* A previous post but a timely encouragement.
I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.
-Job 42:5
“Do you know Jesus child?"Do you know the Barefoot Soldier? "Oh, I just want you to know Him.” I can still hear my elderly neighbor's voice trembling as she uttered these words to me. I could hear so much compassion, love, deep concern, and desperation in her voice. It was as if her heart was weeping for me to know this Jesus whom she loved so much. At the time I didn't KNOW Jesus but I had heard about Him. As for the Barefoot Soldier, I was completely bewildered as to Who she was talking about.
But it was obvious that my frail in body but mighty in spirit friend knew Jesus well because she talked so passionately about Him. It was as if she knew Him personally. I now understand that she did and she wanted so badly for me to know and accept Jesus too.
What started out as me wanting to help a lonely aging lady next door blossomed into a beautiful friendship. In fact, it was more than a friendship. She became like a grandmother to me. I’d take her grocery shopping and run errands. Some days we’d just sit and talk and I would cling to her every word. I would often cook for her but she would feed me with so much more; fresh manna from heaven. I am still being sustained and nourished by all the life-giving lessons she taught me from her kitchen table.
She would tell me about how good the Lord had been to her throughout her life. She told me of how she was abandoned in a field as a baby and someone found her and raised her as their own. My friend never knew who her biological parents were and was not sure when she was even born, but she was very well acquainted with her Heavenly Father and was beyond thankful to be born again.
She shared with me that she was baptized in a ditch filled with water on the side of a road when she was a little girl in the south. Her face would brighten up as if she was baptized in the Jordan River when she reflected on that blessed day.
Over time her stories became my incentive to cook for her even more. My cooking was not that good back then but she would make me feel like a master chef. Whatever she needed for me to do, I was obliged. I didn’t know it then, but she had a purpose in those life stories she shared with me; for me to know the Love of her life; her Savior, Jesus.
Yes, she was very strategic in her approach and yet her strategy was so wrapped in love that I was unaware of what she was really doing.
She was a beautiful gentle-spirited expression of Who she loved and she exemplified complete contentment in Him. To my surprise, this feeble woman who I thought was so lonely didn’t seem lonely at all. She had Jesus and He seemed to be more than enough. Yes, I heard a lot about Jesus from my precious friend next door.
From her sharing with me, it was obvious that her life had not been easy at all. It was also very evident that God was more than faithful to her and she would testify of that frequently. Although she had been “thrown away” as a baby as she would say, God was constant in her life and she was accepted and loved by Him. Over and over she would tell of His goodness and I would sit in eager anticipation of her stories. I didn't know it then but she was very strategic in planting seeds in me. Many would water the seeds she planted, and God continues to get the increase and the glory.
For some reason, back then I thought my treasured friend would be with me forever. When she passed away my heart shattered and ached like nothing I had ever experienced before. Such a very special integral part of my life was gone. What was I going to do without her? I loved her so very much.
Though my heart was torn apart I was thankful to have her for the time I did and I’m forever grateful to God for placing her in my life. Although my heart was deeply grieved at the time God was faithful to me even then. He gave me strength, comfort and kept me as only He could.
The influence and impact she had on my life were monumental. She introduced me to Jesus in such a loving and gracious way. She never forced Him on me nor was she critical or judgmental. I certainly gave her plenty of reasons to be that way, but she never judged me. She loved and accepted me with all my flaws and believe me I was something else.
The life I now live for Christ is partly due to her lifting me up in prayer before the Lord, and her sharing her testimony of God’s faithfulness. One day I will reunite with my friend and we will rejoice! She will know that her prayers were answered and her loving labor was not in vain. I now KNOW Jesus.
Now I can cry out to God, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.” Just as she planted seeds in me, it's my heart's desire to plant seeds of God’s message to others and follow her example.
I ask you today as my dear friend asked me many years ago, Do you know Jesus? Or maybe you've just heard of Him.
My heart so yearns and echoes my beloved dear-hearted companion, "Oh I just want you to know Him."
I encourage you if you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior accept Him into your heart. Now is the time of salvation. Don’t wait. Receive Him today by faith. Draw close to Him and seek Him with all your heart. It will be the best decision you will ever make.
If you do know Jesus; glory to God! But it doesn’t stop there. We have a responsibility to introduce Jesus to others. Some may plant, some water, but God gives the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6) Look at the world around us. Times of uncertainty, unstableness, stress, fear, many are weary and confused. Look around, the fields are already white for the harvest and the darker the days the whiter the harvest and the more laborers are needed.
The darker the days the whiter the harvest.
A fruitful harvest depends upon a faithful witness.
The harvest is very ripe and plentiful. (Matthew 9:37) People need hope and that hope is in Jesus and we are the vessels that God wants to use to spread His gospel message. A fruitful harvest depends upon a faithful witness. Let’s be faithful and so moved with compassion. It’s harvest time.
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