At one of our churches, Jane tagged along with her mom,
Wanda to our home on Sunday evenings. Labeled as a “Young Adult Fellowship”, our
group consisted of a ragtag lot of believers ranging in age from 14 to about
45. We didn’t exactly fit the confines of the usual “young adult” designation,
but we got along remarkably well.
Rather than join in, Jane brought her homework and studied in
the adjacent room. However, as the weeks went by, she pulled her chair closer
to the archway between the two rooms, gradually spending more time listening to
our conversations than studying.
Within two months she didn’t bother to bring her homework;
she now sat on the floor beside her mom’s chair. Though she merely listened at
first, it didn’t take long for her to feel comfortable expressing her opinions
on the topics we discussed.
One evening after Jane felt completely at home in the group,
Dick turned to her and asked, “Jane, what made you move from doing your
homework in the other room to joining in our discussions?”
“You all care so much about each other! It’s so different
from other groups I am involved with,” Jane answered. Then turning the tables
on Dick, she asked, “Why is that?”
With little hesitation Dick replied, “It’s because each
person in this room has realized he or she is a sinner—no one more or less than
the others. And no matter how hard we try to be good, we can’t. We need Jesus’
sacrifice on the cross to be forgiven and His Spirit to lead and guide us. We
are all just trying to help each other understand how to live more faithfully
for Jesus every day.”
“I want that, too!” Jane said, excitement tingeing every
word. “How do I do that?”
Dick then explained that all it takes is to admit you have sinned,
believe that, on the cross, Jesus took the penalty for your sins, and confess your
faith to God and others.
That evening our group rejoiced with the angels in Heaven (Luke
15:10) as Jane committed her life to Jesus. Just as John 13:34-35 teaches, the
love shown one for another in our group drew Jane in. Never underestimate the
truth and the power of God’s Word!
Be encouraged!
Pam©2018 Pamela D. Williams
