The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-06-15

the United States
pays them. They
have to live in - -
ansions for DR.. Foreman
which the mere housekeeping bill
is enormous, they have to give
parties and dinners costing more
than you earn in a month.
Gods ill.hsused ambassador
Strange as it seems. the ambas
sailors OF God are not usually
looked after in such sumptuous
style. They always have housing
of sort, but it is seldom palatial
Indeed one Of them wrote. If we
have food and clothing. with these
we shall be content Nothing said
about housing One of the very
greatest of Gods amba Ssadors to
this world suffered from some
thing quite a bit worse than leaky
roofs or lack of plumbing II the
Apostle Paul were to visit our
town today, even people outside
the church would want to have
him put up at the best hotel in
town. or entertained at the finest
homes Paul sometimes got this
sort of treatment. but great deal
OF the time, indeed for years on
end. he would be actually in jail
Not only that, but he would have
to wear chains on his arms and
legs as if he we're member of
chain gang Strange to say. too,
this did not make Paul unhappy
or bitter After two solid years Of
that sort of thing some men might
be willing to quit But rot Paul.
Standing before a king. his hands
weighted down so that it was hard
to move. Paul said, II would to
God you we're just as am -ex
cept for these chains He would
not wish his chains on anybody:
but otherwise he knew he was bet
ter off than king, for he was still
the ambassador Of God. There is
no higher place
Spokesman for God
We must not blame God for the
poor treatment his ambassadors
receive 1t is not his fault But
God men understand this. Paul
understood it, and went on speak
ng for God wherever he was.
some Christians might think that
if Providence had dumped them in
Jail they could be expected to take
their faith. But Paul knew that
here never is real vacation from
>eing a Christian. There have
been some peculiar chara cters APP
ointed as ambassadors now and
then by human governments: but
10 emperor king or senate ever
appointed dumb man. to repre-
ent his country There was
gieat convention of Chris
On business men in Louis
He. Kentucky, last winter. Three
these men we're on their way
forwards to the airport in taxi
What would you have done in their
laccs1- The convention was over.
business and families we're expect
ng YOU home No time. no place,
for Christian work in taxi. sure
ly? But these men did see it that
way. They talked to the driver,
found he was not Christian.
Never mind the plane, they said,
just drive us to your own home
There they talked with him,
prayed with him. and he gave his
heart to Christ They missed the
plane. but do you think they re-
GREETED it?
The chains still rattle
Actual iron chains do still i'm
prison some of Gods people. There
are parts of the world where it is
almost a crime merely to be
Christian But even where that is
not true. the men and women who
represent God have to work
against many kinds Of handicaps.
Sometimes it is only being thought
peculiar or supeEstitious. Some
times it is having to work under
a government which is unfriendly
to religion. as is the case in some
mission fields. Sometimes it is
some local industry" which is
vicious and powerful and will
strike back at any person, or
group, religious or otherwise. that
threatens to cut down their profits.
Sometimes these invisible chains
muzzle the mouth of minister
whose people will not let him
speak up for his own Christian
ideals. Well. chains may hold back
Gods kingdom; but they viii
never stop it.
Dassd on outlines copyrighted ~ II
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