with a firm refusal stating, “A man who has seen Christ would commit sacrilege if he employed his art in carving a pagan image. M y work is henceforth wholly consecrated!” How true he was, and certainly this should be the testimony of every born-again believer. Once we have seen Christ how can we turn back to the things of this world? The Lord Jesus declared, “No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). * * * Sometimes a clear conscience is nothing more than a poor memory. * ’* * WHERE THE OIL IS NEEDED Have you ever heard of the little man who, wherever he went, always carried a small can of oil with him? If he heard a door squeak or a hinge creak, he would just give it a squirt of lubricant. Was he an eccentric? Per haps, however, in a sense, it is this same type of readiness and prepared ness God wants of us as His ambassa dors of truth. We don’t need cans of oil when we have the Holy Spirit in dwelling our lives. How many people there are in the world whose hearts are creaking and aching. On a cold winter evening, that great man of God, Henry Ward Beecher came upon a little newsboy shivering at a street corner. Going over to him he put his arm around him and said, “Son ny, aren’t you cold?” The lad, with a few glistening tears in his eyes, re sponded by saying, “I was, Mister, till you come along.” There are many in the world today who are cold and without spiritual raiment: the robes of Chrisfs righteousness. We are ves sels, carrying the oil to warm and to bless. Our task is to remain faithful in sowing the seed and in letting oth ers know of the grace of our Lord and. Saviour. Yes, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Fa ther which is in heaven.” * * * Nothing shows your character more than that at which you laugh. 32
In discouragements remember the postage stamp. It is useful because it sticks to one thing until it gets there.
THE LORD'S SHARE Two native converts on the mission field, were discussing the subject of giving to the Lord. The one proudly declared what he would do if wealth should ever come his way. (In foreign lands, riches may be computed in ma terial possessions rather than in money or stocks and bonds.) The friend asked, “Well, if you had a hundred sheep would you give 50 o f them for the Lord’s work?” The boastful man quick ly answered, “Why, of course l would!” Came the. second query, “And would you do the same if you had a hundred cows?” The answer rejoined, “Certain ly ” Then the third question, “How about if you had a hundred horses?” By now a bit impatient, he responded, “Sure, 1 would! Yoiid see right away that l would!” S till his questioner per sisted, “Well now, what about the two pigs you have? Are you willing to give one of them to the Lord?” Came the defensive response, “Thai’s different. 1 couldn’t do that. And no one would have the right to ask me knowing 1 only have two pigs.” In the wisdom of the book of Proverbs we read, “There is that scattereth and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meat, but it tendeth to poverty” (Proverbs 11:24). * The secret of success is to do the com mon things uncommonly well. * * * WORKS OF OUR HANDS It was Dannecker, the famed Ger man sculptor, who had labored indus triously for more than eight years to carve in marble a statue he had en visioned of the Lord Jesus Christ. He lived during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte who, when he saw the cap tivating statue of the Saviour, asked the master sculptor if he would make a similar sized carving for him of the goddess Venus. Dannecker responded * *
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