Weekly Devotion - #41

Read: Acts 5:17-29

A Long Bony Finger

by Carl Purple, Bill Rice Ranch

"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy. " --Psalm 107:l.

Christians, who are the Lord's people, who are heaven bound, should witness to relatives, friends, strangers, and business acquaintances that they might know the Gospel and be saved. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so..."

When I was in the navy walking downtown I heard some church music, "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning." I walked closer to listen as the Salvation Army group was singing. It was a cold foggy night. I paused, my hands in my pea coat pockets and my collar turned up against the wind. Out of curiosity I stopped to listen to these "different" people and their music. Soon a tall thin lady in a Salvation Army coat and bonnet walked up to me, pointed her long bony finger at me and asked, "If your heart were to stop beating in the very next moment, would you be in Heaven or Hell for eternity?" This frightened me and I immediately turned and walked away pushing her question far back in my mind. I was 18 years old at that time and thoughts of dying were far from my mind. I got away from her but not her long bony finger and her voice saying, "If your heart were to stop in the very next moment, would you be in Heaven or Hell?"

Twenty-eight years later I saw myself a sinner, in need of salvation. On January 24,1971, I asked Jesus Christ to forgive my sins and take control of my life.

During those 28 years, I visited many U.S. and foreign cities. I had joined a church and attended it regularly. I had relatives and friends who were Christians. Yet, no person before or since that thin Salvation Army lady witnessed to me about salvation.

I'll never forget that long bony finger pointing to me and my heart.

"Let the redeemed of the Lord say so..." [TGC]

THOT: You are the only "Bible" some people ever read.

TODAY: Find someone you do not know and tell them about Jesus.

This lesson is from  30 Heart Touching Devotions available from SWM.

You have permission to copy for personal and church use.