The wounds of calumny, the reproaches of the proud, the venom of the bigoted, the treachery of the false, and the weakness of the true, we have known in our measure; and therein have had communion with our Lord Jesus.
Interpretation
This quote reflects the deep struggles and injustices faced by individuals and how these experiences can lead to a closer spiritual communion with Jesus.
Charles Spurgeon's quote speaks to the various adversities and injustices one might encounter in life, including slander, pride, bigotry, betrayal, and the shortcomings of others. Despite these weaknesses and challenges, he emphasizes that through such suffering, believers can find a sense of connection and communion with Jesus, suggesting that enduring hardships can deepen one's faith and understanding of divine love.
In practice
In a sermon about overcoming life’s challenges, one might reference this quote to illustrate finding strength through faith.
Amusement should be used to do us good “like a medicine”: it must never be used as the food of the man...Many have had all holy thoughts and gracious resolutions stamped out by perpetual trifling. Pleasure so called is the murderer of thought. This is the age of excessive amusement: everybody craves for it, like a babe for its rattle.
When you see no present advantage, walk by faith and not by sight. Do God the honor to trust Him when it comes to matters of loss for the sake of principle.
It is far easier to fight with sin in public than to pray against it in private.
You will never glory in God till first of all God has killed your glorying in yourself.
After faith comes repentance, or, rather, repentance is faith's twin brother and is born at the same time.
["All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant."] The original Hebrew word that has been translated "paths" means "well-worn roads' or "wheel tracks," such ruts as wagons make when they go down our green roads in wet weather and sink in up to the axles. God's ways are at times like heavy wagon tracks that cut deep into our souls, yet all of them are merciful.
We do not move forward by curtailing people's liberty because we are afraid of what they may do or say.
The three wishes of every man: to be healthy, to be rich by honest means, and to be beautiful.
The emotions aren't always immediately subject to reason, but they are always immediately subject to action.
For then only will you be strong, when you cherish the laws, and when the revolutionary attempts of lawless men shall have ceased.
What you hope, you will eventually believe. _x000D_ What you believe you will eventually know. What you know, you will eventually create. What you create, _x000D_ you will eventually experience. What you experience, _x000D_ you will eventually express. What you express, _x000D_ you will eventually become. _x000D_ This is the formula for all of life.
What a triumph for the advocates of despotism to find that we are incapable of governing ourselves, and that systems founded on the basis of equal liberty are merely ideal and fallacious.
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