OzThoughts – Wednesday, 29th April, 2009.

OzThoughts – Wednesday, 29th April, 2009.

Years ago, I had the opportunity of counselling a young man who had come forward to seek Christ as his Saviour in a large youth gathering . I forgot his name a long time ago. What I remember is the lesson I learnt.

I had in my hand my latest Bible. It was a beautiful Bible Society Chain Reference Bible with a blue soft leather cover. It was the Good News Bible edition with wide margins. It felt good and I believed it looked good as I stood on the platform with it in my hand as I preached. The soft cover allowed it to look relaxed in my hand, as if it belonged there. I might say it was an expensive purchase, costing about 7 times the price of a standard Good News Bible.

I opened my new Bible at the appropriate place and asked the young man to read the first verse which I had memorised as a plan to show man’s need and God’s salvation through his son Jesus. The young man looked at my beautiful Bible and then looked at me and said “I can’t read”.

My expensive Bible was worthless. The young man could not read it. I had to just tell him Jesus loved him, had died for him, would forgive him, and stay with him as long as he trusted him. I prayed with him and he said he believed Jesus was his Saviour.

I learnt that while the Bible is a useful tool, what people need is to know that Jesus loves them enough to died for them, would forgive them and help them along life’s journey as long as they continued to obediently trust him.


John 6:35-40 (The Message)
35-38 Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don't really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don't let go. I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me.
39-40 "This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. This is what my Father wants: that anyone who sees the Son and trusts who he is and what he does and then aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time."

[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2958.mp3 ]

Come, every soul by sin oppressed,
There's mercy with the Lord,
And he will surely give you rest
By trusting in his word.

Chorus
Only trust him, only trust him,
Only trust him now!
He will save you, he will save you,
He will save you now!

For Jesus shed his precious blood
Rich blessings to bestow;
Plunge now into the crimson flood
That washes white as snow.

Yes, Jesus is the truth, the way,
That leads you into rest;
Believe on him without delay
And you are fully blest.
Author: John Hart Stockton (1813-77)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 231

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