What Follows Us
The sermon emphasizes the promise of goodness and mercy following us all the days of our life, and encourages us to serve the Lord with special consecration and make an unusual offering to the cause of God or to the poor.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the assurance that goodness and mercy will follow us throughout our lives, as expressed in Psalm 23:6. He reflects on the significance of each day, particularly the rare occasion of February 29, encouraging believers to recognize the presence of God's grace and to respond with gratitude and service. Spurgeon urges the congregation to make this unique day memorable by offering acts of kindness and devotion, ensuring that goodness and mercy are acknowledged and celebrated. He calls for a special consecration of heart and a joyful expression of praise to God, reinforcing the idea that every day is an opportunity to honor Him.
Text
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. (Psalm 23:6)
A devout poet sings
Lord, when thou
Puttest in my time a day,
as thou dost now,
Unknown in other years, grant, I entreat,
Such grace illumine it, that whate'er its phase
It add to holiness, and lengthen praise!
This day comes but once in four years.... Up till now goodness and mercy, like two guards, have followed us from day to day, bringing up the rear even as grace leads the van; and as this out-of-the-way day is one of the days of our life, the two guardian angels will be with us today also. Goodness to supply our needs and mercy to blot out our sins -- these twain shall attend our every step this day and every day till days shall be no more. Wherefore, let us serve the Lord on this peculiar day with special consecration of heart and sing His praises with more zest and sweetness than ever. Could we not today make an unusual offering to the cause of God or to the poor? By inventiveness of love let us make this twenty-ninth of February a day to be remembered forever.
Sermon Outline
- I. Introduction
- A. The promise of goodness and mercy
- B. The poet's prayer for a special day
- II. The Nature of Goodness and Mercy
- A. Goodness as supply for our needs
- B. Mercy as blotting out our sins
- III. The Attendants of Our Steps
- A. Goodness and mercy as guardian angels
- B. Their presence in every step of our life
- IV. Special Consecration and Praise
- A. Serving the Lord with a special heart
- B. Singing His praises with more zest and sweetness
Key Quotes
“Goodness to supply our needs and mercy to blot out our sins -- these twain shall attend our every step this day and every day till days shall be no more.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“This day comes but once in four years.... Up till now goodness and mercy, like two guards, have followed us from day to day, bringing up the rear even as grace leads the van;” — C.H. Spurgeon
“By inventiveness of love let us make this twenty-ninth of February a day to be remembered forever.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We should serve the Lord with a special consecration of heart and make an unusual offering to the cause of God or to the poor.
- We should make every day special by inventiveness of love, by serving the Lord with a special heart and singing His praises with more zest and sweetness.
- We should remember the promise of goodness and mercy following us all the days of our life, and trust in God's provision and forgiveness.