Thursday, October 3, 2013

By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo

The Answer

2 Chronicles 7:14 Then if My people who are called by My Name will humble themselves and pray and seek My Face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

A pastor in the slums of New York tells a story of a church service that changed HIS life. After preaching his sermon, he was exhausted. While leaders in the church prayed with members in the congregation, he loosened his tie and rested on the edge of the platform.

As he was sitting there, he noticed a man who appeared to be homeless looking at him as if he needed to talk. The pastor assumed that he was there to ask for money to then use for alcohol as many before him had done.

Eventually, the homeless gentlemen approached the pastor. As he got closer, the pastor smelled the most awful stench he had ever smelled. He even had to turn his head to inhale. The pastor learned that the homeless man he assumed was in his 50s was only 32-years-old and had been on the street for six years.

Feeling sorry for him, the pastor reached in his back pocket to get money for the man but was shocked when he pushed his finger in front of the pastor. He said, "I don't want your money. I want this Jesus, the One you were talking about, because I'm not going to make it. I'm going to die on the street."

The pastor began to weep thinking, "I was [just] going to give a couple of dollars to someone God had sent to me."

There will always be people in your life that are in dire need of SOMETHING. Often, we sadly either ignore their needs or we try to fix everything in our own power....maybe with money or a program or some quick advice...

When all along the thing they need most....the thing we need most...IS Jesus.

We live in uncertain times. Two minutes of the news can cause fear in anyone's life. Just as we each individually need Jesus, our country needs Jesus.

I challenge you today to always approach each situation and person in need with the greatest solution...Jesus Christ. Share His love with everyone you encounter and allow Him to lead you on how to reach even the seemingly most unreachable. I further challenge you to PRAY for this country, for the leaders and the lost.

Dear Lord, I pray that You would restore this land and move in the lives of those You have entrusted in my life. You have always been and will always be THE answer!

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.