March 18

So will I save you, and ye shall he a blessing. - Zechariah 8:13.

CHRISTIANS do not go to heaven alone. The subjects of divine grace, as they wish to be useful, and endeavour to be useful, so they are honoured in being made useful. They are made useful by their prayers, by their example, by their influence, and by their exertions. Thus it was with David. “Restore unto me,” said he, “the joys of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free Spirit, then will I teach transgressors thy ways and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” But he was a musician, a poet, a monarch; he had large resources, he could serve his generation according to the will of God. And so too can all who are willing and disposed.

There is no situation, however inconsiderable and obscure, but contains in it efficiencies, if we will but employ them. A brother may bring a brother to Christ, as Andrew brought Peter. A friend may bring a friend to Christ, as Philip brought Nathaniel. A neighbour may bring a neighbour to Christ, as the woman Sychar did the Samaritan. Masters and mistresses may instruct their servants. Many a servant has said, “Blessed be God that ever I entered such a family; I was then ignorant as a heathen; then my feet were turned into the paths of peace.” And what a revolution was produced in the family of Naaman, and in all Syria, by a little girl that was taken captive in war, who availed herself of a favourable opportunity, while dressing her mistress’s hair, to talk about the prophet of God in Israel.

Thus we see how and why some are blessed-that they may be blessings to others.