say l was used to save 17 people from death and yet not one of them has ever taken the time to thank me." How typi cal this is of ungrateful mankind! Do we take the time to praise the Lord for that which he has done? The Psalmist exhorts himself as well as us, “Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord oh my soul and forget not all His bene fits.” * * * Count yourself richer the day you find a new fault in yourself, rather than in another. * * * SEEKING THE SAVIOUR Think of the wise men who sought Christ’s place of birth. They were truly looking for the King. Not even the re ligious leaders of the day could help them. (This has a striking parallel to day, too.) B e th leh em , the place of Christ’s birth, was a little village six miles south of Jerusalem. While roads and transportation weren’t as we know them today, yet the distance could be easily traveled by a walk of several hours. With the prospects of such 'an event still the Chief priests didn’t bother to go and find out for themselves. While the king didn’t go, it is strange to think he would have missed this event which could threaten his solidarity. The Jews needed a deliverer for they were in ex tremely difficult times. The Roman gov ernment had sought to increase their bondage. Still no one was interested in going six short miles to find out whether this truly could have been the Messiah. Yet, the same is true today. There are many people in the world who aren’t in terested in finding out whether salvation works. They have never found true sat isfaction in life and yet they have never bothered to use God’s remedy for joy and peace. May we declare with the Psalmist at this wonderful season, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who trusteth in Him.” * * * To know God's will is man's greatest treasure. To do His will, however, is life's greatest privilege. * * * God cannot open the windows of heaven very wide for the person who keeps his Bible shut. * * * If you find life empty then try putting something into it. 33
WHY BUILD While riding along on a bus one day, a minister had seated next to him a man who openly declared his hatred for the church. Driving down the main street of the city they passed several beautiful churches. Several were in various stages of being enlarged. The man said to his preacher companion, “I thought you Christians were supposed to stop build ing such fine churches and give your money to the poor. 1 think it would be much more to your credit if you did something for the destitute rather than waste all this money.” The preacher re plied, “Well, what you say sounds very familiar for I know another man in the Bible who had exactly the same idea that you’ve expressed.” The first man was interested in that, “Who was this? He must have been somebody quite fa mous. Somebody who really knew what he was doing.” The preacher quietly re plied, “I ’ll leave that decision to you. You see, his name was Judas Iscariot.” The Apostle Paul told the Corinthian Christians, “Therefore my beloved breth ren, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.” * God's most important truths must often be burned into us by the hot iron of afflic tion. ¥ ¥ ¥ NO ONE SAID "THANKS" Many years ago a ship was wrecked in a storm at sea. A college student, Edward Spencer, managed to save 17 of the drowning passengers. Tired and com pletely exhausted he was finally carried to safety. He kept repeating, “Did 1 do my best? Do you think I really did all l could?” Through the years the story of heroic bravery was recounted. Dr. B. A. Torrey, the famed evangelist, told it frequently. Forty years after the event, Dr. Torrey was speaking here at Biota, the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, and someone informed him, “Dr. Torrey, the man you’ve talked about is here to day!” The evangelist made the eager announcement, “Would Edward Spencer please come to the platform.” The au dience stood in tribute and burst out in loud applause. He was now an old man with white hair. Dr. Torrey shook hands with him and then asked, “Is there any thing outstanding you remember about this experience?” Spencer slowly and sadly responded, “Yes sir, there is. They * *
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