13.07.2015 Views

Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

ecause <strong>the</strong>y all appeared to be so holy compared to himself.Then his s<strong>in</strong> was discovered and he went to prison. I had a nice,comfortable feel<strong>in</strong>g I was do<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> will of God by visit<strong>in</strong>g thispoor bro<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> jail, when <strong>the</strong> Lord cut right across my smug selfsatisfaction.“You’ll not just visit this man,” God said to me. “You’ll offer hima home.”It is one th<strong>in</strong>g to visit a sex offender <strong>in</strong> prison. It is quite ano<strong>the</strong>rto offer to take <strong>the</strong> man home when he comes out of prison —home to where I had a 10-year-old son. God challenged me todemonstrate my faith with action. Smith Wigglesworth used tosay, “Faith is an act, not just a nice feel<strong>in</strong>g. Faith is an act!”“Look,” I said to Ted. “I am offer<strong>in</strong>g a home to you as unto <strong>the</strong>Lord, but I want you to understand this: I know why you are <strong>in</strong>prison. I have a boy of 10 and I don’t trust you. I also want youto know I don’t trust me ei<strong>the</strong>r. Because I know how much I,myself, need <strong>the</strong> grace of God, how can I refuse grace to you?”Most people th<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong>y understand grace when <strong>the</strong>y receive it,but a person doesn’t really understand or appreciate grace untilhe m<strong>in</strong>isters it. I told Ted I would not be keep<strong>in</strong>g my eye on himall <strong>the</strong> time. I did not trust him, but I did trust God with him. Ihad come to realize, for my own life, <strong>the</strong> warn<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> Scripture:“…Let him who th<strong>in</strong>ks he stands take heed lest he fall.” (ICor 10:12) Except for <strong>the</strong> grace of God, I could easily have been<strong>the</strong> man <strong>in</strong> prison.That grace was well spent on Ted. He responded to <strong>the</strong> Lord,m<strong>in</strong>ister<strong>in</strong>g to us <strong>in</strong> every way — mak<strong>in</strong>g cups of tea for visitors,sett<strong>in</strong>g up chairs for meet<strong>in</strong>gs, runn<strong>in</strong>g errands — all <strong>the</strong> th<strong>in</strong>gsmost people are not <strong>in</strong> any hurry to do.I suppose Stephen faced this when <strong>the</strong> apostles said, “It is notdesirable that we should leave <strong>the</strong> word of God and serve tables,”(Acts 6:2) and <strong>the</strong>y gave <strong>the</strong> job to Stephen. Whe<strong>the</strong>r he hadseen Jesus do it or not, he got <strong>the</strong> revelation from Jesus whocould stoop down and wash dirty feet. Stephen m<strong>in</strong>istered byserv<strong>in</strong>g tables, but he did not lack because of not hav<strong>in</strong>g gone toBible school. The Holy Ghost began mov<strong>in</strong>g upon him <strong>in</strong> signs,wonders, and bless<strong>in</strong>gs. In no time at all, Stephen had gone154

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!