for. We tend to think of past sin as being forgotten. God is eternal, how ever, and all past sin is ever present before Him. How can this be dealt with and forgiven? God works a won derful miracle. You personally can be the means of having a multitude of past sins blotted out. Do you see your privilege? Have you been engaging in personal evangelism? Have you taken the privilege of presenting the Gos pel to others in a manner they can understand? Have they been moved by it and exercised faith thereby? WITHOUT MURMURINGS Do you have any unpleasant tasks awaiting you today, or perhaps later this week? Sometimes it’s necessary to do things which aren’t really palatable to us at all. We may even grumble about our unhappy responsibilities. Have you ever wondered what it would be like if, at the end of the day, some one could play back on a tape recorder not only all the things we had said, but also those things we dare to think? Since we’re all human, the experience wouldn’t be too pleasant or help our ego any. Without fully realizing it, no doubt we complain, murmur a n d “gripe” more than we realize. Our chil dren become unhappy because of home work or chores; wives for the never- ending stream of housework and all that goes with it, such as picking u/p things other members of the family have overlooked; Dad grumbles about his inconsiderate boss and difficulties at the office. How quickly are we robbed of our joy by some of the little insig nificant affair of the day! Criticism, envy, censoriousness, and cynicism are all tools which Satan knows how to wield most effectively. He tries to get us side-tracked, thinking mediocrity and not victory is God’s norm for our lives. J. Hudson Taylor used to say, “If your father and mother, your sister and brother, yes, even your cat and dog, aren’t happier because you’re a Christian, to me it’s a question wheth er you really are one or not.” How to be a joyful Christian? Follow the ex hortation found in the Epistle to the Ephesians, suggesting we speak to our selves in psalms and hymns and spir itual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord. 6
pause, then he told me that neither he nor his friend had done so. They had been “pumping” him with truth, but not carrying through. It seems that both of these men had been afraid or reticent in asking him to take the most important step of faith. Ask yourself a question, “Have I ever instructed someone concerning the Lord Jesus? As a result, did they have a desire to do something about it? Did I help them and lead them finally to the Lord Jesus Christ?” This is the way by which permanent work for the Saviour is accomplished. Here is a verse which is intended to be a tremendous encouragement to you. It is James’ epistle and frankly, I am so sorry we tend to neglect James. While he only wrote five chapters, I wish he had given us at least 25, for these which the Holy Spirit gave us through this faithful witness are full of tremendously practical truths. Have a good look at them. Read the book all the way through sometime. The last verse tells us, “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." Notice it doesn’t say “a body” from death, but rather a soul. Here he is talking about spiritual death. The Bible makes it quite clear that it is possible to be spiritually dead while one is physically alive. Paul wrote to Timothy, “She that liveth in pleasure, is dead while she liveth.” This is what is wrong with some won derful people all of us know. They are dead while they live. They are phys ically alive to the world and others about them; however, they are dead to God. If an individual lives his life dead to God, he will die this same way and will be in eternity dead to God. This doesn’t mean that he will be ex terminated. He will be spiritually separated from God in hell. If you are on the job, the Lord can use you to be a means of saving peo ple from spiritual death. Can you think of any higher vocation than that? This, however, is not all. It says that “he shall hide a multitude of sins.” All sin has to be accounted
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