Short Stories

Checking In

by Paul Taylor
04/03/21
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CHECKING IN

By Paul Taylor

A HAPPY SPECIAL SABBATH TO ALL

1^st John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

As we celebrate todays Sabbath, it should be a most  special Sabbath to those claiming Jesus as their Lord. At this time of year, we reflect back nearly 2000 years, when on this Sabbath, Jesus, our redeemer rested in the tomb from the agonizing ordeal of humiliation, beatings, and finally the atrocious death of crucifixion, hanging naked before the world, with nails in HIS hands and feet as further humiliation. He had suffered  all this from at the hands of His own people, so you and I would not have to suffer the eternal death  penalty for our sins.

 Jesus, the sinless Son of God, left His throne of glory in heaven to come to this world, and lay down His life, as a perfect sacrifice for you, me, and every human being who has ever lived on this planet. Who could ask for a  better friend than one who being innocent, was willing to take upon Himself the penalty of our sins?

As we celebrate this Passover season and the resurrection from the dead, of Jesus, and if you are a Christian, question your view of Jesus in your life. Is He just a religious icon you call on when it’s convenient? Is He just a figure from history and nothing more? Or is He a friend that you honor, by keeping His commandments and statutes, by loving your neighbor as yourself, humbling yourself before others, calling on Him and speaking to Him daily as a friend, and not for special favors?

As I prayed,  asking for inspiration to write something appropriate for this Sabbath, this story, "CHECKING IN" popped up from my files.  I have received this story many years ago and the autor is unknown, but I took liberty to make some grammatical changes to the story

As you read the story, allow your thoughts to reflect on your relationship with Jesus,and  how often  you check in. I did, and it made me think long and hard about my relationship with Jesus and how I view Him as a friend indeed.

CHECKING IN

A minister passing through his church in the middle of the day, paused by the altar checking to  see who had come to pray,  and as he paused,  the back door suddenly opened, and a strange man entered and walked down the aisle towards the altar.  

The minister frowned as he saw the man hadn't shaved in a while.  His shirt was shabby, and his coat was worn and frayed.  The man spoke not a word but knelt at the altar as he bowed his head. After a moment he quickly arose and walked away.  In the days that followed, at noon  each day he came, each time he knelt just for a moment, holding his lunch pail in his lap.  

 As time passed, the minister's suspicions grew, and with robbery a main fear, he decided to approach the man and ask him,  "What are you doing here?"

The old man answered that  he worked down the road, and that he only had half an hour for lunch, and  lunch time was his prayer time for finding strength and power. 

 "I stay only moments,” he explained, “ for you see,  the factory is so far away; and  as I kneel here talking to the Lord, this is kind’a what I say:

"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,  HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.  DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.  SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY."

The minister feeling foolish for his thoughts about the man, told Jim, that was fine.   He told the man he was welcome  to come and pray just anytime.  

Time to go, Jim smiled, said, "Thanks." And  hurried to the door. 

The minister knelt at the altar;  he'd never done it before.  His cold heart melted, warmed with love, as he met with Jesus there, and  as the tears flowed, in his heart, he repeated old Jim's prayer: 

 "I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD,  HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.  I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.  SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY."

Past noon one day, the minister noticed that old Jim hadn't come.  As more days passed without Jim, he began to worry.  He checked at the factory where Jim worked and asked about him. Learning he was ill he went to the hospital to check on his wellbeing.

The hospital staff was worried, but he'd given them a thrill, for the week Jim was with them, he had brought changes in the ward.  His smiles, a contagious joy.  Changed people, were his reward.

The head nurse couldn't understand why Jim was so glad, when no flowers, calls or cards came, not a visitor he had.  

The minister stayed by his bed. He voiced the nurse's concern: No friends came to show they cared.  He had nowhere to turn.  Looking surprised, old Jim spoke up and with a winsome smile declared;  "the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, that in here all the while every day at noon He's here, a dear friend of mine, you see,  He sits right down, takes my hand, leans over and says to me:  "I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM, HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN.  ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY, I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY." 

 May God hold you in the palm of His hand and Angels watch over you as you celebrate this beautiful friendship on this special Sabbath with a friend so dear as Jesus, and God will add a special blessing to the going forth of His word and to those reading it.

Are you and Jesus CHECKING IN with each other daily?.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Paul Taylor

April 03,2021

©copyright 2012 Paul Taylor all rights reserved worldwide. All scripture form KJV