The Real Christmas Story -- John MacArthur
http://www.reformedvoices.com/
Sunday, December 27, 2009
The Promise of His Guidance
"Show me the way I should walk, for I come to you in prayer." Psalm 143:8
We cannot know the way ourselves. The path across one little day seems very short, but none of us can find it ourselves. Each day is a hidden world to our eyes as we enter it in the morning. We cannot see one step before us as we go forth. An impenetrable veil covers the brightest day, as with night's black robes. It may have joys and prosperities for us or it may bring to us sorrows and adversities. Our path may lead us into a garden or the garden may be a Gethsemane. We have our plans as we go out in the morning, but we are not sure that they will be realized. The day will bring duties, responsibilities, temptations, perils, tangles which our fingers cannot unravel, and obscure paths in which we cannot find the way.
What could be more fitting in the morning than the prayer, "Show me the way I should walk!" God knows all that is in the day for us. His eye sees to its close and He will be our guide.
There is no promise given more repeatedly in the Bible than that of divine guidance. We have it in the shepherd psalm, "He leads me in the paths of righteousness." Paths of righteousness are right paths. All God's paths are clean and holy; they are the ways of His commandments. But there is another sense in which they are right paths. They are the right ways because they are the best ways for us. Often they are not the ways which we would have chosen. They do not seem to be good ways. But nevertheless they are right and lead to blessing and honor. We are always safe, therefore, in praying this prayer on the morning of any day, "Show me the way I should walk!"
- J. R. Miller
We cannot know the way ourselves. The path across one little day seems very short, but none of us can find it ourselves. Each day is a hidden world to our eyes as we enter it in the morning. We cannot see one step before us as we go forth. An impenetrable veil covers the brightest day, as with night's black robes. It may have joys and prosperities for us or it may bring to us sorrows and adversities. Our path may lead us into a garden or the garden may be a Gethsemane. We have our plans as we go out in the morning, but we are not sure that they will be realized. The day will bring duties, responsibilities, temptations, perils, tangles which our fingers cannot unravel, and obscure paths in which we cannot find the way.
What could be more fitting in the morning than the prayer, "Show me the way I should walk!" God knows all that is in the day for us. His eye sees to its close and He will be our guide.
There is no promise given more repeatedly in the Bible than that of divine guidance. We have it in the shepherd psalm, "He leads me in the paths of righteousness." Paths of righteousness are right paths. All God's paths are clean and holy; they are the ways of His commandments. But there is another sense in which they are right paths. They are the right ways because they are the best ways for us. Often they are not the ways which we would have chosen. They do not seem to be good ways. But nevertheless they are right and lead to blessing and honor. We are always safe, therefore, in praying this prayer on the morning of any day, "Show me the way I should walk!"
- J. R. Miller
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
A Wife's Encouragement to her Husband
Men are often told how much their wives need encouragement. And it is so true. Men are often exhorted to give encouragement to their wives. And it is always a need for us to do so.
But it is just as true that women need to encourage their husbands as well. A wife's words are a very powerful means of bringing either discouragement or encouragement to their husband.
Here are the words of one wife to her husband that were brought to my attention. Had to be a real encouragement to him!
"Let me count the ways that I love you in the midst of life!
You are my love
You love the Lord more each day
You are willing to keep trying
You put up with so much from a wife like me
You are forgiving
You desire to seek the Lord first
You love your family
You stay in touch with friends
You study to show yourself approved
You are persevering
You cast all your cares upon the Lord, and why wouldn't you do that?-- He cares for you
You are always willing to pitch in and help at home
You are willing to care for your children and grandchildren
You keep your hair combed
You remember to turn your socks right side out for the wash
You have lovely green eyes
You endure painful situations
You trust in the Lord with all your heart
You keep on trusting Him
You encourage others to know the Lord
You are willing to go to the ends of the earth to obey the Lord
You are wise with your time
and I will continue this list at another time...........................
Have a great night."
I have a feeling her husband was encouraged and more ready than ever to keep doing the things she mentioned.
Wives, encourage your husbands-- it'll do em good and they'll become better husbands and better men.
- Mack Tomlinson
But it is just as true that women need to encourage their husbands as well. A wife's words are a very powerful means of bringing either discouragement or encouragement to their husband.
Here are the words of one wife to her husband that were brought to my attention. Had to be a real encouragement to him!
"Let me count the ways that I love you in the midst of life!
You are my love
You love the Lord more each day
You are willing to keep trying
You put up with so much from a wife like me
You are forgiving
You desire to seek the Lord first
You love your family
You stay in touch with friends
You study to show yourself approved
You are persevering
You cast all your cares upon the Lord, and why wouldn't you do that?-- He cares for you
You are always willing to pitch in and help at home
You are willing to care for your children and grandchildren
You keep your hair combed
You remember to turn your socks right side out for the wash
You have lovely green eyes
You endure painful situations
You trust in the Lord with all your heart
You keep on trusting Him
You encourage others to know the Lord
You are willing to go to the ends of the earth to obey the Lord
You are wise with your time
and I will continue this list at another time...........................
Have a great night."
I have a feeling her husband was encouraged and more ready than ever to keep doing the things she mentioned.
Wives, encourage your husbands-- it'll do em good and they'll become better husbands and better men.
- Mack Tomlinson
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Christian Athletes Refused to Participate in the Olympics
In 2000, Chris Harmse of South Africa was a hammer thrower who held the record on the African continent for that event. A big man in every way, he had qualified for the South African team during a pre-Olympic event in Croatia on July 15 that summer. Then he discovered that the final of the hammer throw would take place the following Sunday. A Christian, he agonized over his decision before deciding that the Lord's Day was more important to him than throwing the hammer for his country. Sam Ramsamy, the president of the South Africa National Olympic Committee, respected his decision.
Harmse was only the second Olympian to ever withdraw from the games for religious reasons. One must go back to 1924 when the Scottish sprinter Eric Liddell dropped out of the 100 meter race in Paris because the final took place on the Sabbath.
Jonathan Edwards, England's world record triple jumper and hope for a gold medal in Sydney, began his athletic career by refusing to take part in Sunday games. The son of a preacher, he was married to a missionary's daughter. But he later changed his mind about this, claiming a revelation had come to him encouraging him to jump on the Lord's Day.
Edwards says, "My relationship with Jesus and with God is fundamental to everything I do. I have made a commitment and dedication in that relationship to serve God in every area of my life including Triple Jump. The most important news, though, is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many exciting things have happened to me in my life, but the most crucial is that my sins have been forgiven and I know God."
Eric Liddell managed to negotiate an unheard-of switch from the 100 meter race which he had been scheduled to run to the 400 meter, for which he had not trained, later in the week. On July 11, 1924, Liddell won that race and was showered with Olympic glory.
Instead of cashing in, Liddell turned his back on fame and fortune and followed in his parents' footsteps, becoming a missionary in China, where his most powerful contributions to God and to his fellow humans were made.
Cal Thomas points out that in our day of focus groups and leadership weakened by uncertainty of belief, Eric Liddell's example continues to stand out. A fanatic might have demanded that others not run on Sunday either and organized a group to enact legislation to conform society to his point of view. Not Liddell. He just said he wouldn't run. Some newspapers denounced him as a traitor to his country and king. How quickly they changed their tune when he won a gold medal. Had he yielded to temptation and compromised his beliefs, we might never have heard of him again.
The account of the race in the July 12, 1924, Times of London conveys the excitement of that day in Paris:
"Liddell had the outside berth - generally considered the worst place. ... There was a perfect start, and from the first jump-off the pace looked, and was, terrific. Two men of the six fell. ... But that made no difference, for there was never more than one man in the race, and it was the pace he set that fairly ran them off their legs. Sweeping round into the straight Liddell led by four or five yards, and increased his lead by a couple of yards more in the run home. No one ever looked like catching him ... When the time was given out ... and it was realized that, for the third time in two days, the world's 'record' had been lowered, the Stadium went insane ... ."
When Liddell left Edinburgh for China the following year, the number of people wanting to bid him farewell was so large that 1,000 were unable to get in. Twenty years later he was taken prisoner with other missionaries and Westerners and became one of 1,800 crowded into a Japanese camp. His personal space had shrunk to three by six feet. Before his arrest, Liddell managed to get his wife and two children to safety in Canada (Florence Liddell was pregnant at the time with their third daughter, whom Eric would not live to see). He died of a brain tumour on Feb. 21, 1945.
At the end of "Chariots of Fire," producer David Puttnam put on the screen: "Eric Liddell, missionary, died in occupied China at the end of World War II. All of Scotland mourned."
Press accounts of the 1980 premiere of the film in Edinburgh told of huge crowds. How fitting. The people of Scotland, who had shared their native son with China, were welcoming him back and affirming the note given to Liddell by his masseur before that 1924 race. It referred to the Biblical passage 1 Samuel 2:30: "He who honours Me, I will honour." And so He did. And so He still does years later.
- Geoff Thomas
Harmse was only the second Olympian to ever withdraw from the games for religious reasons. One must go back to 1924 when the Scottish sprinter Eric Liddell dropped out of the 100 meter race in Paris because the final took place on the Sabbath.
Jonathan Edwards, England's world record triple jumper and hope for a gold medal in Sydney, began his athletic career by refusing to take part in Sunday games. The son of a preacher, he was married to a missionary's daughter. But he later changed his mind about this, claiming a revelation had come to him encouraging him to jump on the Lord's Day.
Edwards says, "My relationship with Jesus and with God is fundamental to everything I do. I have made a commitment and dedication in that relationship to serve God in every area of my life including Triple Jump. The most important news, though, is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many exciting things have happened to me in my life, but the most crucial is that my sins have been forgiven and I know God."
Eric Liddell managed to negotiate an unheard-of switch from the 100 meter race which he had been scheduled to run to the 400 meter, for which he had not trained, later in the week. On July 11, 1924, Liddell won that race and was showered with Olympic glory.
Instead of cashing in, Liddell turned his back on fame and fortune and followed in his parents' footsteps, becoming a missionary in China, where his most powerful contributions to God and to his fellow humans were made.
Cal Thomas points out that in our day of focus groups and leadership weakened by uncertainty of belief, Eric Liddell's example continues to stand out. A fanatic might have demanded that others not run on Sunday either and organized a group to enact legislation to conform society to his point of view. Not Liddell. He just said he wouldn't run. Some newspapers denounced him as a traitor to his country and king. How quickly they changed their tune when he won a gold medal. Had he yielded to temptation and compromised his beliefs, we might never have heard of him again.
The account of the race in the July 12, 1924, Times of London conveys the excitement of that day in Paris:
"Liddell had the outside berth - generally considered the worst place. ... There was a perfect start, and from the first jump-off the pace looked, and was, terrific. Two men of the six fell. ... But that made no difference, for there was never more than one man in the race, and it was the pace he set that fairly ran them off their legs. Sweeping round into the straight Liddell led by four or five yards, and increased his lead by a couple of yards more in the run home. No one ever looked like catching him ... When the time was given out ... and it was realized that, for the third time in two days, the world's 'record' had been lowered, the Stadium went insane ... ."
When Liddell left Edinburgh for China the following year, the number of people wanting to bid him farewell was so large that 1,000 were unable to get in. Twenty years later he was taken prisoner with other missionaries and Westerners and became one of 1,800 crowded into a Japanese camp. His personal space had shrunk to three by six feet. Before his arrest, Liddell managed to get his wife and two children to safety in Canada (Florence Liddell was pregnant at the time with their third daughter, whom Eric would not live to see). He died of a brain tumour on Feb. 21, 1945.
At the end of "Chariots of Fire," producer David Puttnam put on the screen: "Eric Liddell, missionary, died in occupied China at the end of World War II. All of Scotland mourned."
Press accounts of the 1980 premiere of the film in Edinburgh told of huge crowds. How fitting. The people of Scotland, who had shared their native son with China, were welcoming him back and affirming the note given to Liddell by his masseur before that 1924 race. It referred to the Biblical passage 1 Samuel 2:30: "He who honours Me, I will honour." And so He did. And so He still does years later.
- Geoff Thomas
God-blest Preaching
When the town-crier comes through the street he opens his mouth and he's a free man. He's free in the sense that he's not biting his nails nervously wondering "Oh, how will this news fall upon the ears of Mrs. So and So in the light of what I happen to know about her through my second cousin and her aunt who lives around the corner. I'm just....oh my....I'm just." No, no!
The town-crier opens his mouth and he heralds the message! Why? Because he's conscious of his identity as a herald appointed by the sovereign to his task. That was the mark of the preaching owned of God at Iconium. These men so spake. That was one of the marks of their preaching when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, they perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men.
In other words, it was not boldness fostered by and buttressed with credentials that would impress the world. Just the opposite was true. It was the very fact that they didn't have the world's credentials and yet dared to hurl the word of God into the consciences of men.
They said, "What in the world makes these men tick? They are unlearned and ignorant men in terms of our standards of what makes a man competent to speak to others. They're fisherman and they're talking to us - the doctors of the law. That ain't kosher! "Don't you know we know philosophy. What do you know about philosophy?"
"Not too much, except God calls it the wisdom of this world which comes to naught."
"Well, don't you know that's insulting to Plato and to Socrates?"
"Sorry fellows."
"The wisdom of this world that comes to naught - what do you know of it?"
"Not much"
"What do you know of the world's opinion of this and that?"
"Not much."
"Well, what in the world do you know?"
"I know my Master's message."
"And when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John perceiving they were unlearned and ignorant men they took note of them that they had been with Jesus."
What is essential is that in this formative period God molds men who understand their identity as the heralds of God so that holy boldness marks their preaching, boldness that will be suffused with tenderness and with gentleness. Many times perhaps with the softest tones of entreaty but never marked by that nervous biting of the nails because "Oh this might offend this one and that truth may offend another", men who speak with all calling forth of the message of their Master, and that's a spiritual quality - not a personality characteristic.
That's why Paul asked Christians to pray that God would give it to him. Isn't that what he said in Ephesians? He said, "Pray for all saints and pray for me." That what may be given to me? What did he pray for? "That boldness may be given unto me. That I may open my mouth and speak boldly as I ought to speak."
When our Lord himself preaches the gospel how does he preach it? He says, "He that believeth not is condemned already." He doesn't put the emphasis on, "Oh well, you don't have the fullness of joy and peace that you could have." Now that is a truth, but I'm saying that's not the predominant emphasis of Scripture. There on the day of Pentecost what does it say when they heard these things? Did they started to jump up with eagerness saying, 'Oh that's wonderful! You've got something better than we've got.' No. It says they were stabbed to the heart and they cried out, "What shall we do?"
What happened to the Philippian jailer? The same thing. He comes in trembling saying, "Sirs. what must I do to be saved?"
You see when the town-crier came, he never came with trivia. And I say to you men, on whom God has laid his hand. May God shut your mouth the day seriousness ceases to be one of the predominant characteristics of your preaching.
Do you believe in heaven with all its glories? And do you believe in hell with all its frightening agonies? Do you believe that weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth are not poetic images? Then in God's name, how can we help but be serious? And that's why I say to every unconverted man or woman boy or girl. God have mercy upon you if you trifle with the gospel. It's life to life and death to death.
- Al Martin
The town-crier opens his mouth and he heralds the message! Why? Because he's conscious of his identity as a herald appointed by the sovereign to his task. That was the mark of the preaching owned of God at Iconium. These men so spake. That was one of the marks of their preaching when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John, they perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men.
In other words, it was not boldness fostered by and buttressed with credentials that would impress the world. Just the opposite was true. It was the very fact that they didn't have the world's credentials and yet dared to hurl the word of God into the consciences of men.
They said, "What in the world makes these men tick? They are unlearned and ignorant men in terms of our standards of what makes a man competent to speak to others. They're fisherman and they're talking to us - the doctors of the law. That ain't kosher! "Don't you know we know philosophy. What do you know about philosophy?"
"Not too much, except God calls it the wisdom of this world which comes to naught."
"Well, don't you know that's insulting to Plato and to Socrates?"
"Sorry fellows."
"The wisdom of this world that comes to naught - what do you know of it?"
"Not much"
"What do you know of the world's opinion of this and that?"
"Not much."
"Well, what in the world do you know?"
"I know my Master's message."
"And when they beheld the boldness of Peter and John perceiving they were unlearned and ignorant men they took note of them that they had been with Jesus."
What is essential is that in this formative period God molds men who understand their identity as the heralds of God so that holy boldness marks their preaching, boldness that will be suffused with tenderness and with gentleness. Many times perhaps with the softest tones of entreaty but never marked by that nervous biting of the nails because "Oh this might offend this one and that truth may offend another", men who speak with all calling forth of the message of their Master, and that's a spiritual quality - not a personality characteristic.
That's why Paul asked Christians to pray that God would give it to him. Isn't that what he said in Ephesians? He said, "Pray for all saints and pray for me." That what may be given to me? What did he pray for? "That boldness may be given unto me. That I may open my mouth and speak boldly as I ought to speak."
When our Lord himself preaches the gospel how does he preach it? He says, "He that believeth not is condemned already." He doesn't put the emphasis on, "Oh well, you don't have the fullness of joy and peace that you could have." Now that is a truth, but I'm saying that's not the predominant emphasis of Scripture. There on the day of Pentecost what does it say when they heard these things? Did they started to jump up with eagerness saying, 'Oh that's wonderful! You've got something better than we've got.' No. It says they were stabbed to the heart and they cried out, "What shall we do?"
What happened to the Philippian jailer? The same thing. He comes in trembling saying, "Sirs. what must I do to be saved?"
You see when the town-crier came, he never came with trivia. And I say to you men, on whom God has laid his hand. May God shut your mouth the day seriousness ceases to be one of the predominant characteristics of your preaching.
Do you believe in heaven with all its glories? And do you believe in hell with all its frightening agonies? Do you believe that weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth are not poetic images? Then in God's name, how can we help but be serious? And that's why I say to every unconverted man or woman boy or girl. God have mercy upon you if you trifle with the gospel. It's life to life and death to death.
- Al Martin
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Sovereign Ruler of the Skies
Sovereign ruler of the skies,
Ever gracious, ever wise,
All my times are in thy hand,
All events at Thy command.
His decrees who formed the earth
Fixed my first and second birth;
Parents, native place, and time,
All appointed were by Him.
He that formed me in the womb,
He shall guide me to the tomb;
All my times shall ever be
Ordered by His wise decree.
Times the tempter's power to prove;
Times to taste the Saviour's love;
All must come, and last , and end,
As shall please my heavenly Friend.
Plagues and deaths around me fly;
Till He bids, I cannot die;
Not a single shaft can hit,
Till the God of love sees fit.
- John Ryland (1753-1825)
Ever gracious, ever wise,
All my times are in thy hand,
All events at Thy command.
His decrees who formed the earth
Fixed my first and second birth;
Parents, native place, and time,
All appointed were by Him.
He that formed me in the womb,
He shall guide me to the tomb;
All my times shall ever be
Ordered by His wise decree.
Times the tempter's power to prove;
Times to taste the Saviour's love;
All must come, and last , and end,
As shall please my heavenly Friend.
Plagues and deaths around me fly;
Till He bids, I cannot die;
Not a single shaft can hit,
Till the God of love sees fit.
- John Ryland (1753-1825)
Friday, December 18, 2009
Like the Dew
"They will be like dew sent by the Lord." Micah 5:7
The lives of godly people are sometimes compared to the dew. One point of likeness, is the quiet way in which the dew performs its ministry. It falls silently and imperceptibly. It makes no noise. No one hears it dropping. It chooses its time in the night when men are sleeping, when none can see its beautiful work. It covers the leaves with clusters of pearls. It steals into the bosoms of the flowers, and leaves new cupfuls of sweetness there. It pours itself down among the roots of the grasses and tender herbs and plants. It loses itself altogether, and yet it is not lost. For in the morning there is fresh life everywhere, and new beauty. The fields are greener, the gardens are more fragrant, and all nature is clothed in fresh luxuriance!
Is there not in this simile a suggestion as to the way we should seek to do good in this world? Should we not wish to have our influence felt while no one thinks of us, rather than that we should be seen and heard and praised? Should we not be willing to lose ourselves in the service of self-forgetful love, as the dew loses itself in the bosom of the rose--caring only that other lives shall be sweeter, happier, and holier, and not that honor shall come to us? We are too anxious, some of us, that our names shall be written in large letters on the things we do, even on what we do for our Master; and are not willing to sink ourselves out of sight and let Him alone have the praise.
Our Lord's teaching on the subject is very plain. He says: "Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." That is, they have that which they seek--the applause of men.
"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." The meaning would seem to be, that we are not to wish people to know of our good deeds, our charities, our self-denials; that we should not seek publicity, when we give money or do good works; indeed, that we are not even to tell ourselves what we have done; that we are not to think about our own good deeds so as to become conscious of them; not to put them down in our diaries and go about complimenting ourselves, throwing bouquets at ourselves, and whispering: "How good I am! What fine things I have done!"
This is an insightful test of our lives. Are we willing to be as the dew--to steal abroad in the darkness, carrying blessings to men's doors, blessings that shall enrich the lives of others and do them good--and then steal away again before those we have helped or blessed awaken, to know what hand it was that brought the gift? Are we willing to work for others . . .
without gratitude,
without recognition,
without human praise,
without requital?
Are we content to have our lives poured out like the dew--to bless the world and make it more fruitful--and yet remain hidden away ourselves? Is it enough for us to see the fruits of our toil and sacrifice in others' spiritual growth, and deeper happiness; yet never hear our names spoken in praise or honor, perhaps even hearing others praised for things we have done?
If you go about doing good in simple ways, in gentle kindnesses, not thinking of reward, not dreaming of praise, not hoping for any return--you are enshrining your name where it will have immortal honor! Our lesson teaches us that this is the way we are to live if we are followers of Christ!
- J. R. Miller
The lives of godly people are sometimes compared to the dew. One point of likeness, is the quiet way in which the dew performs its ministry. It falls silently and imperceptibly. It makes no noise. No one hears it dropping. It chooses its time in the night when men are sleeping, when none can see its beautiful work. It covers the leaves with clusters of pearls. It steals into the bosoms of the flowers, and leaves new cupfuls of sweetness there. It pours itself down among the roots of the grasses and tender herbs and plants. It loses itself altogether, and yet it is not lost. For in the morning there is fresh life everywhere, and new beauty. The fields are greener, the gardens are more fragrant, and all nature is clothed in fresh luxuriance!
Is there not in this simile a suggestion as to the way we should seek to do good in this world? Should we not wish to have our influence felt while no one thinks of us, rather than that we should be seen and heard and praised? Should we not be willing to lose ourselves in the service of self-forgetful love, as the dew loses itself in the bosom of the rose--caring only that other lives shall be sweeter, happier, and holier, and not that honor shall come to us? We are too anxious, some of us, that our names shall be written in large letters on the things we do, even on what we do for our Master; and are not willing to sink ourselves out of sight and let Him alone have the praise.
Our Lord's teaching on the subject is very plain. He says: "Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." That is, they have that which they seek--the applause of men.
"But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." The meaning would seem to be, that we are not to wish people to know of our good deeds, our charities, our self-denials; that we should not seek publicity, when we give money or do good works; indeed, that we are not even to tell ourselves what we have done; that we are not to think about our own good deeds so as to become conscious of them; not to put them down in our diaries and go about complimenting ourselves, throwing bouquets at ourselves, and whispering: "How good I am! What fine things I have done!"
This is an insightful test of our lives. Are we willing to be as the dew--to steal abroad in the darkness, carrying blessings to men's doors, blessings that shall enrich the lives of others and do them good--and then steal away again before those we have helped or blessed awaken, to know what hand it was that brought the gift? Are we willing to work for others . . .
without gratitude,
without recognition,
without human praise,
without requital?
Are we content to have our lives poured out like the dew--to bless the world and make it more fruitful--and yet remain hidden away ourselves? Is it enough for us to see the fruits of our toil and sacrifice in others' spiritual growth, and deeper happiness; yet never hear our names spoken in praise or honor, perhaps even hearing others praised for things we have done?
If you go about doing good in simple ways, in gentle kindnesses, not thinking of reward, not dreaming of praise, not hoping for any return--you are enshrining your name where it will have immortal honor! Our lesson teaches us that this is the way we are to live if we are followers of Christ!
- J. R. Miller
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