Here is a true story about a nine year old boy who lived in
a rural town in Tennessee. His house was in a poor area of the
community. A church had a bus ministry that came knocking on his
door one Saturday afternoon. The kid came to answer the door and
greeted the bus pastor.
The bus pastor asked if his parents were home and the small
boy told him that his parents took off every weekend and left
him at home to take care of his little brother. The bus pastor
couldn't believe what the kid said and asked him to repeat it.
The youngster gave the same answer and the bus pastor asked
to come in and talk with him.
They went into the living room and sat down on an old couch
with the foam and springs exposed. The bus pastor asked the kid,
"Where do you go to church?"
The young boy surprised the visitor by replying, "I've
never been to church in my whole life."
The bus pastor thought to himself about the fact that his
church was less than three miles from the child's house.
"Are you sure you have never been to church?" he asked again.
"I sure haven't", came his answer.
Then the bus pastor said, "Well, son, more important than
going to church, have you ever heard the greatest love story
ever told?" and then he proceeded to share the Gospel with this
little nine year old boy.
The young lad's heart began to be tenderized and at the end of
the bus pastor's story the bus pastor asked if the boy wanted to
receive this free gift from God.
The youngster exclaimed, "You Bet!" The kid and the bus
pastor got on their knees and the lad invited Jesus into his
little heart and received the free gift of salvation. They both
stood up and the bus pastor asked if he could pick the kid up
for church the next morning.
"Sure," the nine old replied.
The bus pastor got to the house early the next morning and
found the lights off. He let himself in and snaked his way
through the house and found the little boy asleep in his bed. He
woke up the little boy and his brother and helped get them
dressed. They got on the bus and ate a donut for breakfast on
their way to church.
Keep in mind that this boy had never been to church before. The
church was a real big one. The little kid just sat there,
clueless of what was going on.
A few minutes into the service these tall unhappy guys
walked down to the front and picked up some wooden plates. One
of the men prayed and the kid with utter fascination watched
them walk up and down the aisles.
He still didn't know what was going on. All of a sudden like a
bolt of lightning it hit the kid what was taking place. These
people must be giving money to Jesus. He then reflected on the
free gift of life he had received just twenty-four hours
earlier. He immediately searched his pockets, front and back,
and couldn't find a thing to give Jesus.
By this time the offering plate was being passed down his aisle
and with a broken heart he just grabbed the plate and held on to
it. He finally let go and watched it pass on down the aisle. He
turned around to see it passed down the aisle behind him. And
then his eyes remained glued on the plate as it was passed back
and forth, back and forth all the way to the rear of the
sanctuary.
Then he had an idea. This little nine year old boy, in front of
God and everybody, got up out of his seat. He walked about eight
rows back, grabbed the usher by the coat and asked to hold the
plate one more time. Then he did the most astounding thing I
have ever heard of.
He took the plate, sat it on the carpeted church floor and
stepped into the center of it. As he stood there, he lifted
his little head up and said,
"Jesus, I don't have anything to give you today, but just
me. I give you me!"
HALLELUJAH!
I do love Jesus. He is my source of existence and my
Savior. He keeps me functioning each and everyday. Without Him,
I will be nothing. Without Him, I am nothing. With Him I can do
all things. Phil 4:13
NAILS DIDN'T HOLD JESUS TO THE CROSS... LOVE DID!