There was a time when my life was empty and aimless. Then God orchestrated my life in such a way that I crossed paths with Peggy Young and Jeff Powell. I was in my late teens, Peggy was my Sunday School teacher, and Jeff was the student pastor where I began to attend church.
God used Peggy and Jeff to influence me to commit my life to Christ and I have had no regrets ever since. I have often reflected back on those days and tried to pinpoint in practical ways how God used them to usher salvation to my life.
My discovery led me to understand that both Peggy and Jeff never gave me advice that was not based in scripture. They were scripture machines! And they made scripture come alive for me. Plus, they lived their lives according to scripture as well. No obvious hypocrisy in their lives.
Another discovery was that Peggy was a picture of grace. She and her husband invited me to their home very often for fried chicken and football games. While eating and watching football games, they always gave me the utmost value. It seemed like every time they saw me, they were glad to see me.
One final discovery was that both Peggy and Jeff asked me great questions and they were not afraid to let me ask questions of them. They took the time to answer my cynical questions and they took the time to ask me probing questions that made me think like never before. I soon came to grips with the truth that I was not the Christ!
As I often reflect on my present ministry, I often see myself doing to others what Peggy and Jeff did in my life, except the heavy dose of grace part. :)It gives me great joy each year to know that God takes me on a journey with a handful of people each year and God gives me the unbelievable privilege of ushering people to salvation in Christ. There is nothing comparable to being used of God to make an impact for eternity.
Take a few moments and reflect on your salvation journey. What were some key moments in that journey? What are some ways that you try to pass on your faith in Christ to others?
Let's play catch! It is your turn to throw!
I, too, am appreciative of the wonderful people Christ has put in my life. They have guided me with scripture, wisdom and love. What is even more astounding is some of the people that have helped bring me closer to Christ, are people whom I have had crossed paths with in the past. They were trying to help me find Christ, even when I didn’t want to know Him. They stayed diligent in their teachings and I am so grateful that they never gave up on me. I am humbled when I think that it took these individual years to carry out Christ’s plan, but they never wore out.
ReplyDeleteWhen I talk to people about Christ, I tell them about the love and patience he has for me, I hope I make them understand. And when I feel like they don't understand, I pray that Christ give me the same diligence he gave those that brought me to Christ. Even if it takes years.
It is in reflectin back that I discover two very special people at two very different times in my life - walked beside me in two totally different ways but God was the link - they both ushered Christ into my life - giving me value and worth throuh Christ Love - they both taught me what it was not only to read scripture, but to study it, to discover it for my self - they made me dig, they made me put in the work - by made it is not that they stood over me but the lived it out before me and MADE me WANT to know more about Christ, tb be all that God had created ME to be - and to this day I still LOVE to dig in deep with Christ - I try to live this out before others - loving on them through Christ - praying that those the He brings around me - would see HIM and not me and Thirst for Him and Long to know Him. He is my ALL IN ALL :0)
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