Do you ever get the sense that God has orchestrated things specifically at church?
Today was one of those days for me…so much so, the person He orchestrated it for could easily believe it was planned!
One of my sons wanted to go and look at a motorbike, so I rode mine with another son on the back. A bit of rain meant getting there with wet feet and pants, but nothing major. I had been a little, um, excessive accelerating past the bus so my love wife raised the issue as soon as I arrived.
We managed to navigate that, read a devotional and prayed together in the parking lot before going in. We don’t always recover so quickly!). As I left the car I felt prompted to take a leaflet, knowing God normally would get me to give it to someone.
Then, nearly as soon as I walked in, I was introduced to some Mormon missionaries who were visiting. The man was from Tennessee, so I mentioned Jack Daniels… He was full bottle on that brand and had done the tours. ‘Coincidently’ Jack Daniels was my favourite drink in my alcoholic years. So much so I was able to share a number of things about Jack that ‘Kent’ (not his real name) found interesting. But more than that, the conversation flowed naturally to me sharing my testimony.
He was riveted and then asked about why I was at a Baptist church. Again the answer just flowed naturally to why it is so important to follow what the Bible says otherwise we will either believe we can earn our salvation, or think we are born again when we are not (self deception). I don’t recall the whole conversation, but it was highly relevant for a Mormon!
Then the songs start: each one was on the finished work of Christ, on grace, on God’s endless love and our secure position. TBH U was in tears through some of it…but the words were all like they were designed for someone who needs to hear about grace! (hint: Mormons *really* need to!^^)
Then the MC person person mentions grace. Then the scripture reading was, you guessed it, Ephesians 2 verse 8 & 9!
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. [Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT)]
If this foundational scripture about grace was not enough, the sermon was a powerful illustration from King Davids life, ALL ABOUT GRACE!
In fact, it was about a cripple who was born in shame (to a concubine), who’s actual name means ‘from the mouth of shame’, who deserved death, but was given abundant, ongoing and undeserved grace. The wrap up afterwards was another invitation to accept grace from Jesus (and reminder for those saved, to not get bound up in laws & rules again and remain in grace).
They stayed for quite a while talking, but when I saw them leaving I went and asked how they found it. They were beaming and smiling saying how they loved it and were genuinely grateful for being invited. I then gave them the leaflet (from someone who lives & ministers in the USA on the reliability of the Bible and what the Gospel is), saying I felt that God had wanted me to give it to them.
Please pray for ‘Kent and Allison’, just ih WA to try to convert people to the LDS religion, but may be in for a pleasant surprise when God opens their eyes to who He *really* is!
Lord, thank You for Your grace, Your mercy and Your never ending love. Thank You for reaching out to us in our sin, our weakness, our helplessness and our rebellion. Thank You that You have done it ALL – that Your Sons’ death has paid in full for all our sin, past present and future. Help us experience Your grace and rest in it. And please reveal that transforming grace to those around us – including ‘Kent and Allison’.