“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost” ―1 Thess. 1:5, 65For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: (1 Thessalonians 1:5‑6).
THE faithful preaching of the Word of God, backed by a consecrated life, is bound to bring results. A holy minister of Christ is a tremendously effective weapon in the hand of God. Paul believed the gospel. He knew what it had done in his own life, and he proclaimed it with absolute confidence to others. He never sought simply to amuse or astonish his audiences, but he stood before them in all the holy authority of an ambassador for Christ, representing the high court of Heaven. Consequently, his word was with power. We may well follow his example today and, renouncing all the fripperies and fropperies of the present age of sham, as Carlyle called it, preach the gospel, assured that “it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.”
“Still in a land of drought and dearth
Our longing spirits cry
To Thee, the Lord of heaven and earth,
Our thirst to satisfy.
O Thou with love more strong than death,
Unquenched by deepest waves,
We need throughout the walk of faith
The same free grace that saves.
We would not take from falsehood’s fire,
Though glitt’ring be the spark;
Thou only art our heart’s desire,
Art light where all is dark.”
—Mary Bowley.