Opportunities
From Thomas Hogben, in "God's Plan for Soul Winning."
S UCCES S FUL soul winning must have two component parts:— L Going to God for sinners. 2. Going to sinners for God. It is not enough to pray. Believing intercession must be linked with consistent living and individual work. The three must go together. Mark, there is a marvelous difference one dare not overlook between our doing Christ's work and Christ's working through us to save other lives. It must be Christ's plan, Christ's way, Christ's time, if one is to succeed. The Holy Spirit will both direct and empower if we give Him full opportunity, and make each one keen to win souls. The man who brings most souls into close acquaintance with Jesus is the man 'who is most alert to do it. We instinctively attend to the matter which is paramount in our minds. Filled with the loving Christ, one finds opportunities everywhere. A naval officer went from Ports- mouth to see a certain exhibition in London. It was immensely in- teresting, and he sat upon a seat contemplating the wonders around. A lady also came there to rest and listen to the sweet music. Instantly the chief purpose of his life asserted itself. "I wonder if she • knows my Saviour?" thought he. "Lord, work through me to show thyself to her!" A remark upon the music opened the way. The result was that in that public place, overlooking the gay and brilliant spectacle, to the amozement of many, the two knelt in prayer, and she gave herself to God. A less interested soul-winner would have missed that opportunity. Every week a clock-maker called at the house of a certain lady in order to regulate her clocks. O Lord," she prayed, "use me in helping to regulate this man's soul." He was a' Unitarian, and so sure of his ground that many would have shirked religious conversion with him. B,ut all the week she interceded for him, and while he wound and pol- ished, she talked. Prayer' and work were thus continued for fifteen months, and she won that soul to J e sus! Bishop Ryle says of Baxter, that when he came to Kidderminster there was one family in one street who worshipped God; but that when he left, there were some streets where only one family did not. Success like that meant to Baxter what it must mean to everyone who wants to win souls—many cries and tears, definite, believing prayer, and definite personal work until something is accomplished. Many people do not realize that the Christian is never off duty, never on the retired list, never pensioned off. His one business upon earth is to glorify God and people Heaven, and for this the time is always n o w — t h e place is always needy—and the people are always perishing.
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