|
Hot Circuits |
TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMASBy Dr. Jack CanadyRead Luke 15:7Dear Leaders Chosen of God, It was two days before Christmas. I had just finished preaching and was hurrying after our son Paul. The people would soon be streaming out of church. We wanted to be ready to visit with them. A man tapped me on the shoulder. When I turned he grabbed my hand, pulled me to him and whispered hoarsely, "Sir, you have no idea how important your message was to me and my family. THANK YOU!" Not five minutes later a young lady with a baby in her arms and her mother by her side, walked up to Paul and me. Her little girl held on to her dress. Obviously distressed she said, "I need to make an appointment with you!" "I would be glad to meet with you. Is there anything I can help you with right now?" "I want to pray that prayer," she replied nervously. "Do I need the paper to do it?" "No you don't and you do not have to wait for an appointment to pray that prayer. If you want we can step over to the side of the building and do it right now" "Oh, I do!" As they walked away her mother teared up. "This morning is just what she needs. You know, sometimes our kids can't wait to get away. Then comes the time when they are desperate to come back home. She and these children are my life. I am glad I am still here for them." Her daughter had been living in New Jersey. Her angry husband had kicked her out. She came home broken and frightened. Turns out he had never divorced his first wife. Paul nodded to me as they walked back to us. I embraced her and said, "I am so happy that you have placed your trust in Christ. And I am so sorry for what you are going through. She began to cry softly. "Thank you. I am going to meet with him again," she said as she looked in our son's direction. What I did not know until Paul told me was that the man who tapped me on the shoulder was her stepdad. Several weeks before her mother called Paul. "You probably do not know me but we have attended your church. My husband is back in the hospital. This is his second bout with cancer. He thinks he is going to die and is afraid. Would you come to the hospital and visit him?" Paul did and he was more than ready to place his faith in Christ but when it came to praying he said, "I can't do it." "What do you mean," Paul asked."I can't do it like this. I need to be on my knees." Paul tried to explain that he could pray right where he was but he would have nothing to do with the idea. "No," he replied with finality. "This is something I have to do on my knees." This posed a problem. He had a lot of tubes connected to his body. The nurses were called. They helped their patient get out of bed and on his knees. As they watched he humbly, earnestly prayed, placing his faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior. Then I understood why the man grabbed me before I could even get out of church. I wonder what it was like in heaven two days before Christmas? "I say to you...there will be... joy in heaven over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:7). By the way that joy is the joy of God Himself. The Bible goes on. "Likewise I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:10) May your Christmas be filled with that kind of joy. In His love, Pastor Jack |
Copyrights: Content (c) 2010 Circuit 'Riter Ministries. |