North Bend Church of Christ - Discussion Forum: SAVING THE ONES WE CAN

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North Bend Church of Christ » The Church of Christ » Bulletin Articles

SAVING THE ONES WE CAN - by Norm Russell

Website Management
#1

Posted on 06/04/2020 18:17

Administrator

Posts: 15
Joined: 04/28/2016 08:00

(Norm wrote this in 2013, it's since been read by visitors over 3,000 times - so here's a re-run!)

In Thomas Merton's auto biography, he relates an incident in his life in which he was heading to the hospital to have his appendix removed. He had been quite ill and had an appointment with a surgeon for the operation. As he was on his way he came across a man who had been overcome with his addiction to alcohol. He was lying prostrate in the middle of a turnstile at a subway station. People were stepping over him, pushing on him to get him out of the way, and were telling him to move. But the man could not get himself on his feet in order to get out of the way.

Merton decided to help the man get away from the turnstile. Merton was taking a chance, his appendix could burst from the strain and he would be in serious trouble. He could not however simply leave the man there helpless. He went over and managed to help the man move to another location. As he left, he turned around and watched as the person he just assisted crawl back to the turnstile where he would once again be subjected to abuse by those he encountered.

Sometimes in our effort to help people find Jesus, we get frustrated with their lack of interest in finding a new life. We show them the scriptures, tell them what a wonderful Savior Jesus is and how God will bless their life and they simply walk away. That can be discouraging to those who want to witness for Jesus.

When Jesus walked the dusty roads of Palestine, and spoke to the multitudes, there were many who walked away. He spoke great truths to them and even healed many,. Still they walked away. Who could simply turn back to a life with all of its troubles and pain when the abundant life was so readily available to them?

Jesus could not save everyone and we need to understand that we cannot save everyone we meet and teach. In His parable of the sower in Matthew 13 and Luke 8, we find that only two in four received the truth and one of the two that did, became so involved with the world that they eventually turned away from that abundant life. Imagine, only one in four will receive the truth and follow through with it.

Someone out there is waiting for someone to come to them to share Jesus with them. Our responsibility is to show them what a great and awesome Savior we have. We then must let them choose which direction to go.

Let us continue to hold up Jesus and let His love and the promise of a new life draw people to Him, and let us continue to pray that God will open hearts to His word.
---Posted for the author by:
Mark R. Magill
Webmaster

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SAVING THE ONES WE CAN - by Norm Russell
Website Management	#1 Posted on 06/04/2020 18:17
Administrator Posts: 15 Joined: 04/28/2016 08:00	(Norm wrote this in 2013, it's since been read by visitors over 3,000 times - so here's a re-run!) In Thomas Merton's auto biography, he relates an incident in his life in which he was heading to the hospital to have his appendix removed. He had been quite ill and had an appointment with a surgeon for the operation. As he was on his way he came across a man who had been overcome with his addiction to alcohol. He was lying prostrate in the middle of a turnstile at a subway station. People were stepping over him, pushing on him to get him out of the way, and were telling him to move. But the man could not get himself on his feet in order to get out of the way. Merton decided to help the man get away from the turnstile. Merton was taking a chance, his appendix could burst from the strain and he would be in serious trouble. He could not however simply leave the man there helpless. He went over and managed to help the man move to another location. As he left, he turned around and watched as the person he just assisted crawl back to the turnstile where he would once again be subjected to abuse by those he encountered. Sometimes in our effort to help people find Jesus, we get frustrated with their lack of interest in finding a new life. We show them the scriptures, tell them what a wonderful Savior Jesus is and how God will bless their life and they simply walk away. That can be discouraging to those who want to witness for Jesus. When Jesus walked the dusty roads of Palestine, and spoke to the multitudes, there were many who walked away. He spoke great truths to them and even healed many,. Still they walked away. Who could simply turn back to a life with all of its troubles and pain when the abundant life was so readily available to them? Jesus could not save everyone and we need to understand that we cannot save everyone we meet and teach. In His parable of the sower in Matthew 13 and Luke 8, we find that only two in four received the truth and one of the two that did, became so involved with the world that they eventually turned away from that abundant life. Imagine, only one in four will receive the truth and follow through with it. Someone out there is waiting for someone to come to them to share Jesus with them. Our responsibility is to show them what a great and awesome Savior we have. We then must let them choose which direction to go. Let us continue to hold up Jesus and let His love and the promise of a new life draw people to Him, and let us continue to pray that God will open hearts to His word. ---Posted for the author by: Mark R. Magill Webmaster