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Inspiration Point: With God's help, something good did happen for
Jose |
“I prayed to Jesus,” Jose
said. “Nothing good happened.” He was cold, hungry, confused and
almost in tears. He had wandered in off the street, nearly exhausted
— friendless. The Spanish signs in the window seemed welcoming.
He quickly spilled out his story of hopelessness to the lady
working at what appeared to be a second-hand clothing store.
Promised a job, he had been transported a few hours from his home.
His new job: 13-hour days making $3 an hour. The people who helped
him find the job now insisted he pay them an extravagant finder’s
fee. And after five days of work, he received no pay. He was
hopeless. The night before he had slept in an unheated garage in
below freezing weather. His expectations were shattered.
Jose didn’t realize he had arrived at a Christian ministry. The
lady behind the counter said a silent prayer and smiled: “No, don’t
give up faith.” Conversation with Jose revealed he had a lot of
problems, a lot of failing.
The Bible says: “We who are strong, of robust faith, ought to bear
with the failings of the weak — not to please ourselves.”
Over the next two days Christians came to his aid. Jose was given a
place to sleep, more food than he could eat, and a little money.
The Bible continues: “Everything that was written in the past was
written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement
of the scriptures we might have continuing hope.”
As Jose sat on his motel room bed; Santiago, one of the people
offering aid, knelt on the floor sharing many scriptures with him.
Then they prayed an eternal prayer of hope to Jesus. Through teary
eyes Jose said, “I have such a peace in my heart.”
Something good happened.
Syndicated columnist Rick
Leland is pastor of The Free Church in Three Rivers, Mich. |
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From
July 7, 2007,
Newberg Graphic
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