Real Hope: Amazing GraceSample

Grace Under Fire

There were days when newspapers would send journalists to transcribe the Sunday sermons of the great preachers for publication. The two great preachers of the day were Joseph Parker and Charles Spurgeon: Spurgeon a deep thinker and theologian; Parker a great orator who rarely preached from notes.

For a time, Spurgeon invested much of his income into an orphanage for boys. One day Parker remarked on the shocking poverty of some of the boys taken in by Spurgeon’s orphanage. Troublemakers reported back to Spurgeon that his orphanage’s conditions (not the condition of the boys) had been criticised by Parker. The following Sunday, Spurgeon took aim at Parker from the pulpit and the journalists dutifully printed the tirade in the paper. The following Sunday, Parker’s church was full as the expectant crowd waited for Parker’s return volley.

Silence fell over the pews as Parker stood to speak. ‘Brother Spurgeon is sick today and cannot preach. This is the day when he takes up an offering for his orphans. May I suggest that we take up that offering for him in our church, for he’s doing a great work, and I know all of us would like to have a part in it.’ So generous was the offering that day, the plates were emptied three times.

Spurgeon visited Parker’s study a few days later. In part he said: ‘You know, Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved; you have given me what I needed.’ God’s grace changes lives for eternity and resources us to practice grace to those who need it. Now THAT is amazing grace.

Written by DWAYNE JEFFRIES