Graduates from Christian College Heading for Mission Field Receive Unexpected Gifts
Just last May (2009), John Ortberg, pastor of the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California, found himself and his family in Azusa, California, because one of his kids was graduating from Azusa Pacific University. His wife, Nancy, was going to speak at the commencement ceremonies, so they were invited to a special gathering of about 50 people — people from the graduating class of 50 years ago and a few faculty members. During the gathering, John Wallace, the president of Azusa Pacific, brought out three students who were graduating that year and announced that for the next two years, they were going to serve the poorest of the poor in India.
These three students thought they were there just to be commissioned and sent out with a blessing—which they were. But then something happened that they did not know was coming. John turned to them and said, “I have a piece of news for you. There’s somebody you do not know—an anonymous donor—who is so moved by what you’re doing that he has given a gift to this university in your name, on your behalf.”
John turned to the first student and said, “You are forgiven your debt of $105,000.” The kid immediately starts to cry. John turns to the next student: “You’re forgiven your debt of $70,000.” He then turns to the third student: “You are forgiven your debt of $130,000.” All three students had no idea this was coming. They were just ambushed by grace—blown away that somebody they don’t even know would pay their debt. The whole room was in tears. (John Ortberg in his sermon, Patch ’Em, preached 5-17-09 at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, Menlo Park, California; www.PreachingToday.com)
In a sense, that’s what happened to us when we trusted Christ as our Savior from sin. We were “ambushed by grace.” Christ paid a debt we could never pay – the debt of our sin – and freed us up to serve.
From a sermon by C. Philip Green, A Good Fight, 5/27/2010