Mr. Sankey tells the story of his boy who was with him, when a little fellow, in Scotland, and for the first time he possessed what in that country is known as a top-coat. They were walking out one cold day, and the way was slippery. The little fellow’s hands were deep down in his pockets. His father said to him: “My son, you had better let me take your hand,” but he said you never could persuade a boy with a new top-coat to take his hands from his pockets. They reached a slippery place and the boy had a hard fall. Then his pride began to depart and he said: “I will take your hand.” and he reached up and clasped his father’s hand the best he could. When a second slippery place was reached, the clasp was broken and the second fall was harder than the first. Then all his pride was gone, and raising his little hand he said: “You may take it now”; and his father said: “I clasped it round about with my great hand and we continued our walk; and when we reached the slippery places,” said he, “the little feet would start to go and I would hold him up.” This is a picture for the Christian. I am saved not so much because I have hold of God as because God has hold of me, and He not only gives me shoes with which I may walk and which never wear out, but Christ holds my hand in His and I shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck me out of His hand.(By Wilbur Chapman)

Why does the world reject the Savior of the world?
Why do they abhor Him who is altogether lovely,
and hate Him who is the best Friend of mankind?

O men of the world! what good can you desire which
is not in Christ? The excellencies of earth are but His
footstool; the excellencies of heaven are but His
throne! How excellent, then, must He himself be!

His treasures are infinite–and open for you!

In Jesus are . . .
riches–if you are poor;
honor–if you are despised;
friendship–if you are forsaken;
help–if you are injured;
mercy–if you are miserable;
joy–if you are disconsolate;
protection–if you are in danger;
deliverance–if you are a captive;
life–if you are mortal;
and all things–if you have nothing at all.

Time and eternity are His! He can give
you all the glorious things of eternity!

Moreover, He can deliver you . . .
from all your fears;
from sin–the worst of all evils;
from self–the most hurtful of all companions;
from death–the most dreadful of all changes;
from Satan–the most subtle of all enemies;
from hell–the most horrible of all prisons; and
from wrath–the most horrifying doom of all sinners!

Now, where will you find such a one as Jesus?

Why, then, refuse life, and seek after death?

All heaven is enamored with His beauty!

The longer we look on ‘created gaieties’, the leaner
and less lovely they grow; so that, by the time we
have viewed them forty, fifty, or sixty years–we
see nothing but vanity in the creature! But when
ten thousand ages are employed in beholding the
perfection and beauty of Jesus–He still appears
more and more lovely–even altogether lovely!
(By James Meikle, 1730-1799)

“I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable , but now profitable to thee and to me” (Phile. 1:10, 11).

I don’t know who Keith Robinson is, but he gives us plenty to think about in the comments below:

 

 

“What use am I in the world? Has my life really made a difference in anything? Would anything be appreciably different if I were not here? What is the old saying about putting your hand in a pail of water and withdrawing it: the hole that remains is how much you will be missed when you are gone! I am not pessimistic, depressed, or tired of living, but in reality, I have to recognize that my life has not made much of an impact on the world, certainly nothing like I had intended when I was 18 years old. But I am encouraged by the fact that human worth is not measured only in terms of fame, fortune, and sociopolitical influence. Perhaps the greatest measure of our value is how much we are needed by some other human being. John Mark was important because Paul needed him in a time of extreme anxiety and distress. The once useless Onesimus became ‘useful’ to Paul and to Philemon.

“When the final books are balanced and closed, the greatest tribute anyone could receive would be: They were useful! Someone needed them! And what greater ambition could a person entertain than to be needed, to be useful. My input is not desired or needed for the Mid-East peace talks. It is doubtful that those involved are indispensable. But I fill a need in the lives of a few people that cannot be filled by anyone else. If there is someone who needs my love, if there is someone who looks forward to my presence, even if I can be nothing much more than just the object to someone’s love, then I am not worthless. My life is not in vain. My existence is not futile. I may not be much, but I can love someone and make them feel needed. I can be the object of someone else’s love and thus fill their needs and mine. No one is useless unless they give up on life and love.

” ‘Onesimus’ means ‘useful.

Charles Spurgeon said, “People have often asked me,”What is the secret of your success?” I always reply that I have no secret but this, that I have preached the gospel–not about the gospel–but the gospel; the full, free, glorious gospel of the Living Christ, who is the Incarnation of the Good News. Preach Christ, brethren, always and everywhere.”   That’s exactly what Paul did. He said,”I am ready to preach the gospel–For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth–“(Romans 1:15-16).”–I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel–“(Romans 15:19-20).   One preacher, a Dr. Baldwin, who pastored a church for 41 years, said: “I testify that at thirty, after examining as best I could the philosophies and religions of the world, I said ‘Nothing is better than the Gospel of Christ.’ At forty, when burdens began to press heaviliy and years seem to hasten, I said,‘Nothing is as good as the Gospel.’ At fifty, when there were empty chairs in the home and  the mound builders had done me service,’I said,‘There is nothing to be compared with the Gospel.’ At sixty, when my second sight saw through the delusions and vanities of earthly things,I said,’There is nothing but the Gospel.‘ At severty, amid many limitations and deprivations,I sing: “Should all the forms that men devise Attack my faith with treacherous art, I’d call them vanities and lies, And bind the Gospel to my heart.”

Scripture provides an accurate account of the heavenly Father’s character, actions, and purposes. Together, the Old and New Testaments teach us that man’s problem is sin and the only remedy is faith in the Son of God: Jesus Christ. Through the Bible, we learn what happens at the moment of our salvation: our sin’s penalty is reckoned as paid, its power over us is broken, and the Holy Spirit becomes our daily companion.

Through His Word, God has entrusted to us the knowledge of who He is, what He is doing, and how the future will unfold for mankind. The Scriptures were intended to lead us into a growing personal relationship with the Father and to empower us for fruitful service as Christ’s ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20). In this position, we are called to follow Jesus’ example in glorifying God (Matt. 5:16)-our Savior focused not on Himself but on the heavenly Father, whose plan is to reach the entire world with His saving grace.

The Father’s will includes certain tasks for each of His children to accomplish (Eph. 2:10). In meditating on scriptural principles and examples, we’ll be able to discern what He has in mind for us. Just as Jesus’ work was to do His Father’s will, that is our calling as well.

What place does this Book of books-the Bible-have in determining the course of your life? Take time today and every day to listen to the Lord, to partake of His wisdom, and to determine what He is saying to you personally. In so doing, you will orient your mind to His priorities and thinking.(Charles Stanley)