GRACE CONNECTION

“Jesus Walked Across” by Joe Barrett

There was an older man who lived all his life without knowing the Lord.  Then a young girl befriended this older man, and suddenly one day, he repented of his sin and accepted God’s forgiveness.  The people that knew this gruff older man wanted to know how this little girl was able to lead him to Christ.  It’s simple, he said.  “She built a bridge from her heart to mine, and Jesus walked across.”

Isn’t that a great story?  I heard a guest speaker of Grace Place Statesville share a similar story last Saturday night.  “She built a bridge.”   It seems to me that many “church-going” folk are more likely to blow a bridge up than to build one.  I like movies that involve blowing up bridges, but you and I have been called to “build bridges for Jesus to walk across.”  We are called to love people and find ways to help them.  Building a bridge involves love, listening, prayer, time, serving, grace, mercy, and faith.  Those are our bridge-building tools right there.  All it takes to blow a bridge up is selfishness and anger.

I love the following passage because it gives us a blueprint on how a “bridge-building believer” behaves.

Rom 12:9-21  GNB

Love must be completely sincere. Hate what is evil, hold on to what is good.  (10)  Love one another warmly as Christians, and be eager to show respect for one another.  (11)  Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion.  (12)  Let your hope keep you joyful, be patient in your troubles, and pray at all times.  (13)  Share your belongings with your needy fellow Christians, and open your homes to strangers.  (14)  Ask God to bless those who persecute you—yes, ask him to bless, not to curse.  (15)  Be happy with those who are happy, weep with those who weep.  (16)  Have the same concern for everyone. Do not be proud, but accept humble duties. Do not think of yourselves as wise.  (17)  If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good.  (18)  Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.  (19)  Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God’s anger do it. For the scripture says, “I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord.”  (20)  Instead, as the scripture says: “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame.”  (21)  Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with Good.

Overcome evil with Good.  That’s how you build a bridge.

Thanks for the reminder Lord, that I don’t need to impress anyone with my knowledge or skill.  I’m far better off letting them see you.  Give me a heart for You and those You love.  Like that little girl who built a bridge to an older man’s heart, I pray that You will walk from my heart to someone You have placed in my path.  AMEN.

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