will be given.
know and receive all there is in Him, as He lives in us, and dwells in our heart and disposition, saving souls will become the great work to which our life will be given. We shall be the willing and intelligent instruments through whom He will do His mighty work. 'If any err, and one convert him he which converteth a sinner shall save a soul.' The words suggest personal work. We chiefly think of large gatherings to whom the Gospel is preached the thought here is of one who has erred and is sought after. We increasingly do our work through associations and organisations. 'If one convert him, he saveth a soul' it is the love and labour of some individual believer that has won the erring one back. It is this we need in the Church of Christ,—every believer who truly follows Jesus Christ looking out for those who are erring from the way, loving them, and labouring to help them back. Not one of us may say, 'Am I my brother's keeper?' We are in the world only and solely that as the members of Christ's body we may continue and carry out His saving work. As saving souls was and is His work, His joy, His glory, let it be ours, let it be mine, too. Let me give myself personally to watch over individuals, and seek to save them one by one. 'Know that he which converteth a sinner shall save a soul.' 'If ye know these things, happy are ye if you do them.' Let me translate these Scripture truths into action let me give these thoughts shape and substance in daily life let me prove their power over me, and my faith in them, by work. Is there not more than one Christian around me wandering from the way, needing loving help and not unwilling to receive it? Are there not some whom I could take by the hand, and encourage to begin again? Are there not many who have never been in the right way, for some of whom Christ Jesus would use me, if I were truly at His disposal? If I feel afraid—oh! let me believe that the love of God as a seed dwells within me, not only calling but enabling me actually to do the work. Let me yield myself to the Holy Spirit to fill my heart with that love, and fit me for its service. Jesus the Saviour lives to save He dwells in me He will do His saving work through me. 'Know that he which converteth a sinner shall save a soul from death, and cover a multitude of sins.'
1. More love to souls, born out of fervent love to the Lord Jesus—is not this our great need? 2. Let us pray for love, and begin to love, in the faith that as we exercise the little we have more will be given. 3. Lord! open our eyes to see Thee doing Thy great work of saving men, and waiting to give Thy love and strength into the heart of every willing one. Make each one of Thy redeemed a soul-winner.
XXIX Praying and Working 'If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for them that sin not unto death.'—1 John 5:16.
'Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works' these words in Hebrews express what lies at the very root of a life of good works—the thoughtful loving care we have for each other, that not one may fall away. As it is in Galatians: 'Even if a man be overtaken in a trespass, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness.' Or as Jude writes, apparently of Christians who were in danger of falling away, 'Some save, snatching them out of the fire and on some have mercy with fear.' As Christ's doing good to men's bodies ever aimed at winning their souls, all our ministry of love must be subordinated to that which is God's great purpose and longing—the salvation unto life eternal. In this labour of love praying and working must ever go together. At times prayer may reach those whom the words cannot reach. At times prayer may chiefly be needed for ourselves, to obtain the wisdom and courage for the words. At times it may be specially called forth for the soul by the very lack of fruit from our words. As a rule, praying and working must be inseparable—the praying to obtain from God what we need for the soul the working to bring to it what God has given us. The words of John here are most suggestive as to the power of prayer in our labour of love. It leads us to think of prayer as a personal work with a very definite object and a certainty of answer. Let prayer be a personal effort. If any man see his brother he shall ask. We are so accustomed to