The Tribune

By Rev Emmett J Weir

THE Rev Dr Charles Spurgeon was one of the greatest preachers of the Gospel. He served for many years at a chapel in London which accommodated 4,000 worshippers.

This 19th century Baptist preacher published his sermons which are still the source of spiritual upliftment to Christians and people of other religions, and even those who profess no religious affiliation.

His meditation is very appropriate for us during this Lenten season. Let me share it with you (excerpt from Charles Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening):

“Have Faith in God.”

– Mark 11:12

Faith is the foot of the soul by which it can march along the road of the commandments. Love can make the feet move more swiftly; but faith is the foot which carries the soul. Faith is the oil enabling the wheels of holy devotion and of earnest piety to move well; and without faith the wheels are taken from the chariot, and we drag heavily. With faith I can do all things; without faith I shall neither have the inclination nor the power to do anything in the service of God. If you ant to find those who serve God the best, you must look for people who have the most faith. Little with will save a person, but little faith can’t do great things for God. Poor Little-faith could not have fought “Apollyon;” it needed “Christian” to do that.

Poor Little-faith could not have slain “Giant Despair;” it required “Great-heart’s” arm to knock that monster down. Little faith will go to heave most certainly, but it often has to hide itself in a nutshell, and it frequently loses all but its jewels. Little-faith says, “it is a rough road, beset with sharp thorns, and full of dangers; I am afraid to go;” but Great-faith remembers the promise, “your shoes shall be iron and brass; as your days, so shall your strength be:” and so she boldly ventures. Little-faith stands hopeless, mingling her tears with the flood; but Great-faith sings “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you:” and she fords the stream at once. Would you be comfortable and happy? Would you enjoy religion? Would you have the religious of cheerfulness and not that of gloom? Then “have faith in God.” If you love darkness, and are satisfied to dwell in gloom and misery, then be content with little faith; but if you love the sunshine, and would sing songs of rejoicing, covet earnestly this best gift, “great faith.”