Often a very small thing turns the scale. It may be just a word from a friend, or an enemy. It may! be just a look. In a crisis in the life of Peter you remember it was look that, recalled him before, it was {oo late in the high Priest's palace.
Now this is a very serious thought, Not a day passes that we are not with someone when a word fro us, som@thing we can do or say will make just all the difference. For whether we intend it or not we influence those with whom we come in contact by every word and by every action.
You have thrown a stone into a pool and seen the ever widening] ripples from the point where it fell, So a word or an action is thrown into the stream of life. Its influence goes on and on in ever widening circles. Some of you have seen action. Perhaps it was in action when one man's courageous action was an inspiration to many. We soe it in our daily life together, a hundred different Surely in this we see the operation of a great law of life, and one! which provides a great and God-given opportunity by which He means us to further His Kingdom.
The Fear of Phariseeism We have an unjustifiable fear of phariseeism. We hesitate to ask men to come to God's House, to Hi table, because we do not want to be accused of setting ourselves up) to be better than others, or of preaching to others, Wo usually} do the reverse....1 was making a long trip across Canada on military.
ness and in uniform during the lo our baths were bein made up a group of us strangers to one another had gathered in the Snioke-room and someone toll story that was not nice; someone else capped it and so it went on. The next morning we of off and T sat al breakfast in the hotel wi the worst offender of the night before. I found we knew mutual] friends and soon he was telling, me about his family, his two small boys and his plans for them. I said, "well last night I thought you were a very different sort of cha. "Oh," he said, "I don't like that. sort of thing but other chaps expect it. But do they? are they not just as responsive to a better example, The Power of Example Oh, the power of example! Be [cause you are not a clergyman does not nien that you arg absolved from all active work for God. The forces of evil do not have just a handful of men to represent them, nor confine their operations to one day in the week.
Nor can the Christian Church if it would grow as it should. You need not preach sermons; you can ive them, which is much' bette A word of advice at the fork of the road is worth 50 sermons on] a Sunday. A word of encouragement when down-hearted and discouraged, 2 word of warning when fon dangerous ground may save soul for whom Christ died.
How many people you chatted with last week would have been our consent and we assume the responsibility. But Tam pointing out what every man will admit. +That in spite of conscious choice, and free will, we are very largely! helped by a word of encouragement, by a word of warning, or advice would have overcome temptation by your help. It is 50 easy to criticize others but in the great struggle of moulded by environment and shaped Ife there is no room on the side-_ circumstances.
heart is a battle ground be-'
Hine, we must all Ee in it for good tween conflicting desires. Some-'And in closing, use your influence.
1¢8 wa seem just to hover in the But do not necessarily let it end elance between two courses of there. Ifyou have found a Saviour, Retion, Two desires seem to have Join the brotherhood of St, Andrew almost equal power. Then we choos] and bring others to Jesus. When one and soon we are far away from the fork of the road. It was just al fork and the two hardly seemed lead in lifexent directions. But they come face to face with Him, ike Peter they too may become! Who knows, apostles.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.