pathy or
encouragement. Here is a young person, the only one of his family who
has confessed Christ. He takes him as his Saviour, and then stands up
before the world and vows to be his and follow him. He goes back to
his home. The members of the home circle are very dear to him; but
none of them are Christians, and he must stand alone for Christ among
them. Perhaps they oppose him in his discipleship--in varying degrees
this ofttimes is the experience. Perhaps they are only indifferent,
making no opposition, only quietly watching his life to see if it is
consistent. In any case, however, he must stand for Christ alone,
without the help that comes from companionship.

Or it may be in the workshop or in the school that the young Christian
must stand alone. He returns from the Lord's Table to his week-day
duties, full of noble impulses, but finds himself the only Christian in
the place where his duty leads him. His companions are ready to sneer,
and they point the finger of scorn at him, with irritating epithets.
Or they even persecute him in petty ways. At least they are not
Christ's friends, and he, as follower of the Master, finds no sympathy
among them in his new life. He must stand alone in his discipleship,
conscious all the while that unfriendly eyes are upon him. Many a
young or older Christian finds it very hard to be the only one to stand
for Christ in the circle in which his daily work fixes his place.

This aloneness puts upon one a great responsibility. For example, you
are the only Christian in your home. You are the only witness Christ
has in your house, the only one through whom to reveal his love, his
grace, his holiness. You are the only one to represent Christ in your
family, to show there the beauty of Christ, the sweetness and
gentleness of Christ, to do there the works of Christ, the things he
would do if he lived in your home. Perhaps the salvation of all the
souls of your family depends upon your being true and faithful in your
own place. If you falter in your loyalty, if you fail in your duty,
your loved ones may be lost and the blame will be yours; their blood
will be upon you.

In like manner, if you are the only Christian in the shop, the store,
or the office where you work, a peculiar responsibility rests upon you,
a responsibility which no other one shares with you. You are Christ's
only witness in your place. If you do not testify there for him, there
is no other one who