Spurgeon Mar. 11: You Shall Be Called

MORNING "Sin . . . exceeding sinful." Romans 7:13

BEWARE of light thoughts of sin. At the time of conversion, the conscience is so tender that we are afraid of the slightest sin. Young converts have a holy timidity, a godly fear lest they should offend against God. But alas! Very soon the fine bloom upon these first ripe fruits is removed by the rough handling of the surrounding world: the sensitive plant of young piety turns into a willow in after life, too pliant, too easily yielding. It is sadly true that even a Christian may grow by degrees so callous, that the sin which once startled us does not alarm us in the least. By degrees we get familiar with sin. The ear in which the cannon has been booming will not notice slight sounds. At first a little sin startles us; but soon we say, "Is it not a little one?" Then there comes another, larger, and then another, until by degrees we begin to regard sin as but a little ill; and then follows an unholy presumption: "We have not fallen open sin. True, we tripped a little, but we stood upright mainly. We may have uttered one unholy word but as for most of our conversation, it has been consistent." So we palliate sin; we throw a cloak over it; we call it by dainty names. Christian beware how you think lightly of sin. Take heed lest you fall little by little. Sin, a little thing? Is it not a poison? Who knows its deadliness? Sin, a little thing? Do not the little foxes spoil the grapes? does not the tiny coral insect build a rock which wrecks a navy? Do not little strokes fell lofty oaks? Will not continual droppings wear away stones? Sin, a little thing? It girded the Redeemer's head with thorns and pierced His heart! It made Him suffer anguish, bitterness, and woe. Could you weigh the least sin in the scales of eternity, you would fly from it as from a serpent and abhor the least appearance of evil. Look upon all sin as that which crucified the Saviour, and you will see it to be "exceeding sinful."

EVENING "You shall be called, Sought out." Isaiah 62:12

THE surpassing grace of God is seen very clearly in that we were not only sought but sought out. Men seek for a thing which is lost on the floor of the house, but in such a case there is only seeking, not seeking out. We were mingled with the mire: we were as when some precious piece of gold falls into the sewer, and people gather and carefully inspect a mess of filth, and continue to stir and rake, and search among the heap until the treasure is found. Or to use another figure we were lost in a labyrinth; we wandered here and there, and when mercy came after us with the gospel, it did not find us at first, it had to search for us and seek us out; for we as lost sheep were so desperately lost, and had wandered into a strange country, that it did not seem possible that even the Good Shepherd should track our devious roaming. Glory be to unconquerable grace we were sought out! No gloom could hide us, no filth could conceal us, we were found and brought home. Glory be to infinite love God the Holy Spirit restored us! The lives of some of God's people, if they could be written would fill us with holy astonishment. Strange and marvelous are the ways which God used in their case to find His own. Blessed be His name He never relinquishes the search until the chosen are sought out. They are not a people sough today and cast away tomorrow. Almightiness and wisdom combined will make no failures, they shall be called, "Sought out!" That any should be sought out is grace beyond degree! WE can find no reason for mit but God's own sovereign love, and can only lift up our heart in wonder, and praise the Lord that this night we wear the name of "Sought out.

1. Invitation to Link to attend online virtual traditional 150+ years old church at 8:45 am CDT every Sunday morning: (Select Live Stream)Live Stream | First Baptist Church, Garland, TX (fbcgarland.org)

2. Invitation to Link to attend online Zoom meeting of FBCG Barnabas Sunday School Department at 10:00 am CDT every Sunday morning: (You will be connected by the Zoom meeting manager)https://us05web.zoom.us/j/2899163560?pwd=UVRqWWtxNlJXRkhXdTBVZzZmNUxLQT09