parables and pearls
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(AS FEATURED OVER THE BIOLA HOUR)
man to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. How wonderfully the Lord has given us the message of his love through the person of His Son, our Saviour. Yet, there is an even more wonderful prom ise assured the believer, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” * When a little success turns a man's head, it invariably causes a pain in the neck to other people. * * * EXCUSES How often people put up some feeble excuse for not serving God. Like the man who declared, “I ’m not going to work so hard. There’s no, point to it. What’s it gotten me?" The Saviour an swers, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” An other comment is “Someone else can do it better than I can.” But the Bible re minds, “Everyone of us shall give an account of himself to God.” Still others say, “I’m not qualified for the job. I ’m not educated and I can’t talk in front of people." Yet, they have overlooked the Lord’s promise, “My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made per fect in weakness.” And then there’s usually someone who will excuse himself by saying, “I have too many activities already: demands by service clubs, com munity chest, chamber of commerce, lit tle league," and the list goes on. But our Lord says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Still an other seemingly plausible excuse is from the man who reasons, “I ’ve been working too hard and deserve to rest awhile." Listen to Jesus’ words, “I f any man will come after me, let him deny himself and 26 * *
LOVE'S EXAMPLE Scottish history recounts about the poor widow mother who lived in the high lands. During the bitter cold of winter her only son became extremely ill. There was nothing else for her to do but to start off across the snow seeking help. She was desperate for the young lad whom she carried in her arms. The elements were against her, however, and she could go no further. Her frail body was no match for the howling wind and swirl ing snow. The next day several hunters found her body. They tried to see if there was any life left. Turning Ker over they saw the boy who, although cold, was still alive. The mother’s only coat, cou pled with the warmth from her body, had kept him alive. Some years later a preacher, who happened to be the son of the minister who had conducted the service for that poor widow, was speak ing at a large church in Glasgow. He told the story of the Scottish highland mother who gave her life for her son. The audience was deeply moved as he applied this to God’s sacrificial love for us through the Lord Jesus Christ. A week or so later, he was called to the city hospital where a man, who had been hit by a car and seriously in jured, was calling for him. Nearly at death’s door the patient in critical con dition explained, “I had to see you before it is too late. I’ve lived in Glasgow for many years, yet I’ve never taken the time to attend church or to seek God. The other day I happened by where you were preaching. It was cold outside and I went in. You told the story of the highland mother who gave her life so that her tiny son might live. Preacher, I’m that boy. I’ve never forgotten my mother’s love, but I never connected it in any way with God’s love for me. Yet, I see it now. I want to tell my mother that her prayers have been answered.’’ Just before he died, the preacher led the
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