Week 43—Friday Jeremiah 1:4-8
Jeremiah 1:4-8
A TONGUE-TIED COLONEL
FREED THROUGH WITNESSING
Without this lay witness, the life of the layman is routine and noncreative. Taking up collections, ushering, and sitting in committees is hardly worthy of a vital layman.
When Wellington beat Bonaparte
As any child can tell,
The House of Peers throughout the war,
Did nothing in particular
And did it very well.
Lay witnessing does something to the witnesser. This is a conversion that converts the converter. A couple in India were about to break up the home. They both surrendered to Christ and won sixty people to the new life; they started a congregation which has become a church in the suburbs of Bangalore.
In America an army colonel who had home troubles tried to commit suicide. He was converted and joined a lay evangelistic team going out two by two. The layman in charge said this colonel was the most tied-up person he had ever seen. Didn’t say a word on the first three visits. The layman said to him, “The next one is yours. You are to lead off.” The colonel replied, “I will on one condition: if I fumble the ball you will pick it up.” The layman agreed. But there was no fumbling as they called on a judge and his wife. The layman said, “I never saw such a change when the man began. He literally poured out his soul to this judge and his wife. He seemed inspired.” He won the judge and his wife to Christ and the church. Then that same night he went to the leading oil man and won him to Christ—three in one night. Now he was free and on his own, transformed in helping to transform others.
Here is a simple woman of seventy in the Philippines who goes from barrio to barrio and talks to people about her Savior, night and day. Congregations have sprung up in every town as a result of that woman’s witness. Her witness is more powerful than preaching!
O Divine Spirit, set my heart aflame with the love of Christ. For if I am not aflame with his love I shall be aflame with the love of myself. Save me from myself that I may save others. For in saving others, I shall save myself. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I am as strong as his strength, good as his goodness, free as his freedom.