Cornerstone

John 12:23-27 (25)

David Augsburger writes in Sticking My Neck Out that when James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the captain of the ship sought to turn him back. “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages,” he cried. Calvert only replied, “We died before we came here.” (p. 154)

The paradox is that we must go down before we can go up. We must surrender before we can serve. If you would serve Jesus you must follow Him. His way led to a cross.

This type of commitment brought great men of God to express their heart desire:

Evangelist George Whitefield said, “O Lord, give me souls, or take my soul.”

Missionary Henry Martyn cried, “Here let me burn out for God.”

Missionary David Brainerd declared, “Lord, to Thee I dedicate myself. Oh, accept of me be Thine forever. Lord, I desire nothing else; I desire nothing more.”

Evangelist Dwight L. Moody implored, “Use me, then, my Savior, for whatever purpose and in whatever way Thou mayest require. Here is my poor heart, an empty vessel; fill it with Thy Grace.”

Reformer Martin Luther prayed, “Do Thou, my God, stand by me against all the world’s wisdom and reason. Oh, do it! Thou must do it. Stand by me, Thou true, eternal God!”

Missionary “Praying Hyde” pleaded, “Father, give me these souls, or I die.”

Dr. Gayle Woods

Psa 51:10-13 (12)

I never will forget that service at Harmony Hill Youth Camp. I had fasted all week praying that God would save my youngest son. A wall was between us. We lived together but didn’t communicate. We were both miserable about the same thing but for different reasons. I couldn’t understand the problem and he wouldn’t talk about it. The evangelist had just preached about “Honoring your Father and Mother.” We were standing. And invitation was in progress. Then I saw my son leave his chair and head for the aisle. I prayed that he would go forward to be saved . . . I prayed that he would not leave the service in total rejection of God. My prayer was interrupted when I sensed his presence. I looked up in time to see him throwing his arms around my neck. We wept together and rejoiced together as he asked me to forgive him. We freely expressed our love for each other. In just a small way this compares to the restoration and reconciliation that takes place when we come to God seeking His forgiveness. It truly is joy unspeakable and full of glory.

Dr. Gayle Woods