From the "Word for the Day" series by Elaine Davenport
HERE'S A TRUE STORY:
On a recent trip to a Faith Conference; myself and several friends found ourselves catching the bus in the sweltering Texas sun. We boarded the bus and did not know that you had to have correct change. As we talked about our being tourists and how much we liked Texas; we attempted to get change from the passengers on board. There was so much chatter amongst us. We were4 hot but in a great mood so we were also complimenting the bus driver on his patience. Everyone seems to be getting new job titles nowadays so maybe he's a large transport engineer. (smile)
Well, he eventually told us to please ride for free. We accepted but soon an opportunity arose that allowed us to pay so we did. I love Blessings but I don't like freebies. I always feel like someone is loosing somewhere so I am very careful not to accept them without and extensive interview. I'm just that way.
Eventually we all sat down on what seemed to be a huge bus on the outside but not so huge on the inside. It was very clean and colorful and the people were quite friendly. The heat? No.
There were 5 of us and we sat all over the "small" bus. I sat next to a handsome young man, who began to tell me a lot of Texas data. This young guy was so friendly but I was intrigued by his tatoos. He had so many; I found myself wondering if he was in a gang. I asked the Lord to forgive me of my wrong thinking. No one has the right to stereotype. After all, I'm in a gang. I'm in the Jesus gang and glad to be in it. I carry protection too. I don't go anywhere without the BLOOD. I have bodyguards; they're called angels. I wear a wire so I always know what's going on. My wire is like a pipeline if you must understand. That's the Holy Ghost. I could go on but this story is not about me. The kind you don't find in a Geography book. The young man told us many things, like how to get to the mall, the bus system, where to buy t-shirts etc.
We decided to get off the bus and visit the Target store. That was a joke. We had no idea that the store was nearly a mile from the bus stop. It was a very long mile in the Texas heat.
I was surprised to see the young man get off the bus with us. He walked with us. Right next to one of my sisters in Christ; a good friend; Sister LaTisha.
LaTisha is on the SWAT team at our church. That's the soul winning attack team. They go out on the streets and bring people to Christ. I believe that it was a Divine appointment that we all had with the young man that day. I asked him if he wanted me to pray with him about anything and he said something like: "I'm good." That means no thank you in a very polite way.
Our Word for the day is Salvation
One of the better definitions that I found was by Robert Longman Jr. was:
{Latin salvatus, past part. (to save); fr. assumed IE solu- (to make whole or complete again)]
The core Biblical meaning of 'salvation' has to do with being rescued from danger or death. Indeed, that is what the name Yeshua (Jesus) means : 'he rescues'. It is what the crowd shouts as Jesus entered Jerusalem that last time before death : hoshi'annah, 'save us!' (in this case, from the Romans).
Christ rescues us from :
* sin (our broken relationship with God, shown mostly in our broken relationships with each other);
* death (we die because we are kept apart from God because there is something in us that rebels against God -- Christ addresses that, overcomes it, transcended it, and is working to complete it in the future);
* captivity (we are set free from all that shackles and hinders us);
* the Devil ("deliver us from evil");
* the wrath that is to come (when Time ends).
Christ rescues us for :
* a restored relationship with God (reconciliation) and life with Christ without end;
* new wholeness or completeness of being;
* citizenship in Christ's Kingdom;
* new realms of possibility beyond what we can now imagine.
I watched quietly as Sister LaTisha began to speak to the young man that we met on the bus.
I heard her ask him if he knew where he was going if it so happened that he passed on. I heard her explain that salvation that we defined above is a free gift; that you don't have to earn or work for. I believe that she gave him some of these scriptures:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new
Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
It wasn't more than ten to fifteen minutes before we arrived at Target. While 4 of us chatted and complained about the heat; Sister LaTisha brought this young man to Christ. On a short walk in Texas, a young man was snatched from the devil's grasp and God added to His family. It was powerful and I wish that you could have been there too. I pray that this word will inspire you today. Blessings
Showing posts with label Jesus.Ministry of Salvation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus.Ministry of Salvation. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
SALVATION; THE CHOICE IS YOURS Part One By Patricia Saddler Guest Writer (Monday, July 16, 2007)
I heard this story from a dear friend of mine and these were her words exactly:
Many years ago my ten year old special education student came up to me while I was on hall duty and eagerly chimed “Teacher, I have something special I’d like to share with the class during “show-n-tell”. Now normally, it’s been a good practice to inquire what it is before it’s presented; however, that morning I said, “Okay,”
Mark said: “Wait until I come in from hall duty.” When I came in I told the children to give Mark their undivided attention as he shared with them during “show-n-tell”. The children sat attentively as Mark began to speak. He said, “This morning class, I’d like to share with you about “salvation”.
My eyes immediately darted to the door as my mind began to race into,”What if the administrators that normally come in our room every morning walked in on his show-n-tell? What would they say? What would they think?” (I could have gotten in a whole heap of trouble my friend said.)
I got up and closed the door praying all the way back to my seat that they wouldn’t come in until Mark was finished. Public schools don’t condone religious conversations in the classroom, but I wasn’t about to stop Mark from sharing his topic. Plus, even though I went to church most Sundays at that time, I wasn’t sure myself exactly what salvation was and was as eager to hear what Mark was so eager to share.
Mark began to tell the children that JESUS wanted them to be “kings and queens” but it was their choice. He said they needed to go to church to find out about JESUS and what He’d done for them which would allow them to be kings and queens. He shared with them how kings and queens should act, but it was their choice.
Mark even gave them a remedy to get to church if they didn’t have parents or grandparents that go to church. The children sat mesmerized as they listened to Mark’s mini- sermon on salvation, as did his teacher. When the administrators finally came through the door apologizing for being late with their personal greeting, the children were calmly working on their bell work with their little spirits filled with Mark’s sermon on salvation.
My friend and I agreed that we’re never too educated, intellectual, or smart to learn from the “so called” least among us. I Corinthians 1:27(a) reads: But GOD hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Listening to the story about special needs ten year old Mark started me on a quest to find out more about salvation.
My friend told me that she was in such a hurry to share this story with me. She knew that I’d be very excited because I have such passion for the ministry of salvation. She was right.
______________________________________________________________________________________
We welcome Patricia Saddler; long time Prayer Intercessor to our site. The reader will look forward to her bold common sense approach laced with Godly Wisdom. Please tune in tomorrow to read Part Two of this series.
Many years ago my ten year old special education student came up to me while I was on hall duty and eagerly chimed “Teacher, I have something special I’d like to share with the class during “show-n-tell”. Now normally, it’s been a good practice to inquire what it is before it’s presented; however, that morning I said, “Okay,”
Mark said: “Wait until I come in from hall duty.” When I came in I told the children to give Mark their undivided attention as he shared with them during “show-n-tell”. The children sat attentively as Mark began to speak. He said, “This morning class, I’d like to share with you about “salvation”.
My eyes immediately darted to the door as my mind began to race into,”What if the administrators that normally come in our room every morning walked in on his show-n-tell? What would they say? What would they think?” (I could have gotten in a whole heap of trouble my friend said.)
I got up and closed the door praying all the way back to my seat that they wouldn’t come in until Mark was finished. Public schools don’t condone religious conversations in the classroom, but I wasn’t about to stop Mark from sharing his topic. Plus, even though I went to church most Sundays at that time, I wasn’t sure myself exactly what salvation was and was as eager to hear what Mark was so eager to share.
Mark began to tell the children that JESUS wanted them to be “kings and queens” but it was their choice. He said they needed to go to church to find out about JESUS and what He’d done for them which would allow them to be kings and queens. He shared with them how kings and queens should act, but it was their choice.
Mark even gave them a remedy to get to church if they didn’t have parents or grandparents that go to church. The children sat mesmerized as they listened to Mark’s mini- sermon on salvation, as did his teacher. When the administrators finally came through the door apologizing for being late with their personal greeting, the children were calmly working on their bell work with their little spirits filled with Mark’s sermon on salvation.
My friend and I agreed that we’re never too educated, intellectual, or smart to learn from the “so called” least among us. I Corinthians 1:27(a) reads: But GOD hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Listening to the story about special needs ten year old Mark started me on a quest to find out more about salvation.
My friend told me that she was in such a hurry to share this story with me. She knew that I’d be very excited because I have such passion for the ministry of salvation. She was right.
______________________________________________________________________________________
We welcome Patricia Saddler; long time Prayer Intercessor to our site. The reader will look forward to her bold common sense approach laced with Godly Wisdom. Please tune in tomorrow to read Part Two of this series.
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