Post by foxjj on Apr 13, 2021 7:13:07 GMT
Mike
Like many other young man Mike though that he was living life to the full while encouraged by his friends mantra: "Why worry about tomorrow? live life for today." Back then he and his friends lived for the weekend when everyone had a good time partying at one another’s home’s. As the months passed, parties become more frequent and wilder. Mike’s concerned parents would endeavour to cool things down by pointing out the danger in wild weekends. They would encourage their son to attending Church with them on Sunday mornings, however, as a rebellious young man he refused, saying: "Who needs that crutch?"
Eventually, Mike's friends began to find life partners leaving him the odd one out. He became tired of going home to an empty apartment. That's when he began looking for love in all the wrong places, after a few drinks everyone seems to have happy faces. This way of life can lead to loneliness and a downward spiral of despair, what to do? where can one turn? In desperation he turned to prayer: "God, if you are there, please help me." To Mike's surprise, he began to find answers concerning the needs in his life. This brought Mike to the conclusion that maybe there is something to his parents faith after all.
Taking time to look back on years gone by, Mike came to the realisation that his parents really did know better than he, leaving him wondering: "Have I been so blind all of this time?" He recalled a verse that his Mother often recited: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8) The once rebellious young man had arrived at the place in his life where he must open his eyes and see where he went wrong.
While passing a local Church the announcement for the upcoming Sunday sermon caught his eye: "Feeling lost? Follow Jesus who claimed, "I am the way and the truth and the life." (John 14:6). Mike knew that it was time to return to Church. Recalling parent’s example in earlier years helped Mike turn his life around. He came to the realization that he did need the influence and support of a Church, even though he once mocked it as a crutch. By grace, Mike has changed the way that he once lived. Becoming a new man - born anew of God's Spirit - he now knows that his Heavenly Father has a better life for him because of Jesus' sacrificial death which has brought redemption, and a new life.
Today, let us praise God for changed lives.
John Joseph Fox.
Like many other young man Mike though that he was living life to the full while encouraged by his friends mantra: "Why worry about tomorrow? live life for today." Back then he and his friends lived for the weekend when everyone had a good time partying at one another’s home’s. As the months passed, parties become more frequent and wilder. Mike’s concerned parents would endeavour to cool things down by pointing out the danger in wild weekends. They would encourage their son to attending Church with them on Sunday mornings, however, as a rebellious young man he refused, saying: "Who needs that crutch?"
Eventually, Mike's friends began to find life partners leaving him the odd one out. He became tired of going home to an empty apartment. That's when he began looking for love in all the wrong places, after a few drinks everyone seems to have happy faces. This way of life can lead to loneliness and a downward spiral of despair, what to do? where can one turn? In desperation he turned to prayer: "God, if you are there, please help me." To Mike's surprise, he began to find answers concerning the needs in his life. This brought Mike to the conclusion that maybe there is something to his parents faith after all.
Taking time to look back on years gone by, Mike came to the realisation that his parents really did know better than he, leaving him wondering: "Have I been so blind all of this time?" He recalled a verse that his Mother often recited: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8) The once rebellious young man had arrived at the place in his life where he must open his eyes and see where he went wrong.
While passing a local Church the announcement for the upcoming Sunday sermon caught his eye: "Feeling lost? Follow Jesus who claimed, "I am the way and the truth and the life." (John 14:6). Mike knew that it was time to return to Church. Recalling parent’s example in earlier years helped Mike turn his life around. He came to the realization that he did need the influence and support of a Church, even though he once mocked it as a crutch. By grace, Mike has changed the way that he once lived. Becoming a new man - born anew of God's Spirit - he now knows that his Heavenly Father has a better life for him because of Jesus' sacrificial death which has brought redemption, and a new life.
Today, let us praise God for changed lives.
John Joseph Fox.