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)

The Thessalonians were heathens plunged in sin, and this poor tent maker came in among them and told them of Jesus Christ and his gospel.

His testimony was believed, and that belief changed the lives of his hearers and made them holy, and they being renewed came at length to be perfectly holy, and there they are, and Jesus Christ is glorified in them.

Will it not be a delightful thing throughout eternity to contemplate that you went into your Sunday school class this afternoon, and you were afraid that you could not say much.

But you talked about Jesus Christ with a tear in your eye, and you brought a dear girl to believe in his saving name through your testimony. In years to come that girl will be among those who shine out to the glory of Christ forever.

Or you will talk in a lodging house to some of those poor vagrants or one of the fallen women of the story of your Lord’s love and blood, and the poor broken heart will catch at the gracious word and come to Jesus, and then a heavenly character will be begun, and another jewel secured for the Redeemer’s diadem.

Methinks you will admire his crown all the more, because as you see certain stones sparkling in it, you will say, “Blessed be his name forever; he helped me to dive into the sea and find that pearl for him,” and now it adorns his sacred brow.

Now, get at it, all of you!

Charles Spurgeon

Further reading

• TONY JONES AND HIS PROGRESSIVE THEO-BLOGGER CHALLENGE
• IT’S NOT TOO LATE
• RAVI ZACHARIAS CLARIFIES CALLING HENRI NOUWEN GREAT SAINT