Saturday, May 31, 2008

I Need The Gospel

This week I have been reflecting a lot on the last two years. They have been, for me, very hard years. In fact these two years have been among the most stessful of my life. Jesus said that unless a seed falls into the ground and dies it cannot bear fruit. What a great image for us to cling to when we feel like the earth is swallowing us.

It is in days like these that I realize how much I need to preach the gospel to myself. I need the good news every bit as much today as I did when I was lost.

"If Christ has borne my punishment, I shall never bear it. Oh what joy there is in this blessed assurance. Your hope that you are pardoned lies in this, that Jesus died. Those dear wounds of His blessed life for you. Now we know that sin crucified Christ. Now we know that we stabbed our heavenly Lover to His Heart. Oh let us bless that dear Son of God who has put away even such sins as ours! Now we see our sins, and yet we do not see it, for God has pardoned it, blotted it out, cast it behind His back forever."

- Charles Spurgeon

2 comments:

Noel said...

I'm so sorry the past two years have been stressful. I pray for you, the pastors and the church regularly. I know there has been, and is so much change and flux lately, and that is what I can see, so I know that those who are "in the mix" really have a large load to carry. My husband I and so appreciate Metro. It's the first churh we feel is truly "ours." We love your preaching and we look forward to hearing you speak. We know you care about us and value your flock and we GREATLY appreaciate you and the other pastors. We don't say this enough, but thanks so much! This church is a rarity, good preaching is even harder to find, and pastor's who laugh and seek God's face are rare indeed! Thank you.

Todd Pruitt said...

Noel,

Thanks so much for the kind words. The people of Metro East are consistently encouraging to me. What a blessing!