"The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, 'We have found the Messiah!' And he brought him to Jesus." John 1:41-42
Nobody told Andrew to go after his brother; it was the impulse of his own heart that sent him so quickly away on his love-errand, after he had found Christ himself. The lesson lies on the surface. "Even a dog," says one, "that has had its leg mended will bring other limping dogs to the man that was kind to it." One who has been cured of some disease — will bring all his afflicted friends to the physician who cured him.
You have had your soul saved. All around you are those whose souls are as lost as yours was a little while ago. How many have you brought to Jesus? Do you think you can hold up clean hands, free from the blood of souls — unless you try very earnestly to bring some others to Christ? Notice that it was his own brother that Andrew brought, and the words indicate that the other man — John, brought his brother too, only Andrew was the quicker.
Home, then, is the place where we ought to begin. Yet, strange to say, it is the last place many of us speak about Christ. The old proverb has it, "The shoemaker's wife is always the worst shod." Often it is the preacher's or the teacher's own home, that gets the least benefit and blessing from his messages of love, or from his Christian life and influence. Surely the dearest in the world to you, are home's precious ones; go first to them, therefore, if any of them are unsaved, and try to bring them to your Savior, that they may find what you have found.
Of course you will not stop with home; let the circle widen until your influence reaches as widely as possible; but do not overlook home and those nearest and dearest to you, while you stretch out your hands toward the heathen in China or in Africa — or even reach over the fence to save a neighbor next door. That is a mistake some people make.
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J.R. Miller (1840 - 1912)
Prolific author and pastor of Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois, Rev. James Russell Miller served the USCC as a field agent in the Army of the Potomac and Army of the Cumberland.J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia. J.R. Miller D.D.'s lasting fame is through his over 50 books. Many are still in publication.
James Russell Miller (March 20, 1840 - July 2, 1912) was a popular Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois.
In 1857, James entered Beaver Academy and in 1862 he progressed to Westminster College, Pennsylvania, which he graduated in June, 1862. Then in the autumn of that year he entered the theological seminary of the United Presbyterian Church at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller resumed his interrupted studies at the Allegheny Theological Seminary in the fall of 1865 and completed them in the spring of 1867. That summer he accepted a call from the First United Presbyterian Church of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. He was ordained and installed on September 11, 1867.
J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia.
Five years later, in 1880, Dr. Miller became assistant to the Editorial Secretary at the The Presbyterian Board of Publication, also in Philadelphia.