A newly-hired salesman stunned his superiors with his first report, for it revealed that he was nearly illiterate. He wrote: "I seen this outfit who aint never got a dimes worth of nuthin from us an sole them sum goods." But before he could be fired, a second letter arrived. It read: "I came to Chicawgo an sole them haff a millyon."

The sales manager dumped the problem into the president's lap. The next day the staff was amazed to see the salesman's letters on the bulletin board, with this memo: "We ben spendin two much time tryin to spel insted of tryin to sell. I want everybody should read these letters from Gooch, who is doin a grate job, and you should go out and do like he done!"

Sometimes we get so preoccupied with appearances that we lose sight of our primary purpose. We care more about presenting the gospel flawlessly than we do about its real aim. How much better is a stumbling, stammering presentation of the gospel that points sinners to Christ than a cold, formal, precise address that leaves them unmoved!

When looking for opportunities to present the gospel, remember the priorities of that salesman. Then go out and "do like he done"!  — Richard De Haan