Category: Devotion of the Day

TAKING NO CHANCES

I know whom I have believed.
II Timothy 1:12

Once in a while somebody speaks of “staking all on Christ,” or risking everything on God’s promises, as though it were a glorified gamble. But we are not gambling when we venture on God’s Word. Staking something on an uncertainty is a gamble, but when we commit to Christ we are depending on an absolute certainty that cannot fail. It is one thing trying to get on by auto-suggestion, trying to imagine what may or may not be actually true. It is another thing venturing on something we know is true, though sometimes it may not be real to us. Then we may with confidence live as though it were true because it is.

God’s promises are true, forever settled in heaven. Jesus is true. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but never His words. Paul knew whom he trusted. There is no chance about it, but absolute certainty. We are risking nothing when we trust Him. He will keep the deposit.

WHAT TO PREACH

We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
II Corinthians 4:5

Here is proper orientation for a preacher. He is not to preach himself, his experience, his ideas, his pet themes. The pulpit is no sounding board for a man. He is to preach “Christ Jesus as Lord,” the threefold Name so often set forth in Scripture – Messiah, Mediator, Master. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

It is a ministry of “Not I but Christ.” Where does the preacher come in? “Ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” Not just servants, period. We are not to be glorified flunkeys waiting on fussy church members. Only that service which is for His sake counts. A lot of things we do and a lot of things people demand are not for Jesus’ sake.

But He is the subject of preaching and we are servants. Woe to the man who would make himself the subject and Christ a servant to advance his own ministry!

What to preach? Here is the answer to the old, old question.