THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY WE MIGHT WEEP OVER THE STATE OF OUR NATION.
Politically, we are in turmoil. Morally, we are in confusion; the current epidemic of knife crime in London is especially grievous. But all of these are just symptoms of a deeper spiritual malaise. Our nation is lost.
Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet; called to minister to a people resolute in apostasy and ripe for judgement. He wept because of the opposition and persecution which he faced, but especially because he was opposed by his own people, his own family and friends (Jeremiah 20:10). So the prophet reflected in his own experience the heart of God Himself who agonised over the people who had rejected Him. The Lord must judge them for their sin, and yet He loves them (12:7).
We need today a new generation of preachers who are called to take up this ministry. They are to be marked not only by good character, and appropriate gifts, but also zeal for God’s glory and His Kingdom. They are to have broken hearts for the state of the church, and the nation. This is the mark of servants of Christ, who wept over Jerusalem. He is the Saviour who loved the church and gave Himself up for her. Now we are called to plead on His behalf for sinners to be reconciled to God.
Regarding a call to ministry, Lloyd-Jones quoted Spurgeon: “If you can do anything else do it. If you can stay out of the ministry, stay out of the ministry.” Today this advice is often dismissed as too extreme. But it recognises the necessity of a burden for ministry; a constraint to preach the Gospel for the glory of God and for the love of sinners. This is not just a “job” but a solemn vocation.
At our Annual Thanksgiving Service in June, five of our students will finish their time at Seminary. All of them are already committed to pastoral or church-planting ministries. Please join us as we pray for them, and as we pray for many more to be called by God to serve Him in the UK and beyond.
