Basking In His Grace

Jesus said He will build His church. I've been blessed to see Him do that. I've always taken that as a promise. He said it simply as a statement of fact. "I will build my church," like, "I will go to the store." There are no conditions, no dependancies, no "if - then" statements. He simply will build His church, no matter what.

He said there will be a location: "On this rock." This rock is the foundation, the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He allows His people to be the instruments through which He builds His church. One sows, one waters, another reeps. Is it better to sow or water? Is it more important to water or reap? Without the sowing, there is nothing to water or reap. No watering? The planting is in vain. Without reaping the sowing and watering are a waste of time.

This Sunday, like so many before it, God used a multitude of people in our church in several different capacities to save others. One man in particular I was introduced to over a year ago while I was out on Saturday visitiation. We spoke very briefly, but God kept having us cross paths. He was always very cordial and polite, but never would accept the Gospel. He accepted invitations to come to church, but never would make it. Most of us know what that's like.

Eventually his wife let the kids come. After some time he came for a visit, and we saw him once or twice after that. One Sunday in Children's Church the message got missinterpretted by their kids and their mom was upset, vowing never to let them come back. The next Sunday the kids AND the parents were back. There was yet another misunderstanding. This one was between the parents and another adult in the church. What a mess! Hey, sometimes farming is a dirty job.

That was two weeks ago. Thursday, last week the man got saved. He came forward this Sunday and was baptised. As an added bonus, God saved his wife and she was baptised. Only the power of God can take our messes and make a work of art.