Articles

The missionary stared at the letter in his hand. In the 1800s, the Gospel was spreading in China, but travel was difficult and the work was hard. In some areas, the Chinese vehemently rejected foreigners and threatened their lives. The letter Hudson Taylor held in his hand reported that riots were occurring in two missions in the region. A coworker was present when the letter arrived. As he moved toward the door to leave Mr. Taylor with the letter, he heard the soft whistling of the hymn “Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting.” Surprised, the coworker turned around and asked Mr. Taylor, “How can you whistle, when our friends are in so much danger?” Hudson Taylor looked up. Calmly he replied: “Would you have me anxious and troubled? That would not help them, and would certainly incapacitate me for my work. I just have to roll the burden onto the Lord.” “Rolling his burden upon the Lord” was a demonstration of Hudson Taylor’s faith. Other missionaries reported seeing him oftentimes playing on a little reed organ and softly singing this hymn. How­ever, “resting” had not always been his practice. Mr. Taylor founded the China Inland Mission in 1865. However, after four-and-a-half […]

Laughter filled the London home! Eleven young adults were visiting with each other for five days in 1874. One guest, thirty-eight-year-old Frances Havergal, although enjoying this time of fellowship with her friends, found herself especially burdened to pray for them. Kneeling in the guest bedroom, the Christian woman boldly prayed, “Lord, give me all in this house!” Some were Christians but immature believers, while the remainder were unsaved. Fervently, she prayed for her ten friends. God immediately began answering her prayer. When only one day of the visit remained, eight friends had either affirmed their commitment to Christ or been saved! After Miss Havergal had gone to bed on their final evening together, she heard a knock at her door. The two daughters who lived in the home asked if they might speak with her at that late hour. Miss Havergal eagerly made herself available, hoping her prayers for these last two might be answered with their decisions to accept Christ as Savior. Soon they were weeping in anguish over their wretched spiritual condition. With great joy, Miss Havergal led them to Christ! Afterward, Miss Havergal was too excited to sleep. Wide awake, she praised God for His answers to […]

The fierce, stormy sea violently rocked the ship. White-knuckled sailors clung to wooden spars and ropes. The young captain, John Newton, despaired. Surely they were all about to die! Recently he had been reading The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis. In response to the book’s influence and the realization that his life might end during the tempest, John Newton fervently prayed: “O God, if Thou wilt get me safely ashore, I will serve Thee forever.” John Newton was a hardened man. He had worked on ships as a young boy. He had been kidnapped by a British press gang and forced into naval service when he was eighteen years old. After leaving the navy, he worked for a slave trader who treated him brutally. Now, five years later and helpless in a terrifying storm at sea, the young man totally surrendered his life to God. John Newton later recorded in his journal:  That tenth of March is a day much remembered by me; and I have never suffered it to pass unnoticed since the year 1748—the Lord came from on high and delivered me out of deep waters. John Newton’s conversion was genuine. His new life reflected humility. […]

The time of Christ’s return is a mystery. Only God knows the day and hour of Christ’s return. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36). Since Christ’s ascension, believers throughout the ages have eagerly anticipated His imminent return. Not knowing when He will return motivates us to prepare and be ready as were the wise virgins in Matthew 25:1–13. At the exact time appointed by the Father, Jesus will descend through the clouds with the great sound of a trumpet to gather believers unto Himself! (See I Thessalonians 4:16–17.) Perhaps these Scripture passages inspired Leila Morris as she wrote “What If It Were Today?” Many of her hymns urged people to consider Christ and draw near to Him. Obviously, she was eagerly awaiting Christ’s Second Coming! Faithful and true would He find us hereIf He should come today?Watching in gladness and not in fear,If He should come today?Signs of His coming multiply,Morning light breaks in eastern sky,Watch, for the time is drawing nigh,What if it were today? Mrs. Morris was born Leila Naylor on April 15, 1862, in Ohio. Following her father’s death, her mother and […]

The October wind whipped about, chilling passersby in Wittenberg, Germany. Seemingly unaware of the bitter cold, a short man stood before the massive doors of the town’s church. Steadily, he nailed a long paper to the wooden doors where other public announcements were displayed. His bold public proclamation would gain attention throughout the worldfor years to come! A priest and university professor, Martin Luther boldly posted his ninety-­five theses—statements for public debate—on the Wittenberg Church doors. This historic event occurred on October 31, 1517. As an extremely pious monk, Dr. Luther had spent many hours in prayer and solitude. He had even starved and beaten himself physically, desperately trying to appease God’s just wrath for his sin. However, his efforts yielded him no peace. Then, God began to reveal His truth to Dr. Luther. Gradually, the despondent monk began to grasp what the Bible meant by “the just shall live by faith.” Upon realizing that salvation is not by works, but by faith in Jesus Christ alone, Dr. Luther trusted Christ’s full payment for his sin and began sharing this important truth with others. One point of Dr. Luther’s theses publicly proclaimed salvation could not be obtained through buying indulgences, […]

Music ministry is one avenue of hospitality! Harper G. Smyth is an excellent example of someone who used his musical talent to bring spiritual refreshment to others.  When he had completed his musical training in New York, Mr. Smyth became a performing member of the prestigious Metropolitan Opera House. After performing for two years, he left the Opera House. He then traveled to Indianapolis, and later to Atlanta, to direct church choirs. Mr. Smyth also served as the song leader for one of D. L. Moody’s key evangelists who ministered at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. The music minister’s strong voice led the crowd in singing, preparing their hearts to hear the Gospel. He enthusiastically fulfilled his task, thrilled to know he was preparing people to receive spiritual refreshment. Indeed, his music ministry was a form of Christian hospitality.  Ten years after his ministry at the World’s Fair, Mr. Smyth wrote the hymn “Make Me a Channel of Blessing.” The words clearly expressed his life’s desire and drive: Is your life a channel of blessing?Is the love of God flowing through you?Are you telling the lost of the Savior?Are you ready His service to do? Later, Mr. Smyth moved […]

“Let’s go have some fun and heckle those stuffy churchgoers!” With a fiendish chuckle, twenty-year-old Joachim [wa-KEEM] Neander sauntered through the twisting streets of Bremen, Germany. Several rowdy and rebellious fellow students accompanied him, eager to provoke a preacher. Yet Joachim’s family line included faithful preachers of the Gospel! For four generations, the name “Joachim” had been bestowed upon the family’s baby boys. Joachim’s father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather were all named “Joachim.” But this young Joachim disdained his ancestors’ callings. Now in college, he whole­heartedly joined others in riotous living. That particular morning, Joachim had no idea how his life would change. Entering a church with the intent to disrupt the sermon, his attitude quickly changed from being disrespectful to being reverent as the Holy Spirit opened the young man’s eyes and heart to the Gospel message. Convicted, the rebellious young man repented and gave his life to Jesus Christ. For several years afterward, Mr. Neander served as an assistant to the preacher who had led him to the Lord. Next, Mr. Neander began tutoring other young men while holding a position at a school in Dusseldorf.A vibrant believer, he encouraged prayer and preaching at the school. Not far […]

The Battle of Vicksburg, one of the bloodiest conflicts recorded in American history, was over. Among the many badly wounded soldiers was Union officer Major Daniel Webster Whittle. After losing his right arm in the battle, Major Whittle spent months as a prisoner of war (POW) recuperating in a hospital. The young soldier became weary of having nothing to do while recovering. Finally, looking for something to do to pass the time, Major Whittle began reading the New Testament hismother had given him when he joined the Army. As Major Whittle read the little Bible, the Holy Spirit convicted him of his sin and his need for a Savior. However, he resisted surrendering to Christ, and soon he fell asleep. A short time afterward, a hospital orderly awakened him. The orderly explained that another POW was dying and wanted someone to come pray with him. Major Whittle protested that he could not pray with the dying patient and suggested that the orderly ask someone else. “But I thought you were a Christian; I have seen you reading your Bible,” the orderly replied.  Major Whittle later wrote: I dropped on my knees and held the [dying] boy’s hand in mine. In […]

Joyfulness is the bright spirit and radiant countenance that come by being in full fellowship with the Lord.

Reverend Luther Bridgers began preaching when he was seventeen and a student at Asbury Seminary in Kentucky. There he met his wife, and by his mid-twenties, Reverend Bridgers had a growing family and a busy ministry of preaching, evangelism, and church-planting. His life was filled with God’s blessings.  One day while his wife and children were visiting grandparents, tragedy struck. “Fire! Fire!”  The house was quickly engulfed in flames. The grandparents somehow managed to escape, but Mrs. Bridgers and her three young sons were trapped inside! As the flames swiftly consumed the house, the gathering neighbors sadly realized that nothing could be done to save the four souls trapped inside.  Soon the news of the fire and the lost lives reached Reverend Bridgers, who had been preaching in a nearby town. The devastating loss of his wife and children gripped the preacher’s soul. For several months the grieving man was too stunned to continue his ministry. However, he knew he could find his encouragement in the Lord. Reverend Bridgers eventually turned from his sorrow to looking to God alone. God restored the man’s joy. Four years later the reverend remarried and continued his Gospel ministry. Reverend Bridgers wrote the words […]

There are those that send out the message: “Don’t let anyone tell you that you are under the Law. You are not obligated to keep commandments because you are under grace. You have freedom in Christ.” . . . Yet Christ Himself said: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Doing more than is expected is a powerful way to show someone you love him. When you do more than others expect, it will probably be remembered for a long time. This happened to me one day.

Flexibility is an important and necessary character quality, yet the word flexibility is not used in the Bible. Thus, a search for the concept of flexibility must be carried out. One must understand that being flexible will usually involve change and that change will often result in tension.

Orderliness is easier to maintain when we keep only those things that are needed, have a place for everything we kee, an keep things in good repair.

Cautiousness is recognizing that we have natural inclinations that are opposite to God’s ways. These tendencies seem right but lead to destruction and death. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 16:25).

Even though God and others expect us to be dependable, God knows that the ability to demonstrate such a quality does not reside within us—our strength must come from Him.

Diligence is accepting each task as a special assignment from the Lord and using all my energies to do it quickly and skillfully. Our motivation for diligent labor is to realize that we do not work for just an earthly employer, but that we are actually employed by the Lord Jesus Christ.

In every person's heart, there is a deep longing for security. Unfortunately, we tend to look for security in temporal things that perish rather than in realities that cannot be taken away.

We have a tendency to do work as thoroughly as is necessary to pass the inspection of those who assign us the job. However, true thoroughness is motivated by the awareness that each job we do will be personally inspected by the Lord.

Being punctual is living in harmony with the nature of God (Who is always precisely on time). It should be part of our motivation to make the best use of every minute of each day, in light of the imminent return of Christ.