The Personal TouchChapman, J. Wilbur (John Wilbur)
Religion
The Personal Touch
Chapman, J. Wilbur (John Wilbur)
Evangelistic work; Salvation -- Christianity
Service is also one of the surest preventives from wandering. It is
when the brain is idle that evil thoughts master it; when the heart is
given up to impure imaginations that we find it easy to fall. And it is
when we are busy lifting others' burdens; making the way easier for
others to travel; comforting those who are in distress; speaking a word
of cheer to the cheerless, and above all, when we are seeking to lead
others to Christ, that we ourselves grow in grace and in the knowledge
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If these things are true, and we
know they are, then it is the duty of every Christian not only to seek
to win another to Christ, but by all means to seek to hold him when
once he is won, and that which we know holds us will keep others from
stumbling.
The suggestions made above are for the young as well as the more
mature. Young people will be interested in spiritual things if we have
sufficient interest in them ourselves to make them attractive.
If we would show as great interest in helping to keep those whom we may
have won for Christ, as we revealed when we were seeking them, fewer of
them would drift.
CHAPTER VIII
_A Practical Illustration_
It will be a great day when the Church is aroused to the responsibility
and privilege of personal work.
In Swansea, Wales, with Mr Charles M. Alexander, I had the satisfaction
of conducting a mission in which I preached for an entire week on Soul
Winning. I then urged the people to go forth and labour, and asked them
to come back with their reports. These reports were thrilling. Often
ten or twelve people would be standing at the one time waiting to
speak. The following are only a few testimonies taken from the many:--
A minister said: "I spoke to a bright young fellow, under the influence
of drink, as I was going home in the car last night. He got off the car
when I did, so I stood at the street corner and talked with him for a
few minutes. He told me that he had been a follower of the Lord Jesus
many years ago, but had fallen away through bad company. I asked him to
pray for himself. He said he could not, but asked me to pray for him.
And there on that street corner I put my arm around his shoulder and we
prayed together, and he has promised to come to the meeting to-night."
"About three years ago," said another, "I came in touch with a man who
has been the biggest and most hardened scoffer I have had to contend
with. He had such a sarcastic way of ridiculing the Lord Jesus Christ.
But this last fortnight I have seen a distinct change in that young
man's life. Last week, as we were working near to one another, I spoke
to him and his eyes filled with tears. He said, 'I have decided to come
out and accept Christ.' I could hardly credit it, but it has proved to
be real, and when I see God moving in such a hard case as this, I have
hope for every sinner in this city."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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