Spurgeon: December PM
* 12/22/PM
"The spot of His children."
--Deuteronomy 32:5
What is the secret spot which infallibly betokens the child
of God? It were vain presumption to decide this upon our own
judgment; but God's word reveals it to us, and we may tread
surely where we have revelation to be our guide. Now, we are
told concerning our Lord, "to as many as received Him , to them
gave He power to become the sons of God, even to as many as
believed on His name." Then, if I have received Christ Jesus
into my heart, I am a child of God. That reception is described
in the same verse as believing on the name of Jesus Christ .
If, then, I believe on Jesus Christ's name--that is, simply from
my heart trust myself with the crucified, but now exalted,
Redeemer, I am a member of the family of the Most High. Whatever
else I may not have, if I have this, I have the privilege to
become a child of God. Our Lord Jesus puts it in another shape.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."
Here is the matter in a nutshell. Christ appears as a shepherd
to His own sheep, not to others. As soon as He appears, His own
sheep perceive Him--they trust Him, they are prepared to follow
Him; He knows them, and they know Him--there is a mutual
knowledge--there is a constant connection between them. Thus the
one mark, the sure mark, the infallible mark of regeneration and
adoption is a hearty faith in the appointed Redeemer. Reader,
are you in doubt, are you uncertain whether you bear the secret
mark of God's children? Then let not an hour pass over your head
till you have said, "Search me, O God, and know my heart."
Trifle not here, I adjure you! If you must trifle anywhere, let
it be about some secondary matter: your health, if you will, or
the title deeds of your estate; but about your soul, your
never-dying soul and its eternal destinies, I beseech you to be
in earnest. Make sure work for eternity.