MY DAD was an engineer on the Chicago and North Western Railroad. I called him Dad because my real father died when I was but a small boy, and years later my mother married James C. Davis, a splendid Christian railroad man, who not only loved the Lord Jesus, but loved his family as well. I felt as if he loved me as much as my own father could, and I loved him. Why? I do not know; perhaps it was because we both loved Jesus. It makes a lot of difference in a home when the head of the house loves the Lord Jesus.
Dad was not ashamed of Him, though at first he didn’t have the courage to confess Him. He wanted to, and tried to, but failed. Determined to, however, at last he succeeded.
When he came off his run one night he said: “Boys, I want you to have made for me a golden button about the size of a penny, with my name Jim on it.”
“What for?” we asked.
“To wear,” he answered. “You get the button and charge the same to me.”
So we ordered the button. It was a large gold and enameled button, with the letters “JIM” on it. We spent several dollars and much time to see that it was just right. As happy as a dog with two tails, Dad took his button and sure enough put it on his coat lapel and went to work. When he came home off his run, there was the button.
“Dad, did you wear that button?” we inquired.
“Sure,” he replied. “Why not?” “Well, Dad, what is it for?” “Would you like to know?” he asked.
“Why, certainly,” we responded. “Well,” said he with a smile, “so does every one else that sees it.” “What did you tell them?” we asked.
“Just what I am going to tell you.
“Jim stands for Jim, my name, and also my testimony. J stands for Jesus. I stands for Is. M stands for Mine. JESUS IS MINE. You see, boys, I wanted to let the men on the road know that I loved Jesus. I knew that I could carry on a conversation if started, but somehow I could not start it. Now when they ask me what the button stands for, that opens it up, and I head in, and tell them. It’s just my way of witnessing for Christ.” God used that button to open up a heart-to-heart talk with many a man.
Needless to say, after wearing the JIM button a few weeks, my Dad reached the place where he could talk about Jesus, button or no button.
Let me ask: Can you say JESUS IS MINE? If you cannot say “Jesus is Mine,” “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31.
ML-12/30/1962