Hell And Your Face
Charles H. Spurgeon, was
emphasizing to his class the importance of making the facial expression
harmonize with the speech.
“When you speak of
Heaven,” he said, “let your face light up, let it be irradiated with a
heavenly gleam, let your eyes shine with reflected glory. But when you speak
of Hell—well, then your ordinary face will do.”[1]
Pastor
Forgot To Smile Back
During
the last twelve years of my pastorate we had a form of service in which the
children came with their parents to the morning worship period. Just before
the sermon they marched to their classrooms, singing a recessional hymn. They
all marched past the pulpit.
For
me as their pastor, one of the high points of the service was the privilege of
catching a smile from each child and giving one in return. I tried never to
miss a single one, but one day apparently I failed. A little curly-headed
four-year-old ran out of the procession and threw herself into the arms of her
mother, sobbing as though her heart was broken.
After
the service I sought out the mother. She said that when she had quieted the
little one and asked why she had cried, she received this pathetic answer,
“I smiled at God, but he didn’t smile back to me!” For her I stood for
God. I had failed with my smile, and the world went dark.[2]
Scripture
Text:
Zeph 3:14 Sing, O Daughter
of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O
Daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The LORD has taken away your punishment, he has
turned back your enemy. The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you; never again
will you fear any harm. 16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, "Do
not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. 17 The LORD your God is
with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will
quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." 18
"The sorrows for the appointed feasts I will remove from you; they are a
burden and a reproach to you. 19 At that time I will deal with all who
oppressed you; I will rescue the lame and gather those who have been
scattered.
I
will give them praise and honor in every land where they were put to shame.
20 At that time I will
gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and
praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before
your very eyes,” says the LORD.
The Lord says to shout and be
glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Why? What do you have to happy and joyful
about on this Christmas season?
The Lord has taken your
punishment. He has turned back
your enemy.
The Lord is with you.
You will fear no harm.
He is mighty to save.
Shortest Verse In Bible
Our attention is often
directed to the two shortest verses in the Bible noting that “Jesus wept”
is the shorter of the two. But in the Greek we find this “shortest” verse
has three words whereas the verse from I Thessalonians 5:16 (“Rejoice
evermore”) has only two. However, one surely can see the lovely connection
between the two verses. The Christian’s joy flows from the sympathy and
grace of their Saviour. Jesus wept—we rejoice evermore. —Daily Readings[3]
He will take great delight in
you.
He will quiet you with His
love.
He will rejoice over you with
singing.
He will remove your sorrows.
He will rescue the lame and
gather the scattered.
He will give them praise and
honor.
He will bring you home.
He will restore your
fortunes.
He will save you now and
forever. His love and forgiveness are the basis of our joy…
Rejoice evermore.
I Thes. 5:16
Have Faith.
Trust in God. Depend on
Him. Let Him be your Lord and
your guide.
[1]Tan,
P. L. Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : [A Treasury of
Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and
Christian Workers]. Garland TX: Bible Communications, 1996, c1979.
[2]Tan,
P. L. Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : [A Treasury of
Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and
Christian Workers]. Garland TX: Bible Communications, 1996, c1979.
[3]Tan,
P. L. Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : [A Treasury of
Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and
Christian Workers]. Garland TX: Bible Communications, 1996, c1979.