Week 43—Sunday Matthew 10:7-8
Week 43—SUNDAY
“IT IS INHERENT FOR THE CHRISTIAN
TO PROPAGATE HIS FAITH”
We now come to the consideration of the Word become flesh and evangelism. An interesting incident took place when India’s new constitution was being passed in the National Legislature. In the portion where it says that each individual has “the right to profess, practice, and propagate his faith,” that word “propagate” was a question mark to many. In the midst of it a Hindu said this, “To the Christian it is inherent to propagate his faith. If he is faithful to his faith he must propagate his faith. So if you do not allow him to propagate his faith you do not allow him to profess and practice his faith.” That argument swung the situation and it was adopted. The Hindu saw clearly that to propagate his faith is inherent in being a Christian. Then why don’t all Christians do it? I can only testify.
I underwent a half-conversion and joined the church. A revival came on. I was urged to win someone. I tried but was rebuffed by my own lack of having anything to give. It was my first and my last attempt to win someone, until I had found something for myself. What I said was the Word become word. Then came the real thing—I found a conversion for myself, the real thing. The word of conversion became flesh. Then conversions began to happen right and left. My first convert was my grandmother at eighty-two years of age. It was the day after Christmas, and she said that she would possibly not be here by another Christmas. So I asked, “But you’re ready to go, aren’t you?” The tears began to flow down her cheeks and she said, “No, I’m not.” We knelt, and in the midst of our praying she entered. Again, my mother came to the altar of prayer. When I knelt beside her I asked, “What do you want?” And she replied: “I don’t know, but I want what you have found.” The whole family came in. When I tried to win others with the word of conversion become word, it was a failure. When the Word became flesh, it was a success.
O Jesus, my Redeemer, I can only give as I take from you. May my words be a revelation of a fact—the fact of conversion in me. That which is to reach the heart must come from the heart, so let my words about conversion come from conversion. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Nothing is mine unless I share it.