June 21
“What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mk 8:37). Rowland Hill (1744-1833) had preached to large crowds before. Once, it is recorded, he preached to 20,000 at Calton Hill in Edinburgh. On this occasion, the scene is Moorfields Common and he is preaching when the carriage of Lady Ann Erskine approaches. Every eye is drawn away to the new arrival. But the preacher seizes on the situation. “Let us conduct an auction,” he declares. “The article offered is the soul of Lady Ann Erskine, and there are three bidders! The world offers riches, honors and pleasures; the devil offers all the...
Read MoreJune 20
Is it wrong to assert that God died on the Cross? The purpose of the incarnation is carefully explained in these words: “We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Heb 2:9). God “has immortality” (athanasia, “no death,” 1 Tim 6:16) and therefore is impervious to death (the verse is speaking about the Son). The Son must take on humanity to die. “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that...
Read MoreJune 19
I was to be giving a talk on evidence for God at a college in Appleton, Wisconsin. Two atheists near the front were acting as a tag team to dominate the session with their arguments. I wanted to be polite but the time was disappearing. I cried to the Lord to intervene. When they paused momentarily, an American Indian spoke from the back: “My grandfather started abusing me when I was four years old. I fled the home, pregnant, at 14. I began to drink and use drugs to kill the pain. I ended up in prison. Now,” she said to the atheists, “sitting there in my prison cell, what would your...
Read MoreJune 18
Mark Cahill writes: “If it doesn’t matter on the day you die, it doesn’t matter. Will it matter on the day you die if you made a million dollars or owned two houses…? No. Will it matter on the day you die if you knew the Bible better than you knew today’s newspaper? Yes. Will it matter on the day you die if you prayed more than you watched television? Yes. Will it matter on the day you die if you shared your faith with lost sinners? You’d better believe it will. We must, as believers, live lives that have eternal value, not just temporary value. In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus tells us, “Do not lay...
Read MoreJune 17
J.J. Rouse, in Pioneer Work in Canada, tells the story of a man converted in his hometown of Oro, Ontario. He described the man as “a noted character, who for years had been a ringleader in…general mischief. It was in the autumn, and the threshing of the grain was taking place…There would be from 12 to 15 men engaged on a crew to do the work and they deliberately…made all kinds of attacks on their old pal. All this had no effect except to cause our friend to rejoice that he was ‘counted worthy to suffer shame for His name’ (Acts 5:41). But Satan will never give up until resisted by the Word...
Read MoreJune 16
Sometimes younger believers don’t engage in witnessing because older Christians around them haven’t given them a good example. This is often true, but it is still not a good reason to be a dumb priest (see 1 Pet 2:9). If you have no good examples, then be one. Timothy, a young man, was called on to be an example (see 1 Tim 4:12). The best way to learn evangelism is to do it. Memorize some good gospel passages. Practice explaining how to be saved with a Christian friend. Pray for opportunities. Then go with the confidence that the Lord is with you (Mt 28:20), the Spirit has gone before you to...
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