Good morning Lord Jesus, Father, Spirit I receive all you have for me with joy and thanksgiving.
In challenge 9 we look at "pace" and our need to have compassion for the lost and and urgency in reaching those who don't know Christ. Instead of my reflections this morning let me share with you one true story, and one quote.
Charles Frederick Peace (14 May 1832 – 25 February 1879) was an English burglar and murderer, who embarked on a life of crime. He killed a couple policemen and robbed many people in London. On the morning of his execution, Peace ate a hearty breakfast of bacon, and calmly awaited the coming of the public executioner, William Marwood inventor of the "long drop". He was escorted on the death-walk by the prison chaplain, who was reading aloud from The Consolations of Religion about the fires of hell. As the chaplain spoke of Christ's power to save, Peace turned to him and said: "Do you believe it? Do you believe it? "Sir, if I believed what you and the church of God say that you believe, even if England were covered with broken glass from coast to coast, I would walk over it, if need be, on hands and knees and think it worth while living, just to save one soul from an eternal hell like that!"
"I believe that if an angel were to wing his way from earth up to Heaven, and were to say that there was one poor, ragged boy, without father or mother, with no one to care for him and teach him the way of life; and if God were to ask who among them were willing to come down to this earth and live here for fifty years and lead that one to Jesus Christ, every angel in Heaven would volunteer to go. Even Gabriel, who stands in the presence of the Almighty, would say, "Let me leave my high and lofty position, and let me have the luxury of leading one soul to Jesus Christ." There is no greater honor than to be the instrument in God's hands of leading one person out of the kingdom of Satan into the glorious light of Heaven." J. Oswald Sanders
After reading these , think about how many people your church has baptized this year? What soul have you had the luxury of leading to Jesus Christ?
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord Have mercy.
Link to today's challenge for day 9: Day 9: A Sense of Urgency