In one of the large cities of America there lived a woman who was known far and near as living a very wicked life. She was also given to drink, so her home and husband were sadly neglected, making their life most miserable.

One Sunday evening as she was walking alone, she passed by a meeting room where a gospel service was in progress. A sudden impulse to go inside took possession of her. Undoubtedly led by the Spirit of God, she went in and sat down amongst the congregation.

The text that night was Colossians 3:5-10. The sin-stricken woman was convicted, feeling every word the preacher said was meant for her. He spoke earnestly urging his hearers to "put off the old man with his deeds" and too "put on the new man" by being born again (John 3:1-16). The woman realized, as never before, that she had committed nearly every sin contained in those six verses, including a violent temper which had wrought much mischief during her sinful life.

After the service was over, she remained behind to have a talk with the speaker, telling him of her past life. He knelt in prayer, entreating the Lord to save this poor lost sinner.

Some time later this prayer was answered. The woman was converted and lived an out-and-out Christian life, trusting the Lord for His keeping power against her many former besetting sins. She realized her sins were pardoned through the Saviour's precious blood (1 John 1:7).

Now the woman longed for her husband to be a Christian and prayed earnestly for him. Her disposition and home life were so changed that her husband could not fail to see it. However, he remained bitterly opposed to the gospel and would not listen to a word about the Lord Jesus Christ. He even ridiculed his wife's conversion, saying she would soon get over it, and forget it.

One evening several months later the husband paid the preacher a visit. The poor man was in great anxiety about his own salvation. He said, "I have read a great many books on the evidences of Christianity, and I can refute all their arguments, but for the past few months there has been another open book in my home—my dear, devoted wife, whose life I cannot argue with. I am convinced she has been right since she became a Christian, and I have been wrong. The great change in her and our home is simply marvelous. There is something holy and beautiful in Christ that can so change a woman like her into a loving, patient, prayerful, singing and praising saint. The Lord has spoken to me through her consistent life as no book could, and I want Him to be my Lord, too."

From that day on, they both lived happy Christian lives, glorifying their Lord and Saviour.

Dear reader, we see in this true story the power of God to change lives. If your life needs to be changed from one of sin and self to God and glory, it can be done only through Jesus Christ. Repent of your sins to Him, and trust Him as your personal Saviour. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God" (John 1:12,13).

—M.E.W.