By God's Grace; I Will Be That Man!

The story is told of a young man who attended a preaching service in the mid 1800's. The service was not well attended as snow had dropped a wet blanket on the meeting. Only a few people sat in the old, worn church to listen to a man of no reputation preach the Word of God. Although his name is lost to me, God remembers.

This faithful preacher did not have much to say from the world's point of view even if they had been there to hear him. But his message was bathed in prayer. He was God's appointed man, for God's appointed time, in God's appointed place. There were perhaps three or four, maybe five people there that night brave enough to tread through the snow storm to hear the old man preach.

The meeting was not a particularly well publicized event, and seemed to have little impact on the hearers. Not much is told of the message except as it pertained to the young man sitting in the back. The old preacher made the statement, "The world has yet to see what God can do with one man that is wholly committed to Christ." The words so touched the young man that his response was that, "By the grace of God, I'll be that man!." The young man--Dwight Lyman Moody--and the rest is history.

D. L. Moody did not just make a rash vow. His intent was to live out his pledge on a day to day, moment by moment basis and became known as the evangelist that "kissed the cheeks of two continents for Christ" as his ministry spread from North America to Europe.

God accomplished many great things through this man and his biography is definitely worth reading, but Mr.Moody has been with the Lord now for many years. My question is, who will be that man or woman today for 21st century America? Hebrews 4:16 tells us, " Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace...." My payer is that someone reading this will take up the old preacher's challenge to be that one wholly committed to the cause of Christ. Will you go boldly before the throne of grace and tell the Lord that you will pick up the mantle left behind by D. L. Moody.

You might say, "God never uses people like that anymore. He might if someone would be willing to be so used and spent for Christ. Being used for God is one thing, but being spent is quite another. To be used greatly of God means paying a high price. I do not know what that price may be, but I know it will be required. I also know that the results will be worth every bit of the price paid.

Maybe you think you're unworthy to fill such great shoes. We are, but remember,D. L. Moody was just a man. He had the same struggles, the same sin nature, the same weaknesses, and the same temptations that we have. Do we understand that Moses, Elijah, Paul and others were mere men just as we are?

The rest of Hebrews 4:16 goes on to say, "...that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." In the time of your weakness and your inability God will show Himself strong. It's not you that is working, but the holy God of Heaven working through you.

So...who will go "...boldly unto the throne of grace..." and be that man?" You might find yourself surprised at what God wants to do with and in your life. Who will say with D. L. Moody,"I'll be that man!"