PURPOSE FOR POWER Sometimes we can become so over whelmed and overawed with scientific achievements of the future that we fail to consider prime examples of dedica tion from the past. About 120 years ago, a young man got a job in a pawn shop. He hated the work, yet he tried to do his best as unto the Lord. As a result this prepared him for other fields of service. On a scrap of paper in 1849 he wrote these resolutions which were faithfully followed day by day. He vowed: r God helping me, I promise to arise every morning sufficiently early to have a few minutes, not less than five, in private prayer. “I will, as much as possible, avoid all that babbling and idle talk in which I have unfortunately indulged in the past. “I will seek to conduct myself as a humble, meek, and zealous witness for the Son of God. By serious conversa tion I will endeavor to lead men to consider their immortal souls. “I will read no less than four chap ters of God’s Word every day. “I will cultivate a spirit of self- denial, thus yielding myself as a pris oner of love to the Redeemer of the world.” It was through this man’s consistent life that hundreds of souls were led to Christ. Are these your aims as well? Are you willing to dedicate the prin ciples of your life wholly to Jesus
Christ? The man who made this sincere purpose for power was William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army.
People may forget how fast you did your job, but they don’t forget how well you did It.
TRAP OF DEATH Have you ever heard of the plant known as the dionaea muscipula (Venus fly-trap)? This flower has a very sadis tic nature. It entices in s e c ts by a strange nectar-like secretion. Entering a hooded compartment at the top of the leaf, from its underside, the insect becomes trapped. It will fly or crawl upward toward the transparent light patches that look like openings, there beating itself to death in frantic but vain efforts to escape. What a picture this plant gives us of the temptation of Satan! He traps the unwary soul by the nectar of sensual enticement. The individual may think he can escape the clutches of the devil but there seems to be no possible way. We have to see ourselves first of all for what we really are: sinners in the sight of God, des perately needing Christ’s salvation. Sin is really as deceptive as the devil him self. The Bible declares that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Yes, the wages of sin is death, but thank the Lord for this glorious 25
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