"Billy" Sunday, the Man and His Message: With his own words which have won thousands for ChristEllis, William T. (William Thomas)
Religion
"Billy" Sunday, the Man and His Message: With his own words which have won thousands for Christ
Ellis, William T. (William Thomas)
Baseball players -- United States -- Biography; Evangelists -- United States -- Biography; Sunday, Billy, 1862-1935
Did you ever thank God for hearing? That you can hear music and the
voices of friends and dear ones? That you can leave your home and
business, and come here and hear the songs and the preaching of the
word of God? Did you ever think what it would mean to be deaf?
Did you ever thank God for the blessing of taste? Some people can't
tell whether they are eating sawdust and shavings or strawberries and
ice cream. Think of the good things we enjoy! Others have tastes so
vicious that they find it almost impossible to eat. God might have made
our food taste like quinine.
Did you ever thank God that you can sleep? If not, you ought to be
kept awake for a month. Think of the thousands who suffer from pain or
insomnia so that they can sleep only under opiates. Did you ever wake
up in the morning and thank God that you have had a good night's rest?
If you haven't, God ought to keep you awake for a week, then you'd know
you've had reason to be thankful.
Did you ever thank God for the doctors and nurses and hospitals? For
the surgeon who comes with scalpel to save your life or relieve your
sufferings? If it had not been for them you'd be under the grass. For
the nurse who watches over you that you may be restored to health?
Did you ever thank God for the bread you eat, while so many others are
hungry? Did you ever thank him for the enemy that has been baffled, for
the lie against you that has failed?
Out in Elgin, Illinois, I was taken driving by a friend, and he said
that he wanted me to go with him to see a man. He took me to see a man
who was lying in bed, with arms most pitifully wasted by suffering. The
poor fellow said he had been in bed for thirty-two years, but he wasn't
worrying about that. He said he was so sorry for the well people who
didn't know Jesus. I went out thanking God that I could walk. If your
hearts are not made of stone or adamant they will melt with gratitude
when you think of the many mercies, the tender mercies, of God.
[Illustration: BILLY SUNDAY AND HIS STAFF AT SCRANTON. FROM LEFT TO
RIGHT: (STANDING) F. R. SEIBERT, A. G. GILL: (SITTING) B. D. ACKLEY,
MISS FRANCES MILLER, MISS GRACE SAXE, MR. SUNDAY.]
The Living Sacrifice
"Brethren"--that's what God calls his true followers. No speaking from
the loft. If there's any lesson we need to learn it is that of being
"brethren."
Sinners are not called "brethren" in the Bible. God commands sinners.
They are in rebellion. He entreats Christians. When Lincoln called for
volunteers he addressed men as "citizens of the United States," not as
foreigners.
The man who is appreciative of God's mercies will not have much mercy
on himself. Don't stand up and say: "I'll do what Jesus bids me to
do, and go where he bids me to go," then go to bed. Present your
bodies--not mine--not those of your wives; you must present your own.
Present your bodies; not your neighbor's; not your children's; it is
their duty to do that. Do you trust God enough to let him do what he
wants to do?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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