Grace Abounding

Almost half a year has slipped by, and Winter has come.The air smells of Wattle fires and sweetly decaying leaves. I rediscovered and this abandoned, unfinished blog post, written somewhere at the beginning of this year. Feel free to add your own thoughts or conclusions, or just ponder the wonder of the free gift that is God's love. Or feel free to look up Charles Spurgeon's sermon entitled "Grace Abounding." 

                                                           ~~~π§π~~~

A not so new year has planted it's feet firmly on our rocky hill. Wisteria and wild St John's Wort spread over the slopes and verges with the colours of joy. The verdant green that surrounds us is gentle on the eye and soul. Familiar birdcalls bring reassurance of constancy despite change. A fallow deer doe and her fawn appear at the bottom of the neighbouring property's driveway, wildlife returning to an abandoned smallholding. A raucous baboon troup's return is met with less enthusiasm, especially after they raid our meagre vegetable patch and leave the gooseberry bush broken and defeated. After a cool, distinctly drizzly December, the late Summer heat left us limp and lethargic.

The discipline of writing is akin to any other discipline; hard but becoming less hard with persistence and perseverance. I love the idea of writing as much as I love the elusive notion of being fit and trim. Neither is going to become a reality this year, unless I make a start, so here it is, a start.

Just yesterday I read through the best part of a Spurgeon sermon. Charles Hadden Spurgeon was a 19th century English Particular Baptist preacher. He was a prolific author of sermons, commentaries, books on prayer, devotionals, magazines, poetry and hymns. (He clearly did not lack discipline...) He produced powerful sermons of penetrating thought and precise exposition. Known as the "Prince of Preachers", the treasure trove of his sermons were translated into nearly forty languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Urdu and Welsh. His voice was said to be "full, sweet and musical", his speech dotted with humour and witt. No nodding off in the back pews when Mr Spurgeon was on the pulpit.

This sermon is simply called "Grace Abounding", and it explores Hosea 14:4 ~ "I WILL LOVE THEM FREELY." Spurgeon calls it "a body of divinity in miniature". Just that statement alone, already gives one a glimpse into the depth and vibrancy of Spurgeon's thoughts and understanding. The sermon is long and complex, but I thought to share some excerpts that could hopefully still convey the wonder and beauty of it's meaning, for each of us.

We use the word "freely" for whatever is received or given with neither money, compensation or price expected in return. We're all familiar with the saying: "There's no such thing as a free lunch", said to emphasize that it's just about impossible to get something for nothing. But is there anyone who has kneeled at the foot of the cross, who ever thought that there is anything at all that can be done or given to earn or compensate for what was freely given by Him who suffered there?

Spurgeon wrote: 

"God will love you freely, and this is how his love is preached to you—"Whosoever believeth on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved." Come as you are; God will accept you as you are. Come as you are, without any preparation or fitness; come as you are, and where the cross is lifted high with the bleeding Son of God upon it, fall flat on your face, accepting the love manifested there, willingly receiving this day the grace which God willingly and freely gives."

 As sinners, without any qualification, as sinners, as undeserving sinners, our God receives us graciously and loves us freely. We offer up our bodies as living sacrifices. Not to earn God's grace, but because in love, His grace reached down and lifted us into a place of forgiveness and freedom. Given freely, but bought at the dearest price. What wondrous love is this oh my soul, oh my soul.