I had a reality check on Palm Sunday last April.  I know that seems to be a long time ago, but it seems like yesterday to me.  God taught me a valuable lesson.

Being concerned with Communion, Palm Sunday procession, and receiving new members, my mind was focused on details.  So I was unprepared for a little girl wanting to talk to me after the Youth Message.  I saw her standing next to the pulpit, but I was racing to prepare for receiving the new members.  Her brother, Isaac, said she wanted to talk to me.  I could see he was serious as I tried to understand this interruption.

Little Tory then asked me, “I want Jesus to come into my heart.”  My first reaction was “Now?”  I don’t have time for this.  She repeated this again, and this time I heard her.  The Holy Spirit was very strong in His presence.  The congregation was watching as they did not know what was occurring.  Tory’s dad and step-mom were obviously concerned as well as her grandparents.  My mind was slowly tuning in with The Holy Spirit.

Little Tory wanted Jesus in her heart.  Isn’t that for which the church exists?  For people to acknowledge Jesus as their Savior?  It was happening right after the Youth Message, not at the end of the service, or in Jr. Church, or after church as we would expect at LaGrange UMC.  God was teaching me and the church to be ready.

I had a short discussion with Tory as I called on Jim and Rebecca to join us in the chancel area.  They still didn’t know.  Their daughter wanted Jesus! We knelt and prayed.  There was no doubt in my mind that Tory accepted Christ that day into her heart.

As I was reading this week about John Wesley, I came across his quote to pastors:  “You have nothing to do but save souls.  Therefore spend, and be spent, in this work.  And go always, not only to those that want you, but to those that want you most.  Observe:  It is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that society; but to save as many souls as you can; to bring as many sinners as you possible can to repentance, and with all your power to build them up in that holiness without which they cannot see the Lord.”

Humbly reminded again why we are here,

Pastor Ralph