74 Sermon Illustrations on Christian

"It's time we stopped staring up the steps and started steadily stepping up the stairs!"

Heard from Wilbert W. Welch, Chancellor of the Grand Rapids Baptist College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, in a sermon at Stevens Point, WI (1987)

A father was one day

teaching his little boy what a Christian should be like.

When the lesson was finished, the father got a question that he never

forgot:

"Father, asked the boy, "Have I ever seen one?"

This is the making of a true Christian: a firm resolve in heart

and soul to follow God's will whatever the cost. We are not

looking for a cheap religion and God is not looking for paper

saints.

- W. A. Criswell

In the early days of slavery in North America, a plantation visitor

in the deep south was watching a group of slaves while they were

loading heavy bales on a wagon. One of them stood out above his

fellows head erect, shoulders back and unbowed under the whip-lashes

of the overseer, and walking, with a strong gait. The visitor inquired

about this man, and his host replied: "He is the son of an African

king, and he never forgets it." The Christian is the son and heir of

God almighty, Let us never forget it, and live accordingly. --The

Pilgrim

In a manufacturing town in Scotland, a young lady began teaching a

Sunday school class of poverty-stricken boys. The most unpromising

youngster was a boy named Bob. After the first two or three Sundays,

he did not return. So the teacher went to look for him. Although the

superintendent had given Bob some new clothes, they were already worn

and dirty when the teacher found him. He was given another new suit,

and he came back to Sunday school. But soon he quit again, and the

teacher went out once more to find him. When she did, she discovered

that the second set of clothes had gone the way of the first. "I am

completely discouraged about Bob," she told the superintendent. "I

guess we must give up on him." "Please don't do that," he pleaded. "I

believe there is still hope. Try him one more time." They gave Bob a

third suit of clothes, and this time he began to attend faithfully.

It wasn't long until he became a Christian and eventually even taught

in that same Sunday school. Who was that obstinate, ragged boy who

for a time seemed so unreachable? None other than Robert Morrison,

who later became the first Protestant missionary to China. He

translated the Bible into Chinese and brought the Word of God to

teeming millions.

So discouraged pastor, Sunday school teacher, youth worker, give

that disappointing person one more chance.

My Source:

WORDS OF LIFE Volume 4, Number 50 December 13, 1998

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Author: Churck Pearson

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ARE THERE CHRISTIANS IN DENOMINATIONS?

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned" (John 15:5-6). "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 John 2:3-6).

There is a very prominent, well vocalized opinion being advocated within the church of our Lord today. This opinion is that there are Christians out there among and within the denominations. Coupled with this idea is the idea that the Lord's church is nothing more than a denomination itself--a sect of "Christendom," if you will (which, if true, would be perfectly consistent with the first proposition). Sayings and slogans like "Christians only, but not the only Christians," and sectarian labels such as "our movement," or "our heritage" to describe the body of Christ further emphasize this concept. The idea is that the church of Christ is not a distinct, exclusive body which belongs to Christ, and that there are others outside of this body who are yet saved and are somehow a part of an ambiguous "mega-church" (the "church universal" which is confusingly made up of a conglomeration of diverse sects and denominations).

For many years, the faithful within Christ's church have asserted (truthfully) that the above assumption is false, and that there is only ONE true church (non-sectarian and undivided) which encompasses ALL of the saved (i.e., the church of Christ). Still, some brethren have thrown in with their denominational neighbors (with whom they wish to have Christian fellowship) and claim that there are Christians who are not a part of the church, and who have no need to be brought out of their denominational error in order to be saved and fellowshipped. We now ask the question: Is this possible? Can it be true that there are men and women who have obeyed the gospel of Christ, but who are within the circles of denominations (and more importantly, are in a saved state within those circles)? As with all other matters pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), God's word will give us a definitive answer.

First, we need to examine an important issue: How does one become a Christian? The Bible is crystal clear on this point, and most brethren would probably agree on it! A man or woman becomes a Christian by first hearing the gospel message proclaimed (Acts 15:7; Romans 10:17). This leads to believing, or coming to have faith in Christ and His word (Mk 16:15-16; Acts 16:31). One must then repent of past sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30). There must be confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Mt 10:32-33; Acts 8:37). Finally, the person must be baptized (immersed) in water for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16).

Second of all, where does baptism place the new believer? We understand from scripture that a person is not saved until he or she is baptized (1 Peter 3:21). Baptism places one into Christ (Galatians 3:27). So then, baptism is the culminating factor in becoming a Christian! A person becomes a Christian only after he or she is baptized into Christ. We also see that baptism places one into the church. Remember that being baptized is necessary in order to be saved. The Bible tells us that "the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). The new, saved, baptized believer (i.e., Christian) is added to the church by God. Therefore, being saved (or being a Christian--see Acts 11:26) and being in the church are one and the same!

So let us make some application so far: A person must be baptized in order to become a Christian, and such places him or her into the church. Therefore, we can assert that a person who has not been baptized is not a Christian, and is not a part of the church!

This makes our task a little easier. We can now clearly argue that there can be no Christians in denominations which do not baptize (immerse) for the remission of sins. This rules out most mainline denominational groups, including Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Episcopalian, and other Calvinist/Wesleyan-based groups. These denominations practice infant baptism. Infants are sprinkled, not immersed. Furthermore, infants cannot be baptized for the remission of sins, since infants are without sin. Even if they were guilty of sin, infants could not obey the gospel, for they cannot believe, repent, and confess. People in these denominational groups are therefore not Christians, and not members of the church (despite claims of such people being "pious immersed"--by New Testament standards, there is no such thing). This also rules out denominations such as Baptists. These people immerse, but do so because they believe candidates for baptism are already saved! The scriptures teach otherwise. Therefore, a Baptist baptism is not "for remission of sins." A person so baptized has not had their sins washed away (Acts 22:16), and has not been saved.

But what about denominations which do baptize (immerse) for the remission of sins? Groups like the Disciples of Christ, the Independent Christian Church, and even Mormons practice this! The question which needs to be answered here is INTO WHAT BODY (OR CHURCH) ARE PEOPLE IN THESE GROUPS BEING BAPTIZED? Are these people being baptized into Christ, and are therefore being added to his church?

If there was such a thing as the "church universal" as people propose (a Christian church made up of a bunch of denominations), then it is quite feasible that a denominational baptism could put one into Christ. However, THE CHURCH OF OUR LORD IS NOT DIVIDED INTO SECTS! There is only "one body" (Ephesians 4:4). Likewise, the scriptures tell us that there is only "one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5). This ONE BAPTISM (an immersion in water for the remission of sins) places one into the ONE BODY. A denominational immersion can only place a person into that denomination not into Christ! It doesn't matter if that person has somehow heard the gospel, believed, repented, and confessed Christ (quite honestly, I don't see how a person could do this within a denomination--a denominational preacher who proclaimed the gospel of Christ, in theory, would leave his denomination so that he could obey what he is preaching). Presbyterian seed produces Presbyterians. Baptist seed produces Baptists. Christian seed (i.e., the gospel of Christ) produces Christians! "For every tree is known by his own fruit" (Luke 6:44).

There are many good, moral people within denominations. I was raised in the Presbyterian church. I know this for a fact. However, THEY ARE NOT CHRISTIANS! The Bible describes Cornelius as "a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always" (Acts 10:2). But Cornelius was not saved in his current state! Else why would Peter have had to come to his house and proclaim the gospel--after which Cornelius was baptized and did become a Christian (Acts 10:48)? Or in my own case, if I was saved in my former state of being a Presbyterian, why should I have gone to the trouble of obeying the gospel at age 23? A person may be a fine citizen, who loves his or her family, follows many of the Bible commandments, and goes to a denominational church faithfully, but THEY HAVE NOT OBEYED CHRIST AND ARE NOT CLEANSED BY HIS BLOOD! Unless such people learn and obey the truth, and become members of Christ's church, they will perish in their sins (Luke 13:3)! Salvation is only through Christ (John 14:6), not through a denominational group! He is the vine (John 15:5). We can become His branches if we abide in Him and bear good fruit! One cannot abide in Christ and bear fruit if one is outside of Christ--such are "cast forth" (John 15:6). One cannot obey the truth and abide in denominational error. Jesus said, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32).

"There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty." --Proverbs 11:24

The Dead Sea died of stinginess. Year after year it has received and not given. It has an inlet but no outlet. Likewise, the person who takes in what others offer spiritually but never gives anything out will become lifeless.

A student went to a professor and complained that he wasn't making progress in his studies. He then asked if he should find a tutor. "Get a tutor?" responded the wise professor. "What you need is a pupil!"

The author of the letter to the Hebrews scolded the readers because instead of being teachers they were like babies, still drinking spiritual milk (Heb. 5:12). Jesus, however, taught that we are to be generous in giving service to others (Lk. 6:30-38).

A man once said to me, "I never could get much out of the Bible until I began teaching a Sunday school class. Then I gave out the Word instead of just taking it in." There is no better way to learn than by teaching others. How much do you give out after taking in? Study the Word, not only for personal blessing and profit but for sharing.

Why is the Dead Sea dead? It keeps taking in but never gives out. Don't make the same mistake. Tell someone today what you are learning. Share the blessing and be blessed yourself. --M. R. De Haan, M.D. (founder of RBC Ministries)

Is your life a channel of blessing?

Is the love of God flowing through you?

Are you telling the lost of the Savior?

Are you ready His service to do? --Smyth

When you give help to another, you get a blessing in return.

Bearing His Name

A. Introduction

1. One of my memories from my teen-age years is the summers that I spent working at Colgate-Palmolive, the factory where my dad worked, and specifically, hearing dad ask my boss, “How’s the lad doing?” Now as a parent, I have been in a similar position with at least four of my children having worked for the same company as I. And my first question of their boss, has always been, “Well, how’s she doing? or, how’s he doing?” When Carlos and Nicole got back from Brooklyn, my question was, “How’s Andrew doing?” I am sure that anyone here who is a parent, whose children have gone out to work can identify with me.

2. The reason is, of course, that our children bear our name. What they do reflects not only on their reputation but ours. Our honour is affected by their performance.

3. So likewise, what we do is often governed by the name we bear. “How would my parents feel about this?” “Is this honouring the family name?”

B. What Name do we Bear?

1. Well, of course we bear our family name. Even the married ladies who may have discontinued using it — and they also may bear their husband’s name. So this gives us pause when we desire to do something.

2. But the people of God, also bear His name. In the Old Testament they bore the name of Jehovah — in fact may of their proper names incorporated the shortened form of that name, “Yah or Jah,” as in Isaiah, Hezekiah, Elijah, and so on.

3. In the New Testament, in Acts 11:26 we read “… the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” So believers bear the name of the Christ, the Messiah.

C. Is the Name borne Well?

1. God said to Moses in Exodus 9:16; (NAS): “But, indeed, for this cause I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power, and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth.”

2. and God cared how His people bore His name. For example, He had commanded that every seventh year should be a year of jubilee, with those serving because of their debts were to be let go free. But God’s people disobeyed and God said to them in Jeremiah 34:16; (NAS): “Yet you turned and profaned My name, and each man took back his male servant and each man his female servant, whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them into subjection to be your male servants and female servants.”

3. so how His people act affects God’s reputation: so God delights in being able to say to the adversary, as in Job 1:8, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”

4. so let us bear God’s name, the name of Christ, well, keeping in mind the admonition in 2 Timothy 2:19; (NAS): “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness.’”

Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:14, 15).

Another common misconception of the spiritual world is that demonic influence is only evident in extreme or violent behavior and gross sin. Most Christians suffering from demonic activity lead relatively normal lives while experiencing serious personal and interpersonal problems for which no cause or solution has been found. Since they relegate satanic involvement only to mass murderers or violent sex criminals, these ordinary problem-plagued individuals wonder what’s wrong with them and why they can’t just “do better.”

Satan’s first and foremost strategy is deception. It is not the few raving demoniacs who are causing the church to be ineffective, but Satan’s subtle deception and intrusion into the lives of “normal” believers. One Christian psychotherapist who attended my conference on spiritual conflicts and counseling said, “I discovered that two-thirds of my clients were having problems because they were being deceived by Satan — and so was I!”

A final misconception that must be dispelled is that freedom from spiritual bondage is the result of a power encounter with demonic forces. Freedom from spiritual conflicts and bondage is not a power encounter; it’s a truth encounter. Satan is a deceiver, and he will work undercover at all costs. But the truth of God’s Word exposes him and his lie. His demons are like cockroaches that scurry for the shadows when the light comes on. Satan’s power is in the lie, and when his lie is exposed by the truth, his plans are foiled.

When God first disciplined the early church in Acts 5, He did so in a dramatic way. Peter confronted Ananias and Sapphira: “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?” (verse 3). God wanted the church to know that Satan the deceiver can ruin us if he can get us to believe and live a lie. If I could infiltrate a church, a committee, or a person undetected, and deceive them into believing a lie, I could control their lives! That’s exactly what Satan is doing, and his lie is the focus of the battle.

Lord, enable me to stay alert to the enemy’s wiles and arm myself with Your truth.

I remember a certain narrow and crooked lane in a certain country town, along which I was walking one day, while I was seeking the Savior. All of a sudden the most fearful oaths that any of you can conceive rushed through my mind. I put my hand to my mouth to prevent the utterance. I had not, that I know of, ever heard these words; and I am certain that I had never used in my life, from my youth up, so much as one of them, for I had never been profane. But these things sorely beset me; for half an hour together the most fearful imprecations would dash through my brain. Oh, how I groaned and cried before God. That temptation passed away; but ere many days it was renewed again; and when I was in prayer, or when I was reading the Bible, these blasphemous thoughts would pour in upon me more than at any other time. I consulted with an aged godly man about it. He said to me, "Oh, all this many of the people of God have proved before you. "But," said he, "do you hate these thoughts?" "I do," I truly said. "Then," said he, "they are not yours; serve them as the old parishes used to do with vagrants-whip them and send them on to their own parish. Groan over them, repent of them, and send them on to the devil, the father, to whom they belong-for they are not yours." Do you not recollect how John Bunyan illustrates this idea? He says, when Christian was going through the valley of the shadow of death, "There stepped up one to him, and whispered blasphemous thoughts into his ear, so that poor Christian thought they were his own thoughts; but they were not his thoughts at all, but the injections of a blasphemous spirit." So when you are about to lay hold on Christ, Satan will ply all his engines and try to destroy you. He cannot bear to lose one of his slaves; he will invent a fresh temptation for each believer, so that he may not put his trust in Christ."

Are you very impressed with high sounding titles?

If you receive a business card in the course of your employment today, you'll probably find a very important-looking title listed. It seems that the longer the title, the less important the job.

Here are some of these new titles: "Wannabillies" are people who hope to succeed in Nashville. A "Jargonaut" is an editor in cyberspace. An "Abracadabbler" has an avocation in magic. "Redumbants" are employees who stupidly keep making the same mistake. Those who are involved in "Grubterfuge" are definitely finding new ways to sneak snacks. And "Faxcident Specialists" can expertly repair your facsimile machine paper jam. What if every time you handed someone your business card, it read "Christian"? Would the cause of Christ be advanced or set back? The Bible says: "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV. We are the only advertisement Christ has for His life-changing gospel. And regardless of our "very reverend" title, if we are not reflective of his positive characteristics-HE LOOKS BAD!

Remember: Performance can drown out the most impressive of titles.

Reflections

At the 1988 Olympics in Calgary, Dan Jansen was given a good chance to win gold medals in speed-skating. In his best event, the 500 meters, he crashed and fell coming out of the first turn. Later, in the 1,000 meters, skating a gold-medal pace and two-thirds through the event, he caught a skate blade in the ice on a straightway and tumbled into a heap.

Years of discipline, training, and hoping went sprawling on the ice with him. He must have been devastated. But he handled it with such grace. "What's happened in the last week has absolutely put things in a different perspective," Jansen said, "and I don't feel as bad as I would have."

You see, his 27-year old sister had died earlier on the day of his first race. It put his failure to win an Olympic medal in perspective for him. His failure to win an Olympic gold medal in Albertville, France in 1992 spurred him to go for one last attempt for gold at the Lillehammer, Norway Olympic Games in 1994. It was in Lillehammer that Dan's quest for Olympic success was finally realized when he took home the gold medal.

Gold medal or no gold medal, whatever you have done is probably neither as wonderful nor as dreadful as you are tempted to think it is. Someone else can do better. Many others have done worse. God is still on His throne, and life goes on.

-Adapted from an illustration by Rubel Shelly

The world in which we live is quickly approaching a time of divine judgment; a time when the Lord will make that ultimate pronouncement of blessing upon those who have stood with Him, and of condemnation upon those who have stood against Him. As the age-old spiritual battle between good and evil draws ever closer to its preordained climax, it becomes essential that the soldiers of Christ display their banner and declare their loyalty. The world must know whose side we are on!

Joshua was not a spiritual "fence-rider" in the battle for eternal life. He publicly declared his loyalty to the Lord. "And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" (Joshua 24:15).

Like Joshua, we today must let the world know whose side we are on. The world about us is promoting tolerance, and even acceptance, of the homosexual lifestyle and agenda, for example. Whose side are you on? "As for me and my house, WE are on the Lord's side!" The slaughter of unborn babies has reached unprecedented levels. Precious lives are snuffed out with a callous casualness that defies comprehension. Whose side are you on?!

Some things are simply much too important, much too vital to the survival of our godly heritage, not to take a stand. The soldiers of Christ must arise, put their armor on, and fight for Truth.

The tale is told of a soldier during the Civil War who simply could not make up his mind which side of the conflict he supported. Thus, he dressed in a blue coat and gray pants, and walked down the center of the battlefield confident of his approval by both sides...and was immediately shot by both sides! Jesus tells us we can't be "fence riders" when the issues involve matters of eternal consequence. We must choose. "You are either with Me, or against Me," our Lord declares, "but you cannot be both!"

A story is related of an elderly German woman who, as her village was being entered by an American unit during the final days of the second world war, stood in the middle of the street holding a small U.S. flag. Her friends told her she was crazy; she should hide and wait to see who would win. She replied, "I already know who's going to win, and I want them to know which side I'm on!"

Soldiers of Christ, it is time for us to stand bravely before the enemy and declare our loyalty in a loud, clear voice. After all, we're on the winning side!

-Al Maxey The Aloha Spirit

Does the avalanche of media "bad news" drive us to insensitivity?

Twenty-six years ago, after a week of counting the devastation from a cyclone and tidal wave in Pakistan, government officials put the death toll at 150,000.

Granted our memories aren't that great, but if Americans had experienced a catastrophe that had wiped out a third of the state of Wyoming or all of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, they would not have forgotten. Does the constant media bombardment of death and destruction make us devoid of human sympathy?

Perhaps there is a way back to compassion. Jesus once said, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." When he was asked the where and when of those charities, he replied, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:35-40 NIV. So look for a hungry, thirsty, foreign, tattered, or sick person in need. Then treat him or her as you would Jesus Himself.

Remember: If you can't see God in everybody, you have an "image" problem.

Reflections

Can you truthfully say that you are a patient person?

Robert Kearns had to be patient. In 1962, Kearns was tinkering in his shop and in the process invented a phased windshield wiper that was just the ticket for intermittent light rain. You probably enjoy his invention in your car today.

Kearns, a Detroit native, was sure that the "Motor City's" Big Three would be ecstatic over his find. But to his surprise, American cars began appearing on sales floors with his device, without his permission. Gaining no satisfaction from auto executives, in 1978 he decided to take his case to court. Twelve years later, Kearns' patience paid off when a court ruled in his favor to the tune of $10 million (and that was just from one of the Big Three).

A prolonged ordeal is enough to test anyone's patience. However, the Christian enjoys the guarantee that one day God will not only make all things right, but also deliver an eternal payoff. Meanwhile, the Bible suggests that we: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12 NIV. That Big Three is a key to your earthly peace of mind.

Reflections

An incident is related which occurred during Charles Finney's meetings in New York City, and which will illustrate the value of a little tact in the great struggle for souls. The big cutlery firm of Sheffield, England, had a branch house in New York. The manager was a partner of the firm and very worldly. One of his clerks, who had been converted in the meetings, invited his employer to attend. One evening he was there and sat across the aisle from Mr. Arthur Tappan. He appeared affected during the sermon, and Mr. Tappan kept his eye on him. After the dismissal, Mr. Tappan stepped quickly across the aisle, introduced himself, and invited him to stay to the after-service. The gentleman tried to excuse himself and get away, but Mr. Tappan caught hold of the button on his coat and said: "Now, do stay; I know you will enjoy it," and he was so kind and gentlemanly that the cutlery man could not well refuse. He stayed and was led to Christ. Afterwards he said: "An ounce of weight upon my coatbutton saved my soul." More "buttonhole Christians" are needed.

There is a great rage nowadays for large congregations and for prominent work; but do not forget individual souls. Roland Hill used to say that if he had a number of bottles before him, and he were to dash water over them, a drop might go into this one and a drop into that; but he said, "If I take one bottle and pour water into it, I fill it up to the brim." And so it is with individual souls. There is a personality in the application which cannot be estimated if we are speaking face to face in an honest, manly way. Is not this the best way to do Christian work?

A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough today to last him for the next six months; or take sufficient air into his lungs at once to sustain life for a week to come. We must draw upon God's boundless stores of grace from day to day, as we need it.

-D. L. Moody

"Irenaeus," in one of his graceful sketches in the New York Observer, gives a striking account of the conversion of the artist who painted one of the beautiful national pictures that adorns the rotunda of the Capitol at Washington. When he selected his theme he was an utter unbeliever in Christianity. As a subject relating to American history was required, he chose the embarkation of the Pilgrim fathers, without a thought of its religious associations. After outlining his characters as grouped on the deck of the Mayflower, the question arose, why were they there? He saw that they were animated by some principle he could not comprehend. He studied their times, their lives, their deeds, their sacrifices, their plans and hopes; and as he studied the truth gradually stole into his own soul, till he had learned to believe in their God and Savior. He found that the secret spring of all their actions was their religion; that their lives were hidden with Christ in God, and that they could abandon home, country, wealth, for freedom to live for Christ. Not till he became a Christian could he understand their motives or characters, or was he fitted to put his immortal work upon canvas.

Professor Hugh Black, in "Christ's Service of Love," says: "A young Jewish woman who is now a Christian asked a lady who had instructed her in the Gospel to read history with her, 'Because,' said she, 'I have been reading the Gospels and I am puzzled. I want to know when Christians began to be so different from Christ.'"

A poor widow, who was a washerwoman, partly depended for support upon the produce of her garden. In it was a peach tree, the fruit of which was coveted by some boys of the village. Accordingly, one night they entered the garden to rob the tree. The widow had, however, made a timely gathering of her fruit that day. In revenge for their disappointment, the wicked lads turned some swine into the garden, who, by morning, had wrought havoc among the poor woman's vegetables and made her suffer in consequence through the winter. In looking at the desolation, she picked up a knife with a name engraved on the handle. It was the name of a village boy whom she knew, and whom she thus recognized as the cause of her loss. However, nothing was said about the matter. During the ensuing months, a revival took place in the village in question, and among those who became convicted of sin was the owner of the knife. Becoming converted, he obeyed his conscience by going to the widow and confessing the wrong he had done her. Thereupon she told him she had long known it, and showed him his knife. "But why did you not inform the authorities about me, and make me pay the damage?" he asked. "There was a more excellent way," she said; "I took that." "What was it?" asked the lad. "To pray for you, in accordance with the Master's directions." So the widow had her revenge.

"And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples" (Matthew 9:10).

D. L. Moody tells the following interesting ways in which believers in London brought their friends under the sound of the Gospel.

"One of the wealthiest young men in London, the son of the city's leading banker, and a student at Cambridge University, felt that he could not go to the inquiry room to do personal work. So one night he went to a cabman and said: 'I will pay you your regular fee by the hour if you will go in and hear Mr. Moody preach. I will act as cabman, and take care of your horse.'" Upon another occasion Moody asked a man to speak to a certain young man whom he felt was interested in Christ. He was a great Christian manufacturer but confessed, "Mr. Moody, for some reason I just cannot do that kind of witnessing."

"Well, go speak to him for a little while then," urged Moody.

The man did and discovered the younger man wanted to accept Christ, had even confessed Him as Savior, but a strong desire for drink defeated him. "Every payday I stop at the saloon and spend all my earnings," he complained bitterly.

"When do you get paid?" asked the manufacturer.

"Saturday noon," was the reply.

"Then I shall meet you every Saturday noon until with God's help you gain the victory over this sin."

And he did. The great manufacturer and the humble laborer walked home together every payday. They would have dinner, and then spend the rest of the afternoon visiting. Through that fellowship God brought victory over sin to the laborer, and joy for the opportunity to rescue a soul from destruction to the other.

Not all of us can readily talk to others about Christ, but we may be able to render some service that God will bless unto salvation of a precious soul.

"A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man, out of the evil treasure, bringeth forth evil things" (Matthew 12:35).

There is a certain condition of the nervous system termed "aphasia" in which the patient is unable to express his thoughts in speech. The connection between his mind and tongue has been severed. How many Christians are afflicted with this malady? They may think well of Christ, but they never speak for Him.

Such folk are graciously reminded that truth is not man's property, which he may keep to himself; it is confided to him as a steward, and woe to him if he does not utter it, and give it all the breadth of which he and it are capable.

But perhaps the best exhortation any of us can pass on to other believers is that of the Scottish mother who was bidding her preacher-son farewell: "Always have a good word to say for Jesus, laddie, and He will always bless ye." Let our thoughts be of Him, let Him be the Truth we treasure in our hearts, and let Him ever be the theme of our songs, the topic of our conversation.

"Woe unto you ... ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity" (Matthew 23:27, Matthew 23:28)

Some time after World War II you could walk along the much bombed Queen Victoria Street in London and come upon a lovely Georgian doorway which had been left standing. The walls had been blasted or knocked down and carted away as rubble. Only the beautiful mahogany door, standing half open, was left of what was once a prosperous business establishment. Glazed glass doors were visible within, and one could imagine large rooms filled with busy people beyond. But there was nothing beyond-nothing but a huge hole torn up by the enemy's bomb.

That door was a beautiful facade-every promise of something within, but belying that promise with an awful emptiness and ruin.

Perhaps that door without a house is similar to some people we meet. The door is so beautiful. Their words, their looks, and their manners are delightful. We long to walk through the half opened door, and into their minds and heart and be enriched by our friendship with them.

But, alas, we soon discover that the door is all. They have never bothered to develop their spiritual life. Beyond the flashing smile there is boredom and dullness. They put up a good front, but it conceals a horrible hypocrisy and life of iniquity. Jesus says unto all such, "Woe unto you!"

The death of Sir Henry Bessemer called attention to the business career of a man who succeeded in making an immense fortune, and yet did it in a way to bless everybody else in the civilized world. As the result of long and laborious scientific investigation and experiments he came to the conclusion that it was possible to convert iron ore into steel, so that the latter material could be sold at a mere fraction of its then cost. The patents which he took out to cover his invention enabled him for a series of years to obtain a royalty from the use of his apparatus, and meanwhile the price of steel was reduced to about one tenth of its old quotations. While the inventor made a great fortune, he benefited the world many hundreds of millions of dollars a year-a benefit which has been shared, both directly and indirectly, by every person in every civilized country on the earth. The career of this man is a signal illustration of the universal blessing of Christian character. Every person who finds salvation in Jesus Christ and enters into the joy of communion with God, not only enriches his own soul beyond comparison, but enriches everybody else that comes in contact with him. And every sinner whom he can lead into the same blessed experience becomes endowed with spiritual wealth, which also adds to the joy of the one who won him to Christ.