Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

"And a little child shall lead them."¹

"I had been a children's Sunday School teacher at a particular church for quite a while," wrote one lady. "I dearly loved it and its people. I had tried, on many occasions to get Bob, my husband, to take an interest in that church. He went twice, once because there was to be a big dinner after, and the second time to see the Christmas play, which I had written and directed.

"Bob owns Big Sun Tree Service and a few days before Easter, while trimming a tree, a branch hit him on the jaw causing it to crack. He did agree to go with me to church on Easter Sunday. However, before we left he bit down on an oatmeal cookie and ended up breaking his jaw and spending Easter afternoon at the emergency room.

"The following Saturday I asked him if he would like to go to church with me in the morning, and, remarkably, he said 'I might as well, I don't have anything else to do.' At church, during the meet-and-greet time, one of the youngsters, Ethan Moody, handed me a $5.00 bill. Puzzled, I asked him if he wanted me to put it in the offering plate for him, and he replied that this was his allowance, and he wanted to give it to my husband to help pay for the dentist. I knew I couldn't give it back to him, because it would hurt his feelings, so I gave it to Bob and quickly explained what Ethan had said.

"In that service when Pastor Ben gave the invitation for people to accept Jesus as their Savior, Bob accepted the Lord. Later that day I asked him what had prompted him to make that decision? He told me it was many things adding up over a period of time, but that the icing on the cake was when Ethan gave him 'his weekly allowance to help pay my dental bill.' That action had reminded him of the times I had explained to him of how God, because He loved us so much, gave His only son to pay for my sins."²

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, like the child who expressed his love in a tangible way, help me to do the same for others in need who cross my path and whom You bring into my life. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus's name, amen."

1. Isaiah 11:6 (NIV).
2. Source unknown.

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