OUR RESPONSE TO THE WONDER

OUR RESPONSE TO THE WONDER

This morning I read a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, one of England’s greatest 19th century preachers.  I thought it appropriate to share a brief excerpt with you.

Isaiah 9:6b reads as follows: “…And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Beloved, there are a thousand things in this world that are called by names that do not belong to them; but in entering upon my text, I must announce at the very opening, that Christ is called Wonderful, because He is so.  How do we respond to that wonder?

First, we respond to His wonder with adoration.  Jesus ought to be the object of our grateful adoration and worship.  Leafing through the pages of an average hymnbook will suggest dozens of suitable expressions of our adoration for Christ.

Secondly, Jesus ought to be the object of our wholehearted devotion.  He alone ought to be the object of our deepest and warmest affections.  The great commandment of the Law was to love the Lord supremely with one’s total being.  That also is a valid responsibility of the Christian today.

Finally, we should respond to His wonder by entering into a deeper communion with the One who is called “Wonderful.”  The shallow experience of many Christians today is a sad commentary on their interest in the One who loves them and gave Himself for them.  If Jesus is Wonderful, and He is, we should long to spend time with Him in Bible study and prayer and to enjoy sweet fellowship with Christ in all that we do.”

Spurgeon’s words constitute profound truth, both for the 1800s and for today.  How do we respond to our “Wonderful” Savior, JESUS CHRIST?  Do we regularly invest sufficient time and effort COMMUN-icating with Him…or is He reduced to an afterthought or random part of our day?  Since we love Him…let’s talk to Him, listen to Him, trust in Him, and be available always with an affirmative answer to whatever He says.