We received this letter at the office recently, and asked the author if we could share it with our readers. He agreed, and this is what he wrote:
Dear Tim
Some kind soul dropped the December issue of Face to Face on my desk and of course I read it – brilliant! I could identify with An unexpected Lesson when I worshipped awhile at Aruna Ark (Hammarsdale , KZN), and loved the way you shared the grace message in How to live in the rat race without becoming a rat.
I truly believe that once a Christian has experienced the fullness of divine grace, there should burst forth a desire to share Gods love and grace with everyone – believer and unbeliever alike. I want to share a special story with you something to encourage you and praise our wonderful Abba Father in heaven.
God bless and keep up the good work,
Bryan Speight
Yesterday was Pensioners day at our local supermarket – we get a 5% discount. Ashley, my son had taken Melanie (my wife) in his car to do the weekly shopping, and I had followed in mine as I had a business appointment later that day. We came out of the supermarket with our provisions, and Mel and Ash went back home. I looked at my watch and saw that I had 20 minutes to kill, and wondered what I could do to pass the time. At that moment a man approached me. He held a tin of black shoe polish and a brush in his hand and asked if he could polish the tyres on my car in return for a donation.
My initial reaction was sadly, annoyance. However , something checked in my spirit , and I said to him, Ill make you a deal. Ill buy 20 minutes of your time for R20.00. He looked at me and agreed.
I am going to tell you about Jesus, I said. He readily agreed and pointed to a woman standing a little way on. Thats my wife, can she join us?
Of course, I answered. We walked over to a vacant bench in the middle of the arcade , with people coming and going all around.
The Lord revealed that they were in a deep dark place and had turned to liquor to try and forget their problems. I asked the Lord to reveal his love and power to them in a way that they would understand, and said to them, You can never get out of that hole in your own strength – the powers of darkness that are ranged against us all are just too powerful and cunning – we can never succeed in the flesh. We have to live in Gods power and love and we can only do this if we confess our sins and our inability to live as he wishes us to live, and repent. We have to make a quality decision to give ALL of our lives to Jesus. A total commitment – he cannot work with half a life.
I do believe in Jesus! he cried out.
Then now is the time to repent and ask Jesus to wash you in his blood, cleanse you of every sin and dedicate all you are and have to him, to live day by day in the power of his Spirit and honour him.
By now tears were streaming down their cheeks as God convicted them. It was truly magnificent to see how God was bringing his lost sheep home again – folk who were rejected by society generally, but still loved by God. Down and out, but not out of Gods grace. We prayed together and they rededicated their lives to God.
Colin then asked me Where do we go from here. Who will provide our daily needs?
Do you believe the word of God? I asked.
Yes, Colin answered.
Then listen carefully to what God promises in Matthew 6:31-33: So do not worry, saying What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the pagans run after these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Colin looked at me with a mixture of confusion and unbelief. The look on his face said, can such a thing be true?
Then came a magnificent move of God, totally unexpected. A lady, whom I have never seen before, wheeling a full supermarket trolley down the arcade, passed next to us, listened a brief moment, took a loaf of bread from her trolley and put it in Colins lap.
Please take this, she said, and moved on.
Colin did a double take, looked at the receding figure, looked at me, astonishment written all over his face.
Did you ask for bread? I asked.
When the penny dropped he broke into a broad smile. God has provided!
Right on cue, God had assured Colin that he is trustworthy and that his word is true all we have to do is believe him.
Whatever challenges we face, one thing is clear; we have a Father in heaven who really loves us and who keeps his promises. What does he ask of us in return? Only that we trust him fully, and live in the power and love that he has already invested in every believer by his indwelling Spirit. So we can be encouraged. If we live by the flesh we will certainly fail, but if we live in the Spirit we will be more than conquerors.