Sometimes you wonder what happens to people. You cross paths with someone, interact with him for a while, but then you lose track of him. You might think of him from time to time, but you have no contact information so you pray that he is doing well and go on with your life.
That happened to me many times. In a few cases, I would hear from that person many years later, but more often than not I was left wondering.
One such individual was someone I’ll call Mike. Mike showed up in my office one day with a lot of questions. He was searching. We talked for quite a while that day. He came to worship services and Bible Class for a time, and then faded away. A while later he started attending again. He made more visits to me in my office. We talked a number of times. I tried to make sure that Mike heard what God had done for him in sending Jesus to live and suffer and die and rise again FOR HIM. If memory serves, he started attending one of my Adult Instruction Classes that would lead to membership, but did not complete the course. I didn’t see him for a while. Then the lockdown for Covid 19 hit, and 5 months later I retired. I have been retired for almost two years now, and I got this message yesterday from Mike:
“Good afternoon. I finally did it. I know it has been a while since I walked into your office. I walked in there on August 22,2017. Today, August 21, 2022, 5 years later I was confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church, Denison, Texas. Lots of love brother.”
Reading that brought a smile to my face. Many times you sow the seed, but do not see any results. However, this time I got to hear what God did, using someone as flawed and sinful as me along the way. I played a small part, but it was the part God wanted me to fill. And I thought of Paul’s words to the church in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 3:6–9 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
God is the one who saves people, not us. We just share the message. And don’t underestimate the importance of doing the task assigned to you. Whether it is planting or watering or whatever, it all needs doing. The Holy Spirit will work through your witness, and God will bring the increase.
Lord, thank you for using me to help “Mike” in his faith journey. Remind each person reading this that You can and will use them, too. Help them sow the seed of Your Word and promises, letting their light shine for you. Amen.
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Cheryl and I will be co-hosting a trip to Greece next year with Donna Snow: Walk in the Footsteps of Paul. The links to the brochure and registration form are below.
https://www.artesianministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/10-Day-2023-Greece-Tour-Brochure.pdf
