“John, are you interested in these things?” “Yes,” he replied.
“How long has this been, then?” asked his companion.
“Exactly a week,” he answered; “for a whole week I have tried to get out my Bible to read to you, but I have never done so till now.”
“Well,” said his friend, “it is a strange thing. I was converted on the some night, and I too was ashamed to take my Bible out.”
You are ashamed to take your Bible out and say, “I have lived a godless life for all these years, but I will commence now to live a life of righteousness.” You are ashamed to open your Bible and read that blessed Psalm, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” You are ashamed to be seen on your knees. No man can be a disciple of Jesus Christ without bearing His cross. A great many people want to know how it is Jesus Christ has so few disciples, whilst Mahomet has so many. The reason is that Mahomet gives no cross to bear. There are so few men who will come out to take their stand.
I was struck during the American war with the fact that there were so many men who could go to the cannon’s mouth without trembling, but who had not courage to take up their Bibles to read them at night. They were ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation. “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.”
4. The “I Will” of Service.
The next I will is the “I will” of service.
There are a good many Christians who have been quickened and aroused to say, “I want to do some service for Christ.”
Well, Christ says, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”