p. 107 | A Touching Appeal by D. L. Moody

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Feb 14, 1884

A Touching Appeal.

By D. L. Moody

DEAR friends, it is a great honor to be connected with the Lord's work, and if you look down upon it you certainly are not fit for his service. It is the highest position any mortal can have to be a co-worker with God; but you must forget self. Many Christians are walking in darkness and bondage, who would be in the clear light of Heaven if they were only willing to forget themselves and work for the Master. If you cannot do some great thing, be content to do some little thing.

You may have heard the story of the man in the cabin of a vessel at sea, who was sea-sick; those of you who know what it is will agree with me that one feels very little fit for work at such a time. This man heard a shout that there was "a man overboard." He wondered what he could do, and at last he thought he could hold up the bull's-eye lantern, in the hope that it might do some good. The drowning man was rescued. When the sick passenger was able to go on deck, he was talking to this rescued man, who told him that just as he was sinking for the last time, and they could not find him on account of the darkness, some one held up a bull's-eye lantern, which threw a light on his head, whereupon he was seized and saved.

How many of you could cheer others on. Go and help them in their work; your presence will do some good, and may influence some one else. If you cannot sing as well as other people, you can pray. If you cannot speak, you can lift up your heart in silent prayer to God. If you have been saved yourself, ought you not to try to rescue others?

If God has redeemed you and you do not try to redeem others, I would not give much for your Christianity. If any drunkard has been raised out of the pit and out of the miry-clay, his feet established, and a new song put into his mouth, and he is not willing to save others, there is something wrong with him.—D. L. Moody.