LifeLink Devotions (Click here for podcast)

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

People are lost. They are hopeless. They are crying out for meaning. Here is a story that will stimulate your determination to share the hope of Jesus Christ with others.

During a time of incredible pain and suffering, one dad I know was an incredible example of faith. He modeled a peace that passes all understanding. He and I talked many times about the reason God took him on that journey. We were convinced that God would bring unsaved people to the point of salvation as they saw his faith. God used his struggle to help the hopelessly confused.

One day my friend received this email.

“I have been praying for your family for so long now, following your triumphs, and have been truly touched by your faith and love. I hope this does not strange but for such a long time I have been searching for my place – my connection – my way to find meaning. Through following your story, I am so motivated to develop my relationship with God. What you share makes sense to me – if you do not mind directing to where I can find fellowship like you have described. I feel silly asking and sorry for bothering you. Thank you and bless you all!“

Here’s what my friend wrote back…

“What a joy to receive your email this morning. When I read it, I just smiled and thought to myself…”Lord, this is why we are going through this, to inspire people like this”. I’m so excited to hear that you are wanting to press forward in your relationship with God. Let me ask you something…Have you personally asked Jesus Christ into your life? Have you admitted before Him that you are a sinner and that you need Jesus, and the blood that He shed on Calvary, to cleanse you from your sin? If you have done that, now you just grow in that truth. If you haven’t done that, and you have questions about that, we can work through that too.”

“So, I go to Calvary Baptist Church in Eau Claire and ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!! Our pastor preaches from the Bible every week. Everyone is so accepting and loving. We stress prayer and the power that is found in it. We focus on Christ and His redeeming grace. We don’t stray from the word of God, and we don’t compromise it either. If you want to grow in your relationship with Jesus and meet people who will love you for who you are….Calvary Baptist is the spot.“

Of course, as I read this email I started to cry, because the Gospel was being shared with an unbeliever. What a thrill for any of us to have the opportunity to present the simple message of God’s love to someone who is lost in their sin. But the confusion and delusion of sin is not easily overcome.

Ephesians 4:17  “With the Lord’s authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused.” 

Here is what the person wrote back to my friend.

“I am so sorry I have not gotten back to you. I just didn’t know what to do next. I did receive your email and was so happy to hear from you then as well.  You and your family were brought into my life for a reason, but I have to be totally honest with you I feel kind of lost in this whole process. I was raised as a holiday Catholic and do not have very much familiarity with the Bible. I consider myself an intellectual person, but  I
wonder at times if I have missed the boat in how to have a solid relationship with God.  I want to have this beautiful love and peace that you have but don’t know how to do that. Don’t get me wrong, I live my life believing in God and doing good and being as good of a person as I know how to be.  But I just feel like I have had this void and I don’t really know how to go about filling it. I mean really do I just start reading the Bible front to back? Do I just pick a section?“

“I have to admit that I am a person that gets nervous in meeting and dealing with new people – in situations that I am not too familiar with.  Worried that I won’t fit a certain mold that people expect.  Please don’t take it as I am some basket case – I am just being completely open with you. You actually met a very good friend of mine with her daughters at the play place at the mall one day – and we both have just been so inspired by you and your family.  We are both seeking to find the right paths in our lives.  I looked your church up on the net and it seems to have some exciting things going on but all I think is where would I fit in? How?….”

“At times I wonder if maybe I am just not one of those people that find that peace, that have that relationship, I am not perfect person but I want to find that faith and joy that you have…I just don’t know how to do it. Where to start…”

“So…now that I have dumped that load on your shoulders. I just want to thank you! You have so much going on in your life and yet you make time to think of and check on me…if I am overwhelming you, I am sorry. But I just feel like I have been lost for awhile now and may need some help in finding my way.”

This person and her friend are a microcosm of our culture and should motivate us to be intentionally sharing the Gospel with as many people as possible. People need Jesus to overcome the deception of living a good life to earn salvation. People need to experience the unconditional love of Jesus that accepts them. You have the opportunity to touch someone else’s life with how you live out your faith in Jesus Christ every day.

Pastor John