Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Snap (09/04/08)
-
TITLE: He, Who Has an Ear, Let Him Listen. | Previous Challenge Entry
By
09/09/08 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Title: He, Who Has an Ear, let Him Listen
It was a beautiful spring Saturday and James had come aside to enjoy his daily devotions with the Lord. Somehow today was not right; debts had been piling up, only two days ago the doctor had said, “Your wife has incurable cancer,” and now his job was under threat.
The passage to start his devotions was First Chronicles chapter 1, no apparent comfort here. As he read, “and so-and-so begat someone unpronounceable,” he could hear the rhythmic slap-slap of the cards and the sudden cries of “Snap” as Jimmy and Jeffrey played in their bedroom.
He interrupted his devotions and walked through to the boy’s room, “Boys; would you mind going downstairs to play. I am finding it very hard to concentrate.”
“Sure, Dad” was their response as they gathered the cards and hurried out. It was not that they were always so ready to do as asked, but they were not allowed downstairs until they had dressed. Dad had given his permission.
James returned to his Bible and 1 Chronicles. How could anyone get a blessing out of these passages? His reading still seemed to echo the slap-slap of the cards. Almost mechanically he turned to the next passage, Psalm 2 and suddenly “Snap” as he read verse 7, “You are my son, today I have begotten you”. The truth of his own rebirth into the family of God became very special. “Born not of mans will or action but of God’s Spirit” – the greatest miracle of all.
He remembered, “Just look at the great love our Father has shown us. We are already His sons, even though it is not obvious to others. While we don’t understand what the full impact of our rebirth is, we do know that we are a new creation and when we see Him face to face we will be like Him.” (1 John 3 v 1+) Pondering on the thought that God had given to His children everything that they need for life and godliness, and was working everything out for their good, James marvelled that the one who gave us his Son unconditionally would also give us all things.
Song broke forth in reminder, “I’m richer than a millionaire, just because He cares.” And “He owns the cattle on a thousand hills, the wealth in every mine. He owns the rivers and the rocks and rills, the sun and moon that shine. Wonderful riches more than tongue can tell, He is my Father so they’re mine as well......” This beautiful spring day was the day that the Lord had made, and in all these things, which seemed against him, James could be more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ our Lord.
He almost screamed aloud, “God’s on my side; who can stand against me? Who? Who? Who?
What had begun as a routine time of daily devotions in the slough of despond had now become a time of praise and great rejoicing: the valley of Baca (tears), a well of living water. James would now be able to walk the lonesome valley and not faint, for He was not alone.
From this great experience, James went downstairs to join his sons and have breakfast.
“Thank you, Jim, and thank you, Jeff, your interrupting game of Snap has brought me through a very hard time.”
Jim and Jeff were puzzled, “We thought you were annoyed with us?”
“No, not exactly angry, just frustrated with the way things were going.”
“How did we help?”
“It is not easy to explain but I just played snap with God and we both won.”
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
