Tuesday, January 5th, 2016
WHAT DO WE HAVE TO OFFER CHRIST?
Marylou was visiting with her pastor about some nasty turns her life had taken, including a major health issue. “I’ve been active in this church and am a volunteer in a nursing home. I give my time and money freely to the Lord’s work and pray daily. But I guess everything I’ve done for Him counts for nothing.”
The pastor tried to suppress a smile but was not entirely successful.
“Do you mock me too, Pastor, with all I’ve done for your church?”
“No, I don’t mock you, but I had to smile when you said everything you’ve done doesn’t seem to count for anything. “You see, you’re right. You really have nothing to offer Jesus. Nothing.”
Marylou’s face fell and she replied, “How can you say that to me?”
He spoke gently to her and explained why Jesus came to earth and what he offers His followers. They prayed silently for fifteen minutes, at the Pastor’s suggestion, during which time the Holy Spirit enlightened her. At the end of that time she lifted her head and smiled like she had never smiled before. “I see it now. I have asked the Lord what I could offer Him that He needed. Just now He said, quite definitively I might add, there was nothing I could offer Him; He was sufficient in Himself. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, I asked what He had to offer me. The response was unmistakable: ‘Everything.’”