A Devotional for January 31, 2025
The Author’s [John Bunyan's] Call to the Ministry
“Then I said, ‘Here I am! Send me.’”
Isaiah 8: 6
And now I am speaking my experience, I will in this place thrust in a word or two concerning my preaching the Word and God’s dealing with me. For after I had been about five or six years awakened [converted, I] helped myself to see both the want and worth of Jesus Christ our Lord. I also ventured my soul upon him. Some of the most able among the saints, did perceive that God had counted me worthy to understand something of his will in his holy and blessed Word. And [He] had given me utterance, in some measure to express what I saw to others for edification. Therefore, they desired for me, with much earnestness, that I would be willing to take in hand, in one of the meetings, to speak [preach] a word of exhortation unto them.
Wherefore, the church desired, after prayer to the Lord—with fasting—I was more particularly called forth and appointed to a more ordinary and public preaching of the word. Not only to, and amongst them that believed, but also to offer the gospel to those who had not yet received the faith. And about that time, I did evidently find in my mind a secret pricking for the task. And I bless God, not for desire of vain glory. But at that time, I was most sorely afflicted with the fiery darts of the devil concerning my eternal state.
Yet I could not be content, unless I was found in the exercise of my gift, unto which also I was greatly animated, not only by the continual desires of the godly, but also by that saying of Paul to the Corinthians, “. . . [T]he household of Stephanas . . . devoted themselves to the service of the saints” I Corinthians 16: 15.
Call to Minister
(cont)
“Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” Romans 14: 5b
When I went first to preach the Word abroad, the doctors and priests [ministers] of the country did open wide against me. But I was persuaded of this, not to render railing for railing. But to see how many of the carnal professors I could convince of their miserable state by the law, and of their want and worth of Christ. For I thought, this shall answer for me in time to come, when . . . [my work will be vindicated] before their faces.
I never cared to meddle with things that were controversial and in dispute among the saints, especially things of the lower nature. Yet it pleased me much to contend with great earnestness for the word of faith and the remission of sins by the death and sufferings of Jesus. But I say as to other things, I should leave them alone. Because I saw they engendered strife; because they neither, in doing nor in leaving undone commended us to God. Besides, I saw the work before me, did run in another channel, even to carry an [evangelical] awakening word. To that, therefore, did I stick and adhere.
I never endeavored to, nor dare make use of other men’s lines [sermons]. Though I condemn not all that do. For I verily thought and found by experience; that what had been taught to me by the Word and Spirit of Christ, could be spoken, maintained, and stood to be the soundest and best-established conscience. And though I will not now speak all that I know in this matter, yet my experience hath more interest in that text of Scripture than many amongst men are aware.
Call to Minister
(cont)
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise”
Proverbs 11: 30.
If any of those who were awakened by my ministry did after that fall back, as sometimes too many did. I can truly say their loss has been more to me than if one of my own children, begotten of my body, had been going to their grave. I may speak without an offence to the Lord, nothing hath gone so near me as that—unless it was the fear of the loss of the salvation of my own soul. My heart had been so wrapped up in the glory of this excellent work; I counted myself more blessed and honored of God by this than if he had made me the emperor of the Christian world, or the lord of all the glory of the earth without it! O these words, “He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death” (James 5:20). “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). “They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3). “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:19, 20). These, I say, with many others of a like nature have been great refreshments to me.
I have observed, that where I have had a work to do for God, I have had first, God moving upon my spirit to desire I might preach there. I have also observed that such and such souls have been strongly set upon my heart, and I was stirred up to wish for their salvation.
Call to Minister
(cont)
“My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth, until Christ is formed in you”
Galatians 4: 19.
In my preaching I have really been in pain, and have, as it were, travailed to bring forth children to God. Neither could I be satisfied unless some fruits appeared in my work. If I were fruitless, it mattered not who commended me. But if I were fruitful, I cared not who did condemn. I have thought of that, “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord. . .. Happy is the man that hath filled his quiver full of them” (Psalm 127:3-5).
Sometimes, again, when I had been preaching, I was violently assaulted with thoughts of blasphemy. And I was strongly tempted to speak the words with my mouth before the congregation. I have also been tempted to do so even when I have begun to speak the Word with much clearness, evidence, and liberty of speech. Before the ending of that opportunity, I was so blind and so separated from me the things I was speaking. And I was also so focused on my speech; to utterance before the people that I had not known or remembered what I was about to say. It was as if my head had been in a bag all the time when I was trying to preach.
Again, when at other times I have been about to preach upon some smart and scorching portion of the Word; I found the tempter suggest: What, will you preach this? This condemns yourself! Of this your own soul is guilty! You cannot preach this at all, or if you do, you will be cut into pieces so to make a way for your own escape. Instead of awakening others, you will lay that guilt upon your own soul, and you will never get out from under it.
Taken from my most recent book release Daily Readings: John Bunyan published by Christian Focus Press. Copyright owned by Roger D Duke.
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