Some people say there are two things you should never discuss: politics and religion. Others think of the Christian walk as a very private and personal encounter. Actually, the Bible teaches us to let our light shine! In the case of Ira Sankey, praising God and letting his light shine, SAVED HIS LIFE. Ira Sankey was a well known song leader and soloist who worked with D.L. Moody.

Once, while on a riverboat steamer trying to make it home in time for Christmas, he was recognized and asked to sing. Instead of singing a Christmas carol he felt led to sing, “Saviour like a Shepherd lead us.”

Afterwards, a man of about his own age, came up to him and asked him if he had ever been in the army. When Sankey replied yes, the man asked him if he had ever served guard duty at night in Maryland. Sankey said he had.

The man told him that he had been in the Confederate army and had had him in his rifle sights while he was standing in the light of the full moon. He was ready to shoot him, but then he sang that same song, Saviour like a Shepherd lead us. He told Sankey that his mother used to sing that song a lot, but he never expected any Union soldier to be singing it at midnight on guard duty. He said that he would have recognized that voice and song anyplace. Hearing Sankey sing about Jesus, he realized that he could never shoot him, and Sankey’s life was spared.

Jesus came to give us eternal life, but also joy on this side of heaven. As we sing and praise God, the joy wells up within us to the point where we can’t keep it in, and perhaps in sharing it publicly, we can lead someone else to Christ as well as save the day!

APPLICATION: We must have the praise of Jesus upon our lips at all times. When we praise Jesus through worship, we are spared so much, and lifted closer to God. Today, through a tape, Christian radio or a worship service, sing joyfully to the Lord.

God, thank You for letting us shout for joy to You! Today, we worship You with gladness. We come before You today with songs of joy upon our hearts. You made us and we are Yours. We enter the gates of this day with hearts of thanksgiving. You are awesome and Your love endures forever. You are faithful to all generations and throughout all generations. Give us strength to lead a blameless life, in Jesus’ Name,

AMEN!

Re-arranging my life for Christ,

David Burns SUB-eMedList@freshwind.org