November 1. James M Gray. After DL Moody died, Gray was the first president of Moody Bible Institute, assuming the role in steps—dean to co-ordinate dean to president.
From 1904, when Gray was appointed dean, to 1931, the number of students at Moody increased 1,464 percent, and its assets grew 1,444 percent. Gray also established Moody’s still-popular radio ministry: Station WENR.
Gray taught and wrote and traveled and preached. And he kept on until he was 83. On this date in 1934, Gray resigned as the president of the institute and became president-emeritus.
That didn’t mean he stopped working. He still traveled extensively and taught and edited the monthly periodical of the Moody Bible Institute. Here is today’s story.
When doubt intrudes, let the Word of God be the final verdict.
At Moody Bible Institute, Gray handled the questions of a lot of theological students. He had a unique gift for making complex things easy to understand.
One day, one of his students—visibly distressed—went to visit Doctor Gray. Without wasting time, this student confessed what was on his mind: he was afraid he wasn’t saved.
Happily, already knowing where he would turn, Gray pulled out his Bible and “took [the student] to those wonderful words” found in John 5:24. Gray had the student read them out loud.
Though Gray was agreeable and sympathetic, the student was still unsure of himself. He began to read: “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24 ESV).
No immediate revelation came down on the student, so Gray, who could so gently lead people to truth without humiliating them, asked some questions.
“You have heard the words of Jesus?”
“Yes,” the student replied. That wasn’t difficult to answer.
Gray’s second question was just as plain: “You believe Him who sent Him?”
Again, this was a no-brainer for the theology student. “Yes.”
“Then what have you got?” Gray asked, watching the student’s reaction.
There was hesitation. But once again, the student realized it was all in that small verse. “I have everlasting life.”
Pressing on, Gray nudged him further. “And what else is true of you?”
The student hesitated longer this time and then answered steadily, “I shall not come into condemnation.”
“And what else?”
After the longest internal struggle yet, the student broke free, and he sighed deeply. “I have passed from death unto life,” he answered, smiling joyfully.
Neither of the men questioned what to do next. They just knelt and praised God. Something so simple filled the student with excitement; he grabbed his teacher’s hand and thanked him profusely for helping him.
But all Gray had done was lead him to the truth, and God did the rest.
“Let the words of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16 ESV) because “The unfolding of [God’s] words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130 NIV).
Today, what can you study in God’s Word to remind yourself of His rich truth? When doubt intrudes, let the Word of God be the final verdict.
Gray, James. My Faith in Jesus Christ: A Personal Testimony. New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1927.
Hannah, John. James Martin Gray, 1951–1935: His Life and Work. ThD diss., Dallas Theological Seminary, 1974.
Runyan, William. Dr. Gray at Moody Bible Institute. New York: Oxford University Press, 1935.
Story read by: Daniel Carpenter