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The Pilgrim Path (9-24-2020)

The Pilgrim Path---Mark 9: 41

“For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.”

SMALL THINGS---Or---Maybe Not?

Giving a cup of water to someone to drink---because they belong to the LORD Jesus---is not missed in Heaven. That is a remarkable and reassuring testimony from the Savior! Water is necessary for survival. If you have worked outside, you have really appreciated it when someone thought enough to bring you water to drink. The Holy Land may be a place that is particularly hot and arid. Water may be genuinely prized in such an environment (Isaiah 55: 1). In the history of the world, people have fought and died over access to water. Water is precious---even though we tend to take it for granted. I often think when I turn on a faucet---that about two billion people each day---look for water that is clean enough to drink.

---The LORD Jesus Christ is telling us that Heaven takes note of small gifts given in His Name: Given to help---given to bless---in the Name of Jesus.

---Small gifts are not so small after all…

---Matthew 25: 31—46, paints a picture of feeding the hungry, giving a drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, tending to the sick, helping the stranger, and visiting the prisoner in jail---ALL being done, “as unto Jesus.” No small gifts!

---The best you can give---to help in Jesus’ Name: Registers in Glory!

---Small matters---Matter to the LORD…When you can move to “larger” endeavors---Pray and press on. The gracious news: The LORD only expects us to do what we can with the time / talent / material resources we have at our disposal…Thanks Be to God!

When D. L. Moody, the 19th Century American Evangelist went to London, none of the leading churchman were prepared to allow him to speak in their pulpit---except Charles Haddon Spurgeon. This was something---because Moody was not of quite the same theological persuasion as Spurgeon---but what Moody was---was this: Moody loved the souls of men. This impressed Spurgeon tremendously. I relate this story from Moody:

One Sunday morning in London, Spurgeon said to me, just before he commenced his sermon: “Moody, I want you to notice that family there in one of the front seats, and when we go home I want to tell you their story.”

When we got home, I asked for the story of my host—Mr. Spurgeon---this is what he said:

“All that family were won by a smile.”

“Why,” said I, “how’s that?”

“Well,” said he, “as I was walking down a street one day, I saw a child at a window; it smiled, and I smiled, and we bowed. It was the same the second time; I bowed, she bowed. It was not long before there was another child, and I had got into a habit of looking and bowing, and pretty soon the group grew, and last, as I went by, a lady was with them. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to bow to her, but I knew the children expected it, and so I bowed to them all. And the mother saw I was a minister because I carried a Bible every Sunday morning. So, the children followed me the next Sunday and found I was a minister. And they thought I was the greatest preacher, and their parents must hear me. A minister who is kind to a child and gives him a pat on the head, why, the children will think he is the greatest preacher in the world. Kindness goes a great way. And, finally, the father and mother and five children were converted, and they are going to join our church next Sunday.”

“Won to Christ by a smile!” said Moody. “We must get the wrinkles out of our brows, and we must have smiling faces, if we want to succeed in our work of love.”

---A small matter---mattered a great deal!

HYMN

Jesus, fill now with Thy Spirit

Hearts that full surrender know;

That the streams of living water

From our inner man may flow.

Channels only, blessed Master,

But with all Thy wondrous power

Flowing through us, Thou canst use us

Every day and every hour.

Mary E. Maxwell (1837—1915)

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason