged about yet another time He patiently dealt with my fearfulness.
And, yet, even with clear direction, Biblical assurance and godly counsel, I find myself behaving much like the Israelites who left the smoking, thundering mountain with instructions and (fairly quickly) began complaining about their immediate circumstances.
James says we are to be thankful for the testing of our faith, and I am learning the value in this attitude. When life becomes hard, confusing and/or frightening...that is when I am most likely to turn to Him and He proves once again that He began a good work which He will faithfully complete.
Heather
WOW I'm going to read the rest of that, PRONTO!
thanks,
Gisela
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