Dear Friends,
Today’s attached devotional tells the true story of a man who was
remembered. As you read, ask yourself, “Will anyone remember me for the
spiritual impact I had on their live?” Then ask, “Does my answer point
to some changes I should make? God bless you.

Because of Calvary,
John Janney

• Hebrews 13:7 (ESV)

  7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

“H. L. Gee tells this story. In the church where he worshipped there was a lonely old man, old Thomas. He had outlived all his friends and hardly anyone knew him. When Thomas died, Gee had the feeling that there would be no one to go to the funeral so he decided to go, so that there might be someone to follow the old man to his last resting-place.

“There was no one else and it was a wild, wet day. The funeral reached the cemetery; and at the gate there was a soldier waiting. He was an officer, but on his raincoat there were no rank badges. The soldier came to the graveside for the ceremony; when it was over he stepped forward and before the open grave swept his hand to a salute that might have been given to a king. H. L. Gee walked away with this soldier, and as they walked, the wind blew the soldier’s raincoat open to reveal the shoulder badges of a brigadier.

“The brigadier said to Gee: ‘You will perhaps be wondering what I am doing here. Years ago Thomas was my Sunday school teacher; I was a wild lad and a sore trial to him. He never knew what he did for me, but I owe everything I am or will be to old Thomas, and today I had to come to salute him at the end.’” [William Barclay, “The Gospel of Matthew,” The Daily Study Bible Series II, (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1975), p. 62-63]