DISCIPLESHIP
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
—Luke 14:33
1146 “Ready For Either”
“Ready for Either” is the significant legend that underspans the seal of the Baptist Missionary Union, which presents an ox standing with a plough on one side, and an altar on the other.
1147 How Each Apostle Died
All of the apostles were insulted by the enemies of their Master. They were called to seal their doctrines with their blood and nobly did they bear the trial.
Matthew suffered martyrdom by being slain with a sword at a distant city of Ethiopia.
Mark expired at Alexandria, after being cruelly dragged through the streets of that city.
Luke was hanged upon an olive tree in the classic land of Greece.
John was put in a caldron of boiling oil, but escaped death in a miraculous manner, and was afterward banished to Patmos.
Peter was crucified at Rome with his head downward.
James, the Greater, was beheaded at Jerusalem,
James, the Less, was thrown from a lofty pinnacle of the temple, and then beaten to death with a fuller’s club.
Bartholomew was flayed alive.
Andrew was bound to a cross, whence he preached to his persecutors until he died.
Thomas was run through the body with a lance at Coromandel in the East Indies.
Jude was shot to death with arrows.
Matthias was first stoned and then beheaded.
Barnabas of the Gentiles was stoned to death at Salonica.
Paul, after various tortures and persecutions, was at length beheaded at Rome by the Emperor Nero.
Such was the fate of the apostles, according to traditional statements.
—Christian Index
1148 If God Could
If God can hang the stars on high,
Can paint the clouds that drift on by;
Can send the sun across the sky,
What could He do through you?
If He can send a storm through space,
And dot with trees the mountain’s face;
If He, the sparrow’s way can trace,
What could He do through you?
If God can do such little things
As count our hairs, or birds that sing,
Control the universe that swings,
What could He do through you?
—G. E. Wagoner
1149 God Can Do It
Longfellow could take a worthless sheet of paper, write a poem on it, and make it worth $6,000—that’s genius.
Rockefeller could sign his name to a piece of paper and make it worth a million dollars—that’s capital.
Uncle Sam can take gold, stamp an eagle on it, and make it worth $20.00—that’s money.
A mechanic can take material that is worth only $5.00 and make it worth $50.00—that’s skill.
An artist can take a fifty-cent piece of canvas, paint a picture on it, and make it worth $1,000—that’s art.
God can take a worthless, sinful life, wash it in the blood of Christ, put His Spirit in it, and make it a blessing to humanity—that’s salvation.
—Christian Digest
1150 Christ Has No Hands
Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today
He has no feet but our feet to lead men in the way
He has no tongue but our tongue to tell men how He died
He has no help but our help to bring them to His side.
We are the only Bible the careless world will read,
We are the sinner’s gospel; we are the scoffer’s creed;
We are the Lord’s last message, given in word and deed;
What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?
What if our hands are busy with other work than His?
What if our feet are walking where sin’s allurement is?
What if our tongue is speaking of things His lips would spurn?
How can we hope to help Him or welcome His return?
—Annie Johnston Flint
1151 He Inspires—We Perform
During the last war, a church in Strasbourg was destroyed. Nothing remained except a heap of rubble and broken glass, or so the people thought till they began clearing away the masonry. Then they found a statue of Christ still standing erect. In spite of all the bombing it was unharmed except that both hands were missing. Eventually rebuilding of the church began.
One day a sculptor saw the figure of Christ, and offered to carve new hands. The church officials met to consider the sculptor’s friendly gesture—and decided not to accept the offer. Why? Because the members of that church said: “Our broken statue touches the spirits of men, but that He has no hands to minister to the needy or feed the hungry or enrich the poor—except our hands. He inspires. We perform.”
—Sunday School Times
1152 Stomping On The Violin
It was advertised in one of our large cities that a great violinist would play on a violin worth $1,000. The theater was packed. Many were curious and wanted to hear such an expensive instrument being played. The violinist went on stage and played very beautifully.
Suddenly, he threw the violin on the floor and then began to stomp on it, crushing it to pieces, then walked off the stage. The people were shocked. But then the manager came on stage and said that the violinist did not really use the $1,000 violin but a $20 one. He would now play on the $1,000 one. And so he did. But few people could tell the difference. He simply wanted to show that it was the violinist rather than the violin that makes the music.
In the Master’s hands, even a $20 fiddle would make good music.
1153 Feather Writes Miracle Story
The Methodist missionary to India, Bishop Thoburn was walking down the street when a large feather of an eagle drifted to the ground. He searched the sky for the eagle, but there was no eagle. Turning the feather over and over in his hands, he recalled that pens made out of such feathers had written historic documents.
He then took a sharp knife and sliced across the heavy end of the feather. It wrote so beautifully he decided on the spur of the moment to write a letter to his sister in Boston. He wrote of something which was in his mind for a long time. He told of how mistreated and neglected the girls and women of India were and that he felt God would hold us responsible if we did nothing about it.
Then he added: “You are a school teacher. Although you are excellent, there are thousands of others in America who could take your place. Why don’t you come over here and start a school for the girls and women who come to my compound to church?”
She read it to the Women’s Missionary Society of the church. Spontaneously the members responded. They told Thoburn’s sister if she would go, they would finance the whole project. Thus started the first Christian school for girls in India. Today it is a huge institution.
1154 Needle And Thread
A native of the Congo prayed thus: “Dear Lord, You be the needle and I be the thread. You go first, and I will follow wherever You may lead.”
1155 Heeding Shackleton’s Call
When Shackleton. the great explorer, was planning what proved to be his last expedition to the Arctic seas, an interesting incident is said to have occurred.
Shackleton was seated in an office in London, speaking to a friend about his forthcoming expedition. The friend said, “I am surprised at the publicity you are giving to your new venture. It is rather unlike you.” And Shackleton replied, “I have a purpose in doing so. I want my colleague, Mr. Wild, to hear about my plans. He has buried himself in the heart of Africa, and has left no address, but I thought that if I would broadcast the news that I was going it might filter though into the very center of Africa, and if Wild knows I am going, he will come.” … They both turned, and standing in the doorway was Mr. Wild.
It was a dramatic moment as Wild and Shackleton shook hands—the handshake of loyalty. “I heard you were going,” said Wild; “the news found its way into the heart of Africa, and when I knew, I dropped my gun, picked up a bit of baggage, and made straight for home, and here I am. What are your orders?” Would you do that for Jesus Christ?
—Evangelical Christian
1156 We Have A King!
The Spaniards were besieging the little town of St. Quentin, on the frontiers of France. Its ramparts were in ruins; fever and famine were deciminating its defenders; treason existed among its terrified population. One day the Spaniards shot over the walls a shower of arrows, to which were attached little slips of parchment, promising the inhabitants that if they would surrender, their lives and property would be spared.
The governor of the town was the great leader of the Huguenots, Gaspard de Coligni. As his sole answer he took a piece of parchment, tied it to a javelin, wrote on it the two words Regem habemus—“We have a king!”—and hurled it back into the camp of the enemy. There was his one answer to all their threats and all their enducements.
1157 Rudolph’s Master
There was once a young man in old Vienna named Rudolph. He determined one day to write a symphony; he set to work and labored hard; he wrote it and rewrote it. Then he called in some friends and went over it with them; they were loud in their praises. They said: “It’s great, Rudolph; it will make you a great name.” But he wasn’t satisfied with it. He went over it again and again until at last he had finished it. Then he set the orchestra to work upon it.
Finally the night came when it was to be given to the public. The great hall was literally packed with people, and as the beauties of the harmony floated out over them it touched a responsive chord in their lives, it melted their hearts and they caught the inspiration of the composer. When the last strain had died out there was a moment’s silence, then the great throng went almost wild in the demonstration of their enthusiasm, and hundreds flocked to the stage to congratulate the young musician.
But he stood there unmoved. After the crowd had passed away somewhat, there came down the aisle an old white-haired man. Going up to the young man, he placed both his hands on his shoulders and said, “It was well done. Rudolph, it was well done.” Then it was that a smile of satisfaction stole over the face of the young musician. That was his master.
—E. A. Krapp
1158 Epigram On Discipleship
• A Negro minister once prayed: “Lord, we can’t hold much but we can overflow lots!”
• A Christian is a mind through which Christ thinks; a heart through which Christ loves; a voice through which Christ speaks; a hand through which Christ helps.
See also: Consecration ; Cross-Bearing ; Service ; Matt. 10:24; Mark 10:44.