Passion

A couple thoughts about preaching this morning:

W.E. Sangster, in his book "Power in Preaching", says, "some preaching fails in power because it fails in passion". Preaching must be real if it is to be anything. Artificial passion doesn't get it done. I have found that people, especially kids, are experts at detecting pretense. I love preaching but, even more, I really need to love those to whom I preach. I like what Ian Hall wrote about it:

"A real passion for souls is a glow from within; the counterfeit is a shine applied to the outside."

My prayer today:

God, help me to be real today and have a glow from within. Help me to be compelled by the love of Christ.