Filling A Vacuum

We have been brought together into a church, into the body of Christ for unity and strength. We have been reared with the blessings of that Happy man in our story. We are primed and ready.

An example of one who was not afraid to let the Spirit work in him and through him is seen in the following story:

Bob, a new convert to Jesus worked one summer as a bartender in New York City. He reports that he had misgivings about taking the job. But he needed the money to help pay his way through college and reason it just a summer job. Besides, he thought, he just might find the opportunity to help turn some lives around. After all did not Jesus Christ go out to the highways and hedges and mix with sinners?

Of this experience, Bob writes: "Never in my wildest imagination did I dream I would have all the opportunities I had to witness for Christ. People came in who just needed someone to talk with them. Some were on drugs, some were prostitutes, and occasionally someone

would come in who had simply given up on society and on life in genera!."

One young lady, despondent be. cause her live-in boyfriend had left her, confided to Bob that she was thinking of suicide. Bob listened and took the opportunity to talk with her about Jesus Christ.

Later, he received this note: "Dear Bob, you may not remember me but I am the young lady you helped late one Friday night last summer. I had almost given up hope. You listened and convinced me that you cared. And, oh how desperately I needed that from someone. Sunday morning I went to church for the first time in five years. God willing, I will be going again this Sunday. Thank you for caring. Karen"

Christ calls us to be In the world, not of it. The world needs more Bobs, helping to lift people up out of the world and pointing them to Jesus Christ.

Jesus says: "Holy Father, keep them in thy name which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one."

Amen

Written by Pastor Tim Zingale May 22, 2006