One evening some years ago as I turned onto the freeway, I noticed a large man on the side of the road trying to catch a ride. I stopped and he squeezed himself into my little car. He seemed so big with his scarred face and graying hair. He looked old and worn as he stared at me through his tired eyes. As we sped along I went around another car and said to the guy, that maybe if they saw him get out of my car they might stop and give him a ride. He said, "no they already passed me once." I said, "well, a lot of people are afraid of getting robbed or killed or something." He said, "I'm not going to do that to you, I've quit. I used to steal and kill and hurt people, but I'm not that way any more." Boy was I glad to hear that! When I got my voice back for lack of something better to say, I said, "you must be born again?" He said, "yeah." I then felt I had a word from the Spirit about him, so I asked him, which prison were you in?" He said, "I've been in all of them from Wisconsin to the coast, but I'm never going back I've changed."
Over the next few miles as we talked he made a comment I've never forgotten. He said, "its easy to believe all these things like the sun and moon and the world was made by God, and it's easy for me to believe that Jesus died for my sin and I have to repent and receive him as my Savior. All these things make sense. The thing I try to understand in my travels and I think about so much when I am alone; is how can a God so good love a man like me?
As that old convict got our of my car and walked to the side of the road and as I drove away, I too wondered how a God so great could love a wretch like me.
If we look for the answer to this within ourselves, it's not there, but when we look to God and who he is we can almost understand. It tells us in Ephesians 2:7 that in the ages to come we will show his exceeding riches and kindness and mercy towards us through Jesus Christ. We must receive this by faith.
"If any one acknowledges that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:15-17)
God loves us and we can't change that! We must simply believe it's true and know he died for us because his love was so great! He sets us free and then with blood stained brow and nail scarred hands asks in love, "Will you follow me?"
P.S.
We are praying for someone to join us and help with administration and office here in America if you are interested. You would also be involved in coordinating the short term mission trips.
The donations for last week were $10.00 and the week before $25.00. There are people in SE Asia and from Liberia praying for us to support them.
You can contact us at equippingthesaintsinternational.com or at
Equipping the Saints International
P.O. Box 813
Wolf Point, Mt. 59201