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Gospel Workers 1915
power to his preaching. Here lies the power of the truth. The unstudied,
unconscious influence of a holy life is the most convincing sermon
that can be given in favor of Christianity. Argument, even when unan-
swerable, may provoke only opposition; but a godly example has a
power that it is impossible wholly to resist.
The apostle’s heart burned with love for sinners, and he put all his
energies into the work of soul-winning. There never lived a more self-
denying, persevering worker. The blessings he received he prized as so
many advantages to be used in blessing others. He lost no opportunity
of speaking of the Saviour or of helping those in trouble. Wherever
he could find a hearing, he sought to counteract wrong and to turn the
feet of men and women into the path of righteousness.
Paul never forgot the responsibility resting on him as a minister
of Christ; or that if souls were lost through unfaithfulness on his part,
God would hold him accountable. “I take you to record this day,” he
declared, “that I am pure from the blood of all men.” [
Acts 20:26
.]
“Whereof I am made a minister,” he said of the gospel, “according to
the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the
[60]
word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and
from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints: to whom
God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery
among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: whom
we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom;
that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I
also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me
mightily.” [
Colossians 1:25-29
]
These words present before the worker for Christ a high standard
of attainment, yet this standard all can reach who, putting themselves
under the control of the great Teacher, learn daily in the school of
Christ. The power at God’s command is limitless; and the minister
who in his great need shuts himself in with the Lord, may be assured
that he will receive that which will be to his hearers a savor of life unto
life.
Paul’s writings show that the gospel minister should be an example
of the truths that he teaches, “giving no offense in anything, that
the ministry be not blamed.” [
2 Corinthians 6:3
.] To Titus he wrote,
“Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded. In all things showing
thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness,