Tuesday, June 29, 2010

God, You Can't Save This One (Part 1)

My apologies if you did you get Monday's Victory Call. You can go to www.americaskeswick.org and click on "blogs" at the top of the page to read it.

There are some people that seem so hardened against the Lord it seems impossible that they would ever respond to the calling of the Holy Spirit. I'm sure each of us knows someone who is hostile to the Gospel of Jesus. It could be a friend, family member or even some public figure. Maybe this thought brings to mind some murderer, perhaps like a Susan Smith who drowned her two small boys or some terrorist, like an Osama Bin Laden. Yet are these people beyond the grace and mercy of our God?

There was a terrorist who called himself a devoted follower of God who believed he was doing God a favor by getting rid of as many Jesus lovers as he could find. He was ruthless and just the mention of his name made men and women tremble with terror. There wasn't a soul who thought this guy would ever come to know Jesus as Savior...certainly not Christians...not even his family or friends. His heart was stone cold against Jesus.

But even when this terrorist wasn't looking for Jesus, Jesus found him. Who was this terrorist? Saul of Tarsus.

Acts 9:1-4 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

The man, who was one of the greatest persecutors of Christians of his day, was just going around being his hateful self when he had a supernatural encounter with Jesus the Messiah. Saul was never the same. He was struck blind by Jesus and told to go to Damascus and wait to hear what to do next. Saul answered the call of Jesus and became a new creation in Christ. He became Paul an Apostle of Jesus Christ.

Recently a young man brought another man into the intake office at the Colony of Mercy. He was weeping. He said he would never again say that God couldn't "save this one." This young man was a graduate of the Colony, who had gone on to serve the Lord in a powerful way through a recovery ministry. The man that he brought to my office was his former drug dealer...a really tough guy. This man had seen the transformation of his former client and showed up at his recovery meeting telling him that he wanted what he had. This former drug dealer sat in front of me and said "I want Jesus, I need Jesus." Only God can take a heart of stone and transform it to a heart of clay.

This former drug dealer came to the Colony and smiled every day...he was the first to memorize his daily scripture passage...he devourered the Bible...he wanted all of Jesus and nothing less. Who is the man or woman who you think is beyond coming to know Jesus as Lord and Savior? Instead of doubting we should be trusting. Instead of thinking that God "can't" reach "this one" we should be lifting them in prayer all the more. You may be the only one praying for them. So...Who is the Saul in your life? Pray, trust God and don't doubt.

MaryAnn

MaryAnn and John Kiernan have been married for 36 years, have 2 grown/married sons and are the proud grandparents of three grandsons and one granddaughter! She serves at America's Keswick as a Biblical Counselor and also as Intake Coordinator for the Colony of Mercy. Her life verse is Romans 8:28.

DIGGING DEEPER
Psalm 100
1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
2 Serve the LORD with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

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