August 4
Nineteenth century evangelist William Taylor tells the story of a prisoner awaiting his execution. Various Christians visited him in his death row cell, but all they said seemed only to make him harder and more resistent to the gospel. Then, writes Taylor, the townspeople requested a man “known of all men for his holiness and tenderness and wisdom in the winning of souls” to visit the criminal. Entering the cell, he sat down beside the prisoner, who knew him well by reputation, and simply recounted the story of the cross. When he had finished it, he turned, laid his hands on the criminal’s...
Read MoreAugust 3
“We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14). The word forgiveness in its primary sense means to send away or to abandon. Forgiveness is agreeing to pay the damages done by another, and then never bringing up the account again—sending them away, much like the scapegoat, the azazel. As far as God is concerned, our sins are out of sight (Micah 7:19), out of reach (Ps 103:12), and out of mind (Heb 10:17). This is the forgiveness we should practice with others. As the Lord said, “When you stand praying, forgive, if you have ought against any; that your Father also...
Read MoreAugust 2
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Mt 6:6). It’s getting harder all the time to find a quiet place and time to pray. Part of Satan’s scheme to keep us powerless in evangelism is to keep us prayerless in private. It’s almost as difficult as finding a public pay phone, but Vance Havner finds one in a story he liked to tell. He says, “A man in an unlighted telephone booth fumbled with the pages of the directory. A passerby saw his plight and...
Read MoreAugust 1
“All power is given to Me in heaven and earth” (Mt 28:18). The word power (exousia) is also translated authority, right, liberty, jurisdiction, and strength. It includes the ideas of the liberty of doing as one pleases; physical and mental power; influence and privilege; the power of government, of judicial decisions and the authority to manage affairs. This is the One who sends us forth. He proved His power over winds and waves, over demons and death, over friend and foe. And yet He is described by the words, “the meekness and gentleness of Christ” (2 Cor 10:1). H. L. Hastings writes: “An...
Read MoreJuly 31
“…sinners, of whom I am chief” (1 Tim 1:15). We were preaching at 6 a.m., in Exeter, England, near the castle. A young woman was passing by and just heard the sentence, “The greatest sinner in Exeter is welcome to the Lord Jesus Christ.” It was a message from God to her soul. She went home, knelt by her bed, and sobbed out, “Lord, I’m the greatest sinner in Exeter! Am I welcome to You?” Some months after, a Christian friend was asked to see a dying woman. He expected to find someone about to pass into eternity without hope. He was surprised to see a face radiant with heavenly peace. “What...
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