An infidel blacksmith, well-read in infidel literature, rejoiced in his power to defeat in argument any opponent.
A Christian in the same town had a great longing for this man's salvation. He read up on infidel literature and the arguments in reply. When he thought he had mastered the subject he called upon this blacksmith to persuade him that he was wrong in his infidel opinions. But he proved no match for the blacksmith. In a few moments the blacksmith had shattered his arguments and defeated him utterly.
The Christian, although defeated, knew that he was right even if he could not prove it to the blacksmith. In his deep yearning for the salvation of his soul he burst into tears and said, "All I can say is, I have a great spiritual concern for your soul.”
He then left, went to his home, burst in upon his wife, and cried: "Emmy, I am a botch on God's work. God knows I really love that blacksmith's soul. I went down to prove to him that he was wrong, and in a few minutes he beat me utterly in argument. I am only a botch on God's work.”
He then went to his room and knelt down to pray, saying: "O God, I am only a botch on Thy work. Thou knowest that I have a real desire for that man's salvation, but I have failed utterly in my attempt to convince him.”
Soon after he had left the blacksmith's shop, the blacksmith went into his house and said to his wife, a godly woman, "Mary, Dave was just over talking to me. He used one argument I did not understand; he said he had `a great spiritual concern for my soul.' What did he mean?”
His wife, who was a wise woman, said, "You had better go ask him.”
The blacksmith hung up his apron, and went across the fields to Dave's house. Just as he ascended the steps and was at the door, he heard the Christian in prayer saying he was a botch on God's work. He pushed open the door and cried, "Dave, you are no botch on God's work; I thought I knew all the arguments for Christianity, and that I could answer them all; but you used an argument this morning I never heard before, and I cannot answer. You said you had 'a great spiritual concern for my soul.'”
This was the Christian's opportunity to lead that man to Christ, and the Lord gave him the words and the privilege.
"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord." Zech. 4:66Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6).