Thought for the day
I saw him in the church building for the first time last Wednesday. He was in his mid 70's with silver hair and a neat brown suit. Many times in the past I had invited him to come. Several friends had talked to him about the Lord and had tried to share the Good News with him. He was a well-respected, honest man with so many characteristics a Christian should have, but he had never put on Christ.
I had asked him a few years ago, "Have you ever been to a church service in your life?" We had just finished a pleasant day of visiting and talking. He hesitated, then with a bitter smile he told me of a childhood experience some sixty years ago.
He was one of many children in a large impoverished family. His parents had struggled to provide food, with little left for housing and clothing. When he was about ten, some neighbors invited him to worship with them. The Bible class had been very exciting. He had never heard such songs and stories before. He had never heard anyone read from the Bible before.
After class was over, the teacher took him aside and said, "Son, please don't come again dressed as you are now. We want to look our best when we come worship the Lord." He stood in his ragged, unpatched overalls, looked at his bare, dirty feet and said, "No ma'am, I won't ever!" And he never did.
There must have been other factors to have hardened him so, but this experience formed a significant part of the bitterness in his heart. I'm sure the Bible teacher meant well, but what if she had studied and accepted the teachings found in the second chapter of James? What if she had put her arms around that dirty, ragged little boy and said, "Son, I'm so glad you are here, and I hope you will come every chance you get to hear more about Jesus!"
I pray that I might ever be open to the tenderness of a child's heart, and that I might never fail to see beyond the appearance and behavior of a child to the eternal possibilities within.
Yes, I saw him in the church house for the first time last Wednesday. As I looked at that immaculately dressed old gentleman lying in his casket, I thought of the little boy of long ago. I could almost hear him saying, "No ma'am, I won't ever!" .... and I wept.
"My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, 'You sit here in a good place,' and say to the poor man, 'You stand there,' or, 'Sit here at my footstool,' have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brethren:
Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" (James 2:1-6)
Verses
Isaiah 40:8
The grass dies, and the flowers fall. But the word of our God will live forever."
Matthew 12:22
Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
Romans 5:5
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Luke 19:46
"It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be a house of prayer', but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
1 Timothy 6:17
Tell those who are wealthy in this world's goods not to be arrogant, and not to place their hopes on money with all its uncertainty, but on God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
Prayer
Father, as the year unfolds I want to keep my soul’s anchor embedded in the Rock of Ages. Help me to be unwavering in my faith and confident as I meditate on Your many promises. You promise never to abandon me; instead You carefully guide me through turbulent waters as I cling tightly to Your hand. Even as I daily experienced Your goodness and faithfulness in 2008 I am absolutely certain I will enjoy Your constant presence and guidance in my life and those I love in the new year of 2009. You are faithful and I am grateful. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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