October 31
“Unless a kernel of wheat fall in the ground and die, it abides alone; but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit” (Jn 12:24). Undoubtedly, primarily the reference is to our Lord as that kernel of wheat. He originally abode alone in transcendent majesty, seated at the throne of God. By His word the heavens were created, the earth was fashioned, man was formed. Then a great tragedy happened. Man fell, and the earth became a wilderness. Now comes the problem: Is this world to be a wilderness forever or again to become fruitful? If He abode alone, there would be no fruit. If He died, this world...
Read MoreOctober 30
“Holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ” (Php 2:16). C.T. Studd, who turned his back on a promising career in England to give his life to worldwide missions, wrote of his early life: “Instead of going and telling others of the love of Christ, I was selfish and kept the knowledge all to myself. The result was that gradually my love began to grow cold, the love of the world came in.” But as God got a grip on his heart, he would say: “Christ calls us to save the lost, not the stiff-necked; He came not to call scoffers but sinners to repentance; not to build...
Read MoreOctober 29
“If our gospel is hid, it is hid to those who are lost” (2 Cor 4:3). Procrastination is very often a main reason why we don’t evangelize as we should. Urgent things push out important things. If we delay for months or years, then tell someone that they are in danger of hell fire, they might well ask, “You’ve known this all the time you’ve known me, and you never told me? What kind of a friend are you?” This is a situation that must be corrected and demands a good dose of honesty. Something like, “There is something very important to me that I should have told you before. But I was afraid of...
Read MoreOctober 28
Tommy Rowden had just been gloriously saved and couldn’t wait to tell his friends during coffee break at the plant where he worked. But the in-house infidel was quick to retort, “You can’t believe the Bible! It’s full of mistakes.” “For instance?” “Like, where did Cain get his wife?” Tommy hadn’t heard that one, but said he’d look for the answer. The next day in the break room, the infidel was quick to ask, “So did you find the answer?” “Yup,” said Tommy. “It’s right there in the Bible.” “It is?” “That’s your problem; you’ve got to read the Bible.” “So what’s the answer.” “You know how God...
Read MoreOctober 27
There is great irony in the notion that salvation means “giving your life to Christ.” Sinners are dead and have no life to give; it is Christ who gives His life to us. Note four precious New Testament phrases that remind us of God’s four bank accounts from which He pours out His resources to us, the unworthy recipients: “the riches of His goodness” (Rom 2:4) that are designed to lead sin-weary seekers to repentance; “the riches of His wisdom” (Rom 11:33) that remind us only God could have conceived and accomplished the marvelous plan of redemption; “the riches of His grace” (Eph 1:7) that...
Read MoreOctober 26
Johnny Wagner fled from a drunken father and an abusive stepmother when only eight. He was drinking by age eleven and, apart from a stint overseas with the 132nd Infantry, Johnny spent most of his life begging money for liquor on Chicago’s Skid Row. He was well known to the police and a frequent occupant of the drunk tank. Finally, sick and tired of being sick and tired, he staggered into a Madison Street mission. Through the fog of his abused mind, the light of the gospel shone in. That night Johnny prayed, “Jesus? You here? I’m on the level. Come on in and clean me up, please. I’m dirty...
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