Witnessing

Witnessing

Word Not in Vain
A highwayman once stopped John Wesley and demanded his money or his life. Wesley, after giving him the money, said, "Let me speak one word to you; the time may come when you will regret the course of life in which you are now engaged. Remember this, 'The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin.'" No more was said, and they parted. Many years after, as Wesley was going out of a church in which he had been preaching, a stranger introduced himself, and asked Wesley if he remembered being waylaid at such a time. He said he recollected it. "I was that man," said the stranger, "and that single verse you quoted on that occasion was the means of a total change in my life and habits. I have long since been in the practice of attending the house of God and of giving attention to His Word, and trust that I am a Christian."

Now Is All the Time We Have
Remember that this may be the day the Lord returns. The thought of Psalms 118:24 surely includes our rejoicing in the return of the Lord. If I really believe Christ may return today, I'll live differently than I ever have, seeking to affect others for Christ. Nobody knows when He will return, so we ought to live each day as though He will come back today.
Use time wisely, make the most of every opportunity (Colossians 4:5). Don't make excuses-be involved in the lives of those outside the Lord. Pray daily that God will keep alive in your heart a picture of those who are outside Christ as being lost. Ask God to revive your loving concern that all men be taught of Him, and to help you be involved in every effort to teach them.
Treat everyone as if you'll never see them again (Acts 10:37-38). If we don't take for granted that we'll have time in the future, surely our treatment of each other will greatly improve. Use the time NOW to share a little about Jesus, for you may not have another opportunity.
If we truly believe NOW is all the time we have, what a difference that will make in our lives. It's great to be part of the family of God.

Forgive Me God, I Had No Time
The year slipped by and time was spent,
And all the good things that I meant
To do were left undone because...
I had no time to stop and pause;
But rushed about, went here and there,
Did this and that, was everywhere.
I had no time to meditate
On things worthwhile. No time to wait
Upon the Lord and hear Him say,
"Well done, My child, you have shown the way."
And so I wonder, after all,
When life is o'er and I am called
To meet my Savior in the sky,
Where saints live on and never die,
If I can find one soul I have won
To Christ by some small deed I have done.
Or will I hang my head and whine,
"Forgive me, God, I had no time"?

"Man Overboard!"
There is a story of an Atlantic passenger lying in his bunk in a storm, deathly sick-seasick. A cry of "Man overboard!" was heard. The passenger thought, "God help the poor fellow. There is nothing I can do." Then he thought at least he could put his lantern in the porthole, which he did. The man was rescued, and recounting the story the next day, he said, "I was going down in the darkness for the last time when someone put a light in a porthole. It shone on my hand, and a sailor in a lifeboat grabbed my hand and pulled me in." Weakness is no excuse for our not putting forth all the little strength we have, and who can tell how God will use it?

Exalting Christ
A young man entered training as an art student in London. During those years he thought he would draw a portrait of Christ. He was disappointed. In trying to reveal tenderness and sympathy, he portrayed only weakness, and he tore up the portrait. He tried again later but failed to satisfy himself.
War broke out, and his work came to an end. He went to camp and was finally sent to France and to the front. He was billeted in a French chateau in a room with nine other men. When he went to bed the first night he was distressed to see over the beds of the other fellows horrible drawings from some of the vulgar papers that were circulated in France in those days. He was tempted impetuously to pull them down, but remembered that everyone had a perfect right to put on his wall space anything he liked, so instead he planned what he should do with his space.
The only spare time he had was in the night, and his drawing material was a plain postcard and a pencil. He determined to try again to draw a head of Christ. He worked upon his drawing for several nights with only a candle to give him light; and when it was finished, he nervously pinned it on his wall. He did not know what the men would say or do when they saw it in the morning. They simply looked at it, said nothing and went out.
In a few days all the other pictures were pulled down and only his drawing remained. He had exalted the risen Christ in testimony to those around him.

Invite a Golfer to Church
One man came out of his house on his way to church on Sunday morning, just as his neighbor came out of his with his golf clubs. The golfer said, "Henry, come play golf with me today." Henry, with an expression of horror on his face, replied, "This is the Lord's day, and I go to church. Certainly I would not play golf with you." After a moment's silence, the golfer quietly said, "You know, Henry, I have often wondered about your church, and I have admired your fidelity. You know also that this is the seventh time I have invited you to play golf with me, and you have never invited me to go to church with you." The Power of Multiplication
On a wall in the Museum of Natural Science in Chicago there is a checkerboard with 64 squares. In the lower lefthand corner is a grain of wheat. The display includes this question: "If you doubled the amount of wheat as you move from square to square, how much would you have when you reached the 64th square? A carload? A trainload? You would have enough wheat to cover the country of India six feet deep."
That is the power of multiplication. Suppose you go out and reach one person for Jesus. Stick with that person for six months. Help, encourage and strengthen him. At the end of six months there are only two. At the end of the year there are four of you. At the end of 18 months there are eight; two years, 16. Do you know how many people there would be at the end of 17 years? More than the entire population of the world-more than six billion. Stop and think about what you can do!

One Red Rosebud
There it was-a tiny rosebud thrown in a heap with other uprooted and discarded rosebushes. Out of the tangled mass, one long stem pushed its way upward, thrusting forth its one tiny bud.
The rosebushes had been thrown away by a disgruntled homeowner who couldn't seem to get them to grow well. As the man passed by the heap, he noticed the little rosebud, but he went on his way. The next day he noticed that the bud still seemed to have life and was trying to bloom.
Donning gloves, he retrieved the bush on which that one bud clung tenaciously to life. He planted the bush and was rewarded several days later when a beautiful rose bloomed. Before long the whole bush came alive. In fact that one bush outbloomed and outgrew other rosebushes the man planted later. Each year the bush seemed to have one especially long stem with an exquisite red rose on it.
Because one tiny rosebud was unwilling to die, the whole bush was saved. In the same way, whole families have been won to the Savior because one child came to know Him first.
May we never lose hope for the children who need to know about Jesus and His love for them! A Lesson From the Palm Tree
One can readily recall the words of Exodus 15:27 which reads, "And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters." Think what a wonderful sight a grove of palms must be to the wary and thirsty traveler on the desert! These trees not only mean shelter from the blistering sun, but water to slake the thirst. Palms grow where there is water, and they send down their trap roots to water. Thus this tree is never without its testimony.
Those familiar with this most famous of all Bible trees know that it Bears Fruit in Old Age. The palm never stops bearing fruit, even though it grows to a very old age. Psalms 92:14 states, "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age." The tree is never on the retired list. Too many of us are retired Christians. We get to the place where we imagine we have done our share, so someone else can take over and carry on the work. Recall the spirit of the old pioneers of Tombstone, who were willing to die with their boots on, working and toiling to the very last. Just as the palm grows for the ages, so should it be with all the children of God. We are not shrubs, but trees. "He shall be like a tree"-that which abides.
Who among us is not familiar with the fact that the Branches Are Symbols of Victory. In Revelation 7:9, the Apostle John caught the vision of the mighty multitude which no man could number, standing "before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands." There were they who had come out of great tribulation, and victory was theirs in the presence of their Lord. It was a time of rejoicing. Are we symbols of victory? Do men look at us and see some blessed evidence of the power of God operative in our lives? Or must they behold evidences of defeat? God forbid!
I exhort you, be a palm-tree Christian, the praise and glory of His grace. What a blessing we can be to others by living the upright palm tree life!

Blossoming in Spite of Adversity
In her book, North to the Orient, Anne Morrow Lindberg, tells about the oriental symbolism of trees:
The bamboo stands for prosperity.
The pine tree means long life.
The plum tree suggests courage.
Mrs. Lindberg asked a friend why the plum tree stood for courage. The answer: "Because it puts out its blossom while the snow is still on the ground."
The Christian should adopt the plum tree as our example. We should show our Christian attitudes at times when they are needed the most.
Be kind and forgiving to those who mistreat you.
Be understanding and open-minded to those who are prejudiced toward you.
Stand for moral ideals when it is contrary to popular custom.
Have the courage and strength to do the difficult thing by "putting out your blossoms" when it is difficult.

"Was That Somebody You?"
Tom Carter, the evangelist, told this in one of his messages: While he was holding meetings in a Pennsylvania town, a young man who had formerly lived next door to the parsonage committed a murder. The whole community was stirred. Mr. Carter and the pastor obtained permission to visit the young man in his cell. After telling him his own story of conversion in a prison, Mr. Carter and the pastor succeeded in leading him to Christ. Then the newly-saved man addressed the pastor and sadly said, "To think I lived next door to you for months and you never told me anything about Jesus until I came here! If you only had, I probably never would have become a murderer."
Are we overlooking any close-by opportunities? No One Ever Asked Me
In St. Louis years ago, a Christian was transacting business with a lawyer. As the Christian businessman turned to go, he said, "I have often wanted to ask you a question, but I have been a coward."
"Why," replied the lawyer, "I did not think you were afraid of anything. What is the question?"
The businessman then asked the lawyer pointblank, "Sir, why are you not a Christian?"
The lawyer hung his head. "Is there not something in the Bible that says no drunkard shall have any part in the Kingdom of God. You know my weakness."
"You have not answered my question," answered the Christian. "I am asking why are you not a Christian."
"Well," answered the lawyer, "I cannot recall that anyone ever asked me such a question before. Of this I am sure-nobody ever told me how to become one." The Christian businessman then read passages from the Bible and suggested simply, "Let's get down and pray."
Kneeling, the lawyer prayed first: "O Lord, you know that I am a slave to drink. This morning this businessman, your servant, has shown me the way to Thee. Oh, God, break the power of this evil habit in my life." Later, the lawyer with the "besetting sin" testified that "God broke that power of drink instantly."
Do you know who that lawyer was? Dr. C. L. Scofield, famous editor of the Scofield Reference Bible!

How the Gospel Came to Korea
Robert J. Thomas, a Welshman, was a colporteur working in China for the Scottish Bible Society. In the course of his work, he learned that the Korean language is based on Chinese and that, as a result, the Korean intellectuals could read Chinese. His main responsibility was toward the millions in China, of course. But the love of Christ for the Koreans constrained him, and he determined to push on to that country. An American ship called the General Sherman was sailing to Pyongyang, a large city in the north. He boarded it. As the ship drew near to Pyongyang, however, a sharp fight broke out between the officers of the American ship and the Korean coast guard. The ship was burned in the conflict, and all the passengers were killed. The death of Thomas was unusual, however. As the ship and the passengers were sinking, he struggled to reach the shore and staggered up out of the water his arms filled with books. They were Bibles. He thrust these into the hands of the Koreans who clubbed him to death. It was through such love that the gospel first came to Korea in the year 1886.

Gentle but Persistent Influence
Paul gave this admonition in Galatians 6:9, "And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
A scientist once conducted an interesting experiment in his laboratory. From the ceiling he suspended an iron ball weighing a ton, attaching it to a cable strong enough to sustain its weight. Beside the huge iron ball, he hung a small sphere made of cork attached to a thread fastened to the ceiling. An electrical mechanism kept the little cork ball swinging slowly, pendulum-like, against the iron weight.
At length, after days of unceasing swinging back and forth on the part of the cork, the iron ball weighing a ton began to swing very gently to and fro in harmony with the little cork ball. Gradually, its motion increased until it was prescribing a wide arc, all because a tiny cork ball had kept persistently knocking against its massive side, day in and day out.
Our effort to influence people to love God, accept Christ as Savior, and live under the direction of the Holy Spirit should be as gentle as the tapping of the cork ball, but also we should be persistent and faithful. May we be so.

He Died for Them, Too!
Christopher D. Green recalls this incident:
"It was my gut reaction to become tense as the dark figure approached. Walking down the street late in the evening, I assumed the worst. I figured it would be at any moment that I would have a knife or a gun plunged into my side. I had to keep walking because stopping would mean certain death!
"Walking toward each other, my heart raced as I took a deep breath. He had shoulder-length hair, a ruddy beard, and wore dark clothes. Within six feet of one another, I looked into his eyes. I had vowed not to speak. It was he who spoke first. 'Good evening, how are you?'he said. After a startled pause, I managed to squeak, 'Fine, and you?'We walked on without incident, my shame growing more intense with each passing step. One hundred yards later, I began to pray. I remembered that Christ died for that man!
"Anger swelled within me as I watched the newscast. Gay rights activists had marched into a city council meeting demanding to be heard. They demanded attention and charged the city with discrimination. Charges were made that physical abuse at a recent rally had gone unprosecuted. At this point, an individual stood and shouted, 'If they hurt us again, they will have to pay. We will fight back!'My gut reaction was to think, 'Go ahead, and see who gets the beating!'Moments later, I began to pray. I realized that Christ had died for that man, too.
"When I see individuals I am afraid of or individuals I disagree with so severely I feel like 'punching them out,'I have to realize that what they need is not a poke in the nose or judgment from me. They need Jesus. They need me to tell them about Jesus! Lord, help me remember that you died for them, too!"

They Never Heard of Christmas!
Why have we not heard of Christmas?
Why have you denied us light;
We who long have groped in darkness
Chained by sorrow, sin, and night?
Why have you refused to tell us
Of this Son born from above?
Why have you withheld such tidings
Of God's condescending love?
When was it you learned of Christmas?
Has this story just been heard?
Can it be that God would send Him
Just for you who hold His Word?
Will you still deny us Christmas?
Will we reach out in vain?
Can it be that we must perish
Never having heard that name?
All our fathers died in torment,
Racked with anguish, fear and pain;
Never knowing of a Savior,
Never breathing Jesus' Name!
Hear the words of hopeless millions,
Dying where no light has been:
"Won't you share this Christ of Christmas,
Let Him save us from our sin?"

Good News Provides Opportunities
All news is not beautiful. Or had you noticed? But bad news is good news for Christians, in a sense, because we see in it opportunities to turn things around. Or, as Jesus said, to be lights in a dark world. Christians can do more than curse the darkness. We can light a candle. We can change the world.

Reading Your Own Obituary
It is possible to live under a delusion. You think you are kind, considerate and gracious, when you are really not. You think you are building positive values into your children, but, if you could check with them 20 years later, you really did not. What if you could read your own obituary? How do people really see you? Here is the story of a man who did.
One morning in 1888, Alfred Nobel, inventor of dynamite, awoke to read his own obituary. The obituary was printed as result of a simple journalistic error. You see, it was Alfred's brother that had died and the reporter carelessly reported the death of the wrong brother.
Any man would be disturbed under the circumstances, but to Alfred the shock was overwhelming because he saw himself as the world saw him. The "Dynamite King," the great industrialist who had made an immense fortune from explosives. This, as far as the general public was concerned, was the entire purpose of Alfred's life. None of his true intentions to break down the barriers that separated men and ideas for peace were recognized or given serious consideration. He was simply a merchant of death. And for that alone he would be remembered.
As he read the obituary with horror, he resolved to make clear to the world the true meaning and purpose of his life. This could be done through the final disposition of his fortune. His last will and testament would be the expression of his life's ideals and ultimately would be why we would remember him. The result was the most valuable of prizes given to those who had done the most for the cause of world peace. It is called today the "Nobel Peace Prize."
You may think you are a kind, thoughtful, gracious person. But what if today you read your own obituary? You are a businessman, what would your employees write? You are a professional person, what would your clients say? You are a parent, what would your children write? You are a preacher, teacher, whatever, what would those who listen to you say? Since we cannot read our obituary, let us rewrite it. Starting today.

Upsetting the World
During New Testament times those who were actively sharing the gospel met opposition. A case in point is Paul and Silas in Thessalonica. According to Acts 17:1-9, these two personal workers were persuading and converting several people. There were, however, those who were unconvinced, and they complained that the preaching was disruptive and upsetting. They took their views to the authorities and ultimately the two missionaries had to flee by night.
It might be hard for us to imagine such a thing happening today. We may believe that our beloved Bill of Rights would protect us from such outlawing of evangelism. The reality, though, is that the local newspaper recently reported on the front page an instance of religious freedoms in jeopardy. The article is about an 11-year-old in the Norm school system who was told not to discuss the Bible or pray during recess because "a parent had complained that it was disruptive." The school district further states that the girl had "infringed on the rights of other students."
Greg Clark comments, "I have seen several things take place during recesses, both while a student and later as a substitute teacher. Amongst other things I saw boys fighting, girls arguing, hair being pulled, kids being picked on, and heard all kinds of foul language. I am wondering if a girl with 'six of her friends' reading and praying could be any more 'disruptive'or could be any more infringing on personal rights?
"I can remember school days with Bibles on the bookshelf and lively religious discussions. We certainly did not consider ourselves religious fanatics and prospects for lawsuits. What has happened? Why are things like flag burning, Satan worship, and obscene materials "forms of expression" protected by the Bill of Rights, and yet an 11-year-old praying is questionable?
"What would Paul and Silas do in a similar situation? Would they agree with the idea that religion should be confined to the church building? A quick look at the text shows that in their case they merely moved on to Berea and agitated (and converted) a few more.
"It is true that there are people who purposefully set out to cause disorder. On the other hand, I have personally been threatened by a local man simply for doorknocking in his neighborhood. The thing we need to remember in both cases is that Christians have never gone through a period when everyone was encouraging them to proclaim Jesus. There have always been those who give 'strict orders not to continue teaching.'It is in response to such charges that first century proclaimers stood and said, "we must obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:28-29). They knew that if they waited around on the majority vote they would only end up talking to each other. Such a lifestyle for a disciple was and is unsatisfactory. The command of our Lord is still: 'Go into ALL the world,'even if the world gets a little upset." The Lost Boy
Once a little boy was lost in the woods. The alarm was sounded; a church meeting broke up; the whole congregation and neighborhood responded. Fishermen abandoned their nets and merchants closed their shops. Plows were left in the field and washing in the tub. Everyone turned out to hunt for the little fellow. There was a feverish haste. The night was dark and harm might befall the little fellow. After hours of search, he was found, and oh, the joy that was felt because of the rescue!
Today that boy is grown. He is lost again! But none seem to care. Mom and Dad are busy with other things. The church does not seem to care. No alarm is sent out. Yet, a far worse fate awaits him now. You see, he is now lost in sin! Do we really care? Enough to do something?

Better Previews Needed
In the movies and on television, previews show coming attractions. Designed to create interest, the previews always show the most dynamic and dramatic parts, such as the chase scenes, love scenes, and fight scenes in the show. The whole point of the previews is to whet our appetites for the upcoming programs.
Someday a big show will come to town, and Jesus will be the star. It will be a worldwide performance, and the cast will be sensational. But until then, He has left previews of coming attractions in the world. He has left His church to provide clips of the major production that is to come.
Unfortunately, some of the clips are so bad that people have little interest in attending the major performance. The church has been so weak in demonstrating the power and wonder of the main feature that fewer and fewer people have interest in it.
It is time for God's people-the church-to start showing previews that are worth watching: previews to the world that will prompt the questions, "Where can I buy a ticket for the show?" Then we can respond, "No purchase is necessary. We are giving the tickets away. The price has already been paid."

Results of Tract Ministry
A man was giving out gospel tracts on a steamer. One gentleman whom he approached accepted a tract graciously but said, "I haven't much faith in that kind of work." The Christian worker replied, "It was through a gospel tract given to me twenty years ago that I was converted." Asking for particulars, the gentleman discovered that it was he who had given him the tract! He had ceased to do this because he saw so few results from his efforts. He added, "But by the grace of God I shall start again." A Fisherman
During the first and second centuries, the symbol of Christianity was the fish. A present-day Christian decided that a fishhook would be the proper emblem for a soul-winner to use for winning people to Christ, so he had a little golden fishhook made to be worn on the lapel of his coat. When people asked him what it meant, he told them that he was a fisher of men. A little newsboy from whom he bought a paper one day said to him, "Mister, do you belong to a fishing club?" "Yes, I do," said the Christian, "and I think fishing is pretty nice, don't you?" "Oh yes," the little fellow replied, "Do you ever catch any big ones?" "I have caught 250 pounders," replied the man. "Go on!" said the lad incredulously. "Yes," said the Christian, "I have caught a 250-pound fish." "Those sure are big," marveled the boy. Then leaning over, the Christian said, "Sonny, to tell you the truth, I would rather catch small fish than big ones." He exclaimed. "No!" "Yes, about your size." The little boy looked down at himself as if he were thinking, "I am not so small." Then the Christian told him that he was a fisher of men, seeking to win souls, and that if he would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ he would be saved. The newsboy took him at his word and came to Christ. Here was a fisherman for Christ who used a gold fishhook on his lapel to catch souls with. You may have some other kind of hook. It makes no difference as long as you catch fish. The Convincing Witness
A man traveling along a dark road one stormy night met a man coming from the opposite direction who said to him in a hesitant manner, "I think maybe the bridge is out. At least I heard something to that effect." The traveler was not impressed and decided to proceed. A little farther on a man came rushing out of the dark to him and said, "Stop! Don't go any farther. The bridge is out!" So passionately convincing were his tones that the traveler turned back, and his life was saved. That is how we are to witness, with passion and conviction.

Thank You, John
When John Broadus was sixteen he accepted Christ as his Savior and at once began to introduce others to his new-found Friend. His first convert was a school friend. These two lived most of their lives in the same city, Broadus a professor in the university, the other a truck-driver. Broadus said that whenever they met during all those years his friend touched his cap as they passed and said, "Thank you, John, thank you." "I know just what he will say when I meet him coming down the golden street of heaven," said Broadus. "It will be just what he said this morning, 'Thank you, John, thank you.' " A Witness Who Came Too Late
Far up the Amazon River, a Baptist missionary was using a flannelgraph to aid her in telling a group of school children about Jesus. As she talked, an elderly man with stooped shoulders and gray hair joined the children. He listened with rapt attention as the missionary told the story of God's grace as it is revealed in Christ. After the children were dismissed, the old man came up to the missionary with this question: "May I ask, Madam, if this interesting and intriguing story is true?" "Of course," the missionary said, "it is in the Word of God." With countenance and voice revealing his doubt, the old gentleman said, "This is the first time in my life that I have ever heard that one must give his life to Jesus to have forgiveness from sin and to have life with God forever." Then with a note of finality he concluded, "This story cannot be true or else someone would have come before now to tell it. I am an old man. My parents lived their lives and died without ever having heard this message. It cannot be true or someone would have come sooner." Although she tried hard, the missionary could not convince the old gentleman of this truth from God's Word. Turning to make his way back into the darkness of the jungle and the darkness of sin, he kept repeating the words, "It cannot be true; it cannot be true, or someone would have come sooner." The Christian's Walk
St. Francis said one day to one of the young monks, "Let us go down into the town and preach." They passed through the streets and returned to the monastery without having said a word. "You have forgotten, father," said the young man, "that we went down to the town to preach." "My son," Francis replied, "we have preached. We were preaching as we walked. We have been seen by many: our behavior has been noticed; it was thus that we preached. It is no use, my son, to walk anywhere to preach unless we preach everywhere as we walk." "Wherefore, seeing we are compassed about by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us play our part nobly, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:1). Not Ashamed of Christ
A young man got up to give his testimony for Christ in an open air meeting. Not being accustomed to speaking in public, he stammered a good deal at first. An atheist who came by shouted at him, "You ought to be ashamed of yourself standing and talking like that!" "You're right," the young man replied. "I am ashamed of myself, but I'm not ashamed of Christ."

Dedicated Soul-Winner
Melvin Harper is manager of an eight-thousand-acre buckeye ranch and rice farm near Bay City, Texas. "Lord, send me cowboys who aren't Christians," is his daily prayer. Why? Because encouraging cowboys and youngsters to live for Christ is a kind of divine calling for the man who was the nation's top bronco buster and steer rider for more than ten years. Through the personal interest of a pastor who began visiting Harper at the ranch so he could learn to ride and handle cattle, the veteran rodeo performer started attending church regularly and finally made his decision for Christ. Soon he began teaching a class of boys, but he doubts that he was doing much witnessing for Christ.
A new pastor came to the church, so one day the rugged ranch manager went by to see him. Their conversation soon turned to religion. Melvin asked his new pastor, "Do you believe in the Lord?" After receiving a quick and affirmative answer, Melvin continued, "Then if me and you prayed to God, believed in Christ, and asked for something, would we get it?" The prayer that followed is one which Pastor Eaves will never forget. Melvin and his pastor prayed that God would let him become a soul-winner.
Melvin didn't sleep much that night. At four o'clock in the morning he was fully dressed and on his way to the home of a lost friend. He arrived before daylight and prayed as he waited in a pick-up truck for the lights to come on in the house. The friend was won to Christ; that was only the beginning. Melvin's pastor estimates that he has already won more than fifty people to the Lord. Five cowboys at the ranch have become Christians, and in his Sunday school class of thirteen-year-old boys, twenty-four have accepted Christ in one year.
When asked about the greatest thrill of his life, Melvin told about the year when he was the only rider to stay mounted on the nation's wildest and best bucking rodeo horse in Madison Square Garden and in Houston. "But," said Melvin, "this kind of thrill doesn't compare with winning a boy, his parents, and a cowhand to Christ." A Responsible Position
A young man, a skilled mechanic, was driving a visiting clergyman from his home town, fifty miles across the country, to another city. En route, they passed a huge factory consisting of perhaps twenty buildings scattered over several hundred acres. "Do you see that red brick building over there behind this gray stone one?" the mechanic asked. "I work on the second floor on the south side. There are seventy-four of us in that department, and as far as I know, I am the only one in all that crowd who ever goes to church or tries to live a Christian life. Sometimes I have to remind myself that, as far as that department is concerned, I am all there is of the Christian Church. If I don't do good work, then the Church has failed as far as those men are concerned. If I can't be relied upon, then the Church is undependable. If I am careless, then some poor unfortunate soul may have to pay for the Church's carelessness. It is pretty serious business being the Church in the midst of seventy-four other people."

Win Them One by One
When Paul went to Rome, every morning a new soldier of the Praetorian guard was chained to him, until each Praetorian guardsman had Paul under his custody. People might have said, "What a pity that a powerful preacher like Paul should have an audience of only one man a day, and a different one every day at that." But Paul could say, "God has enabled me to preach the gospel to the whole Praetorian guard." Who knows how much the conversion of pagans in Rome may be attributed to Paul's being chained to the soldiers of the Praetorian guard?

Joy of a Soul-Winner
Charles H. Spurgeon said, "Even if I were utterly selfish and had no care for anything but my own happiness, I would choose if I might, under God, to be a soul winner; for never did I know perfect, overflowing, unutterable happiness of the purest and most ennobling order till I first heard of one who had sought and found the Savior through my means.

Fishing for Men
In the business of fishing for men, it is not one's skill or fine equipment that produces results; it is the power of the Holy Spirit. A fisherman who had all the equipment that the best sporting goods store could sell him was having no success. Seeing a country lad with a stick and a bent pin for a hook, he smiled condescendingly, then did a double take. On the bank beside the boy lay a fine string of trout. "How is it that I can't catch any?" the man inquired. "Because you don't keep yourself out of sight," the boy replied. That's the secret of fishing for men as well as trout. Preach Christ and Him crucified, and send the people away talking about Him instead of praising you.

Common Sense in Witnessing
The man who charges up to a perfect stranger and demands, "Are you saved?" may indeed be zealous for the Lord, but he shows very little understanding or love for his fellowman. His tactless approach indicates that he has no real interest in the man as a person, but only as a potential candidate for conversion, an object to witness to. Common sense is essential even in witnessing. Remember this. You should witness not for the sake of witnessing but for the purpose of winning souls to Christ. As a fisher of men you must exercise judgment in casting the net. Or, to change the simile, you must hold your fire until you see the target. Firing your rifle into the air will not accomplish anything. Let this be the judgment you exercise as a steward of the higher truths of life.

Two Lights Are Shining Now
A woman who came to know Christ as her Savior returned home full of joy-the unique gladness that overflows the heart of a repentant sinner. After a few weeks, she expressed a desire to leave the community in which she lived because it was so sinful. When her pastor heard this, he said with some severity, "How would you like it if the city removed all the lights from the dirty, dangerous streets and left lights only in the good neighborhoods where no crimes are committed? Didn't Christ say, 'Ye are the light of the world'?" (Matthew 5:14). The woman accepted the rebuke, and some time later said to her pastor, "Now there are two lights that shine in our street." She had led a soul to Christ. The Reason for Happiness
In one of his books, Archdeacon Wilson tells a significant story. Some of the best and ablest of the students at a women's Christian college started a class to teach the poorest men in a neglected suburb. They were fired by the noblest impulse-to give themselves to work for their unfortunate brothers. After some months of teaching elementary subjects, they asked the men whether there was anything in particular they wanted to hear more about. There was silence, and then a low whisper was heard from among them. One of the women went up to find out who had spoken. "What was it you wished especially to hear about?" she asked. "Could you tell us something about the Lord Jesus Christ?" asked one of the men. These men, as they looked upon these college students, did not covet their money, their education or their social position, but longed for that which made them what they were, Jesus Christ. This is what the world should be impelled to crave as they look upon us-not the things about us, or the lack of them, as the cause of our happiness-but rather the Lord Jesus Christ.

What Will Hell Be Like?
There was an old Scotch preacher who was passing a glass factory just before going to church to preach. As a door was ajar, and it was some time till the service, he stepped inside. One of the large furnaces had just been opened. He gazed into the white, blue, and purple mass of liquid flame until it nearly seared his face. As he turned away unaware of anyone being present, he exclaimed, "Oh, man, what will hell be like!" A stoker standing in the shadow heard him. Several nights later at the church a man came up to him. "You don't know me, but the other night when you stepped into the furnace room I heard what you said. Every time I have opened that furnace since then, the words have rung in my mind, 'What will hell be like!' I have come tonight to find out the way of salvation so that I will not have to find out what hell is like." God grant that our witness may lead many others to do the same.

Luminous Christians
The best argument for Christianity is a consistent Christian life. There is no argument against the silent eloquence of holiness. Actually, a lighthouse building would be dangerous but for the light it sheds abroad, and so it is with us. We may be lighthouses without light. Ships can break themselves on the rock. It is not merely what we say, or what we do, but what we are that matters. That is the witness that is convincing. The greatest thing about us is often our unconscious influence. 2 Corinthians 4:11 says, "that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." "Manifest" is a word meaning "brilliantly seen." We accomplish more by our radiations than by our exhortations. May God make us luminous Christians. That's what the light of Christ does for us. Have you ever put a candle within an alabaster or onyx vase? This is commonly done in Egypt. When a light is put inside, the whole thing becomes luminous. That's exactly what happens when Jesus Christ comes into our hearts. We become bright, luminous. Other people can find their way to God through the light we shed abroad.

Outspoken Witness
Dwight L. Moody once saw a man freezing to death on the street in Chicago. Moody could not just talk this man into warmth. He pounded him with his fist and got him really angry. The man began to pound back and then got up and ran after Moody. That got his blood circulating and saved his life. Our loud and outspoken witnessing may make people angry, but at least it may awaken them from their spiritual stupor.

Facing Death with Courage
Even today, in this so-called advanced state of civilization, we hear of brave soldiers of the cross who lay their lives on the line when they bear a fearless testimony for Christ. Dear personal friends of mine, Costas Makris and his wife Alki, were Greek missionaries to Indonesia. As Costas labored in the jungles, more and more natives were converted and then baptized. The chief became so disturbed about his people turning to Christ, especially the young people, that he decided to do away with Costas. He lined up his spearmen in front of this dedicated young missionary. In the distance Costas' wife and three small sons stood watching their husband and father about to be executed for the cause of Christ. How would you feel in their place? But the face of this missionary shone with a heavenly glory that puzzled these savage people. How could a man face death with a smile? Of course, his wife and many others must have been praying. As the men lifted their spears for the kill, the chief called out "Stop!" He walked up to Costas, embraced him, and told him that a man who could face death with such courage and with such a smile on his face had something that they themselves needed. The World Needs Light
Exactly what does the Lord mean by "mourning," as we find it in the second Beatitude? (Matthew 5:4) It is not just shedding tears or inflicting physical harm on ourselves. Church history tells us of a group of men called the Anchorites who lived in the fourth century. They dwelt in solitude, fasted, and injured their bodies. The nearer they could bring themselves to the level of the animals the better pleased they were. One sect of Anchorites actually grazed with the common herds in the fields of Mesopotamia, and they were hence called boskoi, or "shepherds." They acquired a great reputation for holiness because of their mournful attitude toward life. One of the most famous of these monks was Simeon Stylites (395-451a.d.), so called from his standing for years on the top of a column sixty feet high until his muscles became rigid. Some of these hermits hung weights on their bodies; others kept themselves in cages; all endeavored to make themselves holy through being miserable. The motive of many of these men may have been truly honorable, a desire to escape from the vices of the great cities. But the greater the corruption of society, the more need for holy men and women to live in that society. The world can only become darker by the withdrawing of its lights and more corrupt through the removing of the salt scattered over it.

Opportunities
A businessman on his way to prayer meeting saw a stranger looking in the door of the church. He invited him to come inside with him. "All right," said the stranger. That was the beginning of a Christian life for him and his family. He afterward told the man who invited him, "I lived in the city for seven years before I met you. No one had ever asked me to go to church. I wasn't here three days before the grocer, the dairy man, the insurance man, and the politician called on me. You are the first one to invite me to church." And it took seven years! Don't wait to pick and choose among the souls of men, but consider anybody you meet as God's field for you to work in.

There Is More!
A young man on a visit to Washington went into the National Museum. On one of the cabinets was a label with these words: "The body of a man weighing 154 pounds." "Where is the man?" asked the young man. No one answered him. In the cabinet were two jars of water, along with other jars containing phosphate of lime, carbonate of lime, potassium, sodium, and other chemicals. Another section held a row of clear glass jars filled with gases-hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. The materials in those cabinets were shown in the exact proportions combined in an ordinary man. After looking at the assortment for some time in silence, the young man said, "And that is what I am made of? That is all that goes to make me?" "That is all," said a bystander smiling, and walked on. But the young man did not smile. "If that is all that is needed," said he, "so much lime, so much gas, so much water, we should be exactly alike." There is something more which they cannot put into cabinets. God made us body, soul, and spirit. The soul and spirit cannot be put into bottles.

It Takes Only One
There is an inscription on a highway plaque in a small Minnesota town which reads, "On September 1, 1894, a forest fire swept over this area and 450 people lost their lives." As a person reads this sign, he cannot help asking himself, "What do you suppose started that fire?" Along the highways throughout our national forests we see signs urging tourists to be careful with fires. Each has a stern warning that a single match carelessly thrown away can start a conflagration. One match seems insignificant, but think of its tremendous potential. One Christian can be a radiant witness for his Master if he will only resolve to do so and dedicate his life to soul-winning.

God's "Helper"
Let us remember that wisdom never imposes itself, but it woos the hearts of others. It is true that we are anxious to help God accomplish His work in the hearts of people, but sometimes we are like the little girl who, after being out for a while, was asked by her mother where she had been. She said, "In the garden, Mother." "What were you doing in the garden?" "I was helping God," the child replied. She explained that she had found a rose almost blossomed and had "blossomed" it. She had only ruined the rose.