For some time I had been crying to God to save an ungodly brother of mine. He had been a great trial to my dear Christian father, who often gave him a word of warning. At last my brother was determined he would have his own way, and left his father’s house for Australia.
Several years passed away, and then I wrote to my brother, entreating him to come to Jesus. I enclosed a hymn leaflet, every verse ending with these words:
“For you I am praying,
I’m praying for you.”
After three months I received an answer from my brother, desiring me never to write to him again, unless I could do so without alluding to religion, or that sort of thing; he was very angry with me.
I took him at his word, and decided that I would not write again, but would pray more for him. I also asked some Christians to carry him to God in prayer. About three months after this sad letter, came the post; man and handed me another foreign letter, to my great surprise. And more surprised still was I, as I commenced reading the letter, which ran thus:
“My dear sister, you shall be the first to whom I will tell the good news that I am rejoicing in the joyousness of Jesus. O! dear sister, your letter made me wretched, but mine will make you glad; for I have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. After your letter came, I went more into sin than ever I had done, till one night I felt very ill, and then made up my mind if I got better I would go to chapel some Sunday. After I recovered I went, but it only made me feel more wretched. I was glad when the service was over. I felt there was no mercy for me. Then I was very ill again, and could not work.
“O! what a wretched time this was! I again thought if I got better I would go to chapel. God, in His love, raised me up again, and I carried out my good resolution. I thought the preacher knew all about me, for every word he said was just for me; I could not rise from my seat; there I sat while the people all went out. I could not go; I sat and cried.
“A man came to me, and asked if I was saved; I told him, no, neither could I ever be. Several of God’s people knelt down, and prayed for me, but this did me no good.
“Here at last I left. But I felt I could not go home, I walked about to a very late hour, praying to God to pardon my many sins, and to let me know it. And as I was walking and praying, these words came to me as if someone spoke to me:
“‘This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.’” (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). I saw it, and went home rejoicing, dear sister. I at once went out and told others what the Lord had done for my soul; yes! the very people on the street knew I was a saved man; to God be all the praise.”
I would add a word to any of my Christian readers: O! be faithful with your unconverted relations! Never mind making them angry. The Word will be a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death to them. We can sometimes reach our friends better by letter, than by speaking to them; but let us write God’s words and not our own. His words may have a lodging place in their consciences long before it is made manifest to us, as was the case with my brother. Often those who seem to reject the name of Jesus, want Him in their hearts.