Today I start a month of serving Fishers of Men Lutheran Church in Port Isabel, Texas. This is my fifth time down here since I retired. It takes us about 11 hours to drive down here from our home. Because we just got back from Greece early Thursday morning, we decided to break this trip up into two days, Friday and Saturday, so that we would not be totally exhausted for the worship service and Bible Study this morning.
On Friday night we went to a small Mexican restaurant for dinner. After we placed our order, I did what I have done hundreds of times before. I asked our waiter his name, and he told me it was Miguel. I said that we were about to ask God to bless our meal and that we would be praying for him as well. Was there anything special he wanted us to pray about? He paused a moment, and then said, “Yes, there is. I have been trying to get my life back in order. I’ve done some bad things and am putting that behind me. I am hoping to get baptized soon.” I had already noticed that he was wearing a cross on the outside of his shirt so that others could see it. You could tell he was sincere and excited about turning things around. So Cheryl and I prayed for him.
I was excited to hear about how God was working in this young man’s life. I immediately recalled the week before when we were in Philippi, seeing the places described in Acts 16. This tells us about what we know as Paul’s Second Missionary Journey, during which he had a dream that led him to go to Europe for the first time. The first account we have of European converts to Christianity took place in Philippi: Lydia and the Jailer, along with their households. Take a few minutes today to read Acts 15:36-16:40.
The same one who worked through Paul and Silas is still working through people today to lead others to Jesus. This morning I thanked God for those who have been working in Miguel’s life to lead him to our Savior. I pray that as he is baptized, as God’s name is placed on him with the water, as he joins the family into which Lydia and the jailer and Cheryl and I and all those who have been baptized are a part of, that Miguel will live with the assurance of the forgiveness and life and salvation that Jesus earned is his as well.
God bless each of you on this Lord’s day.
