OUR DAILY BREAD                    Sat., January 21, 1995
---------------

READ:  John 17:1-23

                   WORD AND LIFE

      "(I Pray) for those who will believe in
               Me through their word."

                               - John 17:20

A man knew the Bible well and openly declared his
faith in Christ but he had a bad reputation for his
unprincipled business practices.  When confronted
about the inconsistency, he replied, "God is more
concerned with how I talk to others about Christ
than He is with how I live."

In contrast, many Christians who never tell others
about Jesus make the excuse, "I'll let my life
talk for me."  Both extremes are in error.

The following poem, adapted from an old work by
George Herbert, expresses the needed balance.

   Lord, how can we speak Your Word?
   We are brittle, like fragile glass.
   Yet, in Your service You afford us
   This glorious and transcendent place
   To be a window, through Your grace.

   When through this glass You reveal Your story,
   And make Your life to shine within these windows,
   Then Your light and glory more
   Attractive grows, more favor wins
   Than all this world's alluring sins.

   Truth and life, colors and light,
   When they combine and mingle, bring
   A sense of awe; but speech alone
   Will vanish like a fleeting thing;
   It strikes the ear, but does not conscience ring.


Lord, help us to witness in both word and life.

                               -- Herbert Vander Lugt


------------------------------------------
           THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
------------------------------------------

An effective witness not only knows his faith
           but shows his faith.

------------------------------------------
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Exodus 18-20
------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------
Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1994, used by permission of
Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555, USA.
Written permission must be obtained from RBC for any
further posting or distribution.  RBC provides a variety
of Bible resources, which are free of charge.  RBC is not
funded by any group or denomination, and support comes
voluntarily from its Members and Friends.  Write for more
information, or call 1-800-598-7221.
------------------------------------------------------------


-------------------------------------------------------
file: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db950121.txt

.