HomeWord - June 8, 2015

A Great Story

This devotional was written by Jim Burns

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. —Matthew 28:19-20

In 1858, Mr. Kimbell, a Sunday school teacher, prayed with one of his students, a shoe salesman. The salesman, Dwight L. Moody, accepted Christ as his Savior and went on to become a great evangelist. In 1879, Moody was sharing the good news of Jesus and a young man, F. B. Meyer, met Christ. This young man became zealous for preaching the good news. While preaching on an American college campus, F. B. Meyer brought a student, J. Wilbur Chapman, to Christ. Chapman later employed an ex-baseball player, Billy Sunday, to do evangelistic work.

Billy Sunday was one of the greatest Christian preachers and evangelists in the early 1900s. Once after Billy Sunday preached in Charlotte, North Carolina, a group of local business-men were so enthusiastic, they decided to bring another man, Mordecai Ham, to preach. During Ham’s revival meeting a young man, Billy Graham, yielded his life to Christ. Billy Graham has since preached to more people in person than any person in history. Only God can count how many people have been reached by people who were saved at Graham’s meetings.

It all started with a faithful Sunday school teacher, Edward Kimbell. Few people will ever know his name but, in reality, look at how many people this one man's witness has affected.

The world has yet to see what one man or woman can do for Christ if they are completely yielded to him. Will you be a person such as Edward Kimbell who was faithful in sharing the good news of Jesus? You never know what can happen. There could be another Dwight Moody, Billy Sunday, or Billy Graham out there waiting to be converted.

Here's what the Scripture says about those who share the good news:

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7

GOING DEEPER:

1. How can Isaiah 52:7 inspire you?

2. Who are three people you can pray for and then look for an opportunity to share the good news with sometime in the next month?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 98:1-4 

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