King's Business - 1947-09

beg your pardon, but this is where I get off.” , Smilingly, he returned her Bible. Then he arose, lifted her bag down from the luggage rack, and stepped into the aisle to let her pass. As he handed her bag to her, he reached into his pocket with his free hand and pulled out a slip of paper. Hold­ ing it out to her, he said, “Will you please take this pamphlet and read it?” Elsie politely took the pamphlet without looking at .it, knowing that she would not read it. She was sure that it contained more of the same infidelity that she had been listen­ ing to for the past half-hour. Never­ theless, she thanked him and hur­ ried off the bus. As Elsie stepped into the open air, a flood of relief swept over her. She walked a few steps, stopped, set down her bag, and took a deep breath. Suddenly she remembered

the pamphlet in her hand, and, with an expression of disgust, she flung it from her. The mischievous piece of paper fluttered in the air and fell face up almost at her feet. She glanced down at the bold, clear type and opened her mouth in astonish­ ment. The words fairly shouted at her, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). She reached down and recovered the tract and opened it. There on the inside pages was a list of reasons why a Christian should study his Bible. Instantly, Elsie realized that her gracious bus companion was a Chris­ tian, and that he had been quizzing her on her knowledge of the Bible. Her face flushed as she recalled the anguish and embarrassment he had caused her. She turned to look after the departing bus. Her small, shapely foot came down hard on the station

platform. “The heartless wretch!” she exclaimed indignantly. Elsie picked up her bag and walked the short distance to the cor­ ner. As she stood waiting for the local bus that would take her to her home, her thoughts raced back over the events of the last hour. She re­ called that keeping her promise to Aunt Jane had caused her to fall into an experience which revealed to her how little she knew of the Bible. She thought of the pointed questions which had so recently discomfited her. Would she be confounded and shamed again by subtle, infidel dia­ tribe? Elsie set her chin firmly, then lifted her head and heart heaven­ ward: "Oh, Lord,” she prayed, “I’ve learned a great lesson. Help me to keep this resolution to study my Bible, not merely to. please Aunt Jane, but to show myself approved unto Thee, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.”

General MacArthur Park, Los Angeles, California

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