Thursday, June 17, 2004
Thursday, June 17, 2004
Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
(2 Corinthians 4.15
NRSV)
She had been praying about all this for some time and felt she had clear guidance. She planned to send her son-in-law plane fare so he could go to church with her. At that church service she expected that her son-in-law would give his life to Jesus. She was hoping he could then be baptized that very afternoon. She spoke to one of her pastors about her plan. He tried to dissuade her, to help her see the foolishness of her plan. "God doesn't operate that way," the pastor told her. "You can't manipulate God or your son-in-law like that."
Mrs. Chan didn't listen to advice. She sent the young man plane fare and he worshipped with her the next Sunday. The invitation was issued at the end of the service for those who wanted to start the life of faith for the first time. The young man went forward and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. "He came, Reverend Larsen," Mrs. Chan said beaming that Sunday, "and when you gave the invitation, he gave his life to God." Mrs. Chan was not at all surprised at the outcome. "God spoke," Dr. Larsen recalls, "she acted, and her daughter's husband came into the Kingdom."
Dear God, help me to be faithful to your calling for my life, so that I can enable your grace to be shared. Amen.
