How much we need to pray for the salvation of sinners, for preachers, for the message. Do not admire the preacher ever, only Christ by his Spirit can open the heart and shine in his glory. Of course, we preach the fall of man also. We preach the condemnation of the human soul because of sin. We preach the need for repentance. All these things are part of salvation. But we do not preach those alone. They must be attended by a glimpse of the glory of Christ, and his amazing love, and what he has done for sinners, because if people cannot see his glory then they cannot meaningfully repent and seek him and come to him. That is why from time to time in history, God has used utterly unlettered, uneducated men, people who could barely speak, inarticulate properly to preach the gospel, and converted thousands through them. We think of years and years ago the renowned Billy Bray in the West Country, and the many souls brought to Christ through him, through such a man. It is as though God is saying, I send my George Whitefield and my Wesley brothers and other great preachers, but do not unduly admire them. They cannot open a single heart. They can explain the word and explain the message, but they cannot bring about conversion. We are absolutely dependent upon the work and the power of the Spirit shining in Christ, and showing his great love so that the heart melts and we repent of sin and come to him.
A great light has dawned; that is what the Christian life is. It’s not just at conversion; it goes on in this way. It’s the pursuit of, appreciation of Christ Jesus our Lord. When you come to your private devotions day by day this week, always give some time and attention to pray that you will appreciate the riches and the attributes and the wonders of Jesus Christ a little more in your Scripture reading, in your prayers. Learn to love him, learn to see more of him. Why does assurance run low? Why does your Christian life run cold? Because you have lost your way in this great expedition of exploration, to find out more and more and to learn more and more of the wonders of Jesus Christ.