1452. Christ the Preacher, with Bible in Hand
Christ the Preacher, with Bible in Hand
"And there was delivered unto Him the Book of the Prophet Esaias. And when He had opened the Book, He found the place where it was written" (Luk_4:17).
On the Sabbath Day, as had been His wont in the days of His youth, He entered into the synagogue. This time, however, He did what He had never done before,–He stepped to the platform to minister to the people. The scene is thus described:
"And there was delivered unto Him the Book of the Prophet Esaias. And when He had opened the Book, He found the place where it was written" (Luk_4:17).
What a beautiful sight! The roll of the Prophet Esaias in the hand of the Son of God.
What we need to-day in the pulpits of the land is God's minister with God's Book in his hand.
God has said unto us, in unmistakable notes: "Preach the Word" (2Ti_4:2).
There are those who would like to press into our hands some other book. Some would like us to turn aside to discourse on the poets; others would ask us to speak from the writings of philosophers. Some would place in our hands the recent novel; others the daily papers, and their story of darkening sins.
The true minister, however, has but one Book in the pulpit. That Book is the Word of God. He turns neither to the right hand nor to the left. He is never caught in the whirl of public opinion. He preaches the Word.
The people may not know his theme, they may not know his text; but they do know that, when they enter the pew of his church, they will hear a sermon expounding the Word of God.
The people carry with them their Bibles, they know they will have need for them and for them alone, as they follow the minister in his remarks.
No matter the exigencies of the hour, no matter the happenings of the day, the minister will preach the Word of God. He gives unto his people the finest of the wheat; he brings manna from Heaven; he gives them food for their souls.
The people who hear him preach realize that they are in the midst of green pastures and beside the waters of quietness.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR