January 24, 2006

[Rev. Doc]

Taking The Bold First Step

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."
Romans 1:16

In 1900, in Bangor, Ireland, a group of Salvation Army youth were conducting a street meeting. A young man named Billy Nicholson who had desired to do great things for God passed by. Several of the ones in the Salvation Army troop knew that Billy professed Christianity so they invited him to stand with them. Amid the cat calls from the by-passers, Billy stood bashfully, hoping that no one would recognize him. As he stood there, however, several close friends and family members happened by. Billy felt the pressure to conform, to step down. One of the troop suggested that they kneel to prayer. Billy stooped to pray, no doubt thinking to himself to slip off in the crowd. However, as he prayed, something happened. He determined to give himself completely to God and as he stood up after prayer, all fear of rejection was gone. Billy, or W.P. Nicholson as he came to be known, was one of the great evangelists of the early part of last century. He, along with his peers and friends, Billy Sunday, Dr. Torrey, and Charles Finney, won hundreds of thousands to Christ. He made ten trips around the world, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Ask God to help you set an example of courageous living for Him.

"Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened."
~Billy Graham