Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “A Knowledge of God,” pp. 87–91, in Steps to Christ; “Bible Readings With Families,” pp. 192, 193, in Gospel Workers; and “Bible Work Techniques,” pp. 481–486, in Evangelism.
God is working on hearts all around us. If we have the spiritual discernment to see where God is already working, we will regularly observe opportunities to share His Word with others. As God prepares the soil of the heart, we have the opportunity to sow the seed of the gospel. The Holy Spirit prepared the hearts of Nicodemus, the woman at the well, the woman with the issue of blood, the thief on the cross, the Roman centurion, and many others to receive His Word before Jesus ever met them. Through the circumstances of their lives and the impressions of the Holy Spirit, they were prepared to receive Christ’s message.
We may have a natural hesitancy to ask people if we can pray with them, share a Bible promise, or give them a piece of literature. More often than not, when we feel impressed to share our faith with someone else, it is because the Holy Spirit who has impressed us has already impressed that person to receive our witness.
Discussion Questions:
If someone should come to you feeling terribly guilty over something and needed forgiveness from God, what counsel would you give, and what Bible texts would you share? What has been your own experience with guilt and the power of God’s forgiveness in your own life?
Sometimes God brings people into our lives because He longs for them to know His truth. How can we be sensitive to God’s leading?
Dwell more on the power of God and the Word of God as revealed in the Creation story and in creation itself. We can barely grasp the concept of the universe itself because it is so big and so vast. To think that the God who created it must be even greater than what He created. How can we draw comfort from knowing that the God we serve is so powerful? And not only is He powerful, but He also loves us. What great hope can we take from knowing these things about God? How can this knowledge help us be better witnesses to others about Him?
Inside Story
New Heart for Alex
By Andrew McChesney
Alex was diagnosed with congenital heart disease, or a hole in the heart, as a baby in Finland. Doctors hoped that the heart would heal itself, but it didn’t.
So when he was eight, doctors performed open-heart surgery. Afterward, Mother looked at the small boy lying in the recovery ward and thought, For some reason God allowed this to happen. He has a purpose for our lives.
Mother wrote about the experience on Facebook. Many Finns began to follow her Facebook page, allowing her to speak about God with people who otherwise would not listen. Alex was becoming a missionary.
The boy recuperated quickly from the operation and returned home after only five days. It was a miracle. The devil had tried to snatch away Alex, but Jesus had given him a new heart.
The summer, however, turned out to be hot. One evening, Alex complained about a pain in his chest. At the hospital, doctors saw that his heart had swelled to double its normal size (see photo below). Alex was rushed into emergency surgery. Hours later, doctors called the operation a success. The devil had tried to snatch away Alex, but Jesus had given him a new heart.
Alex acted unusual when he returned home. Usually kind and quiet, he became aggressive and loud, especially toward Father. One evening, Alex was particularly angry, yelling unkind words and tossing his eyeglasses on the floor.
“Why are you acting this way?” Father asked, placing a hand on Alex’s head to pray. This was something Father had done many times to pray.
But this time Alex refused prayer. “Take your hand away!” he yelled.
He turned to Father with a look of pure hatred in his eyes. Father had never seen such an expression on his face before. He went to the kitchen, where Mother was preparing supper.
“This is not normal,” he said. “This is not our Alex. We need to pray.”
Father and Mother walked over to Alex. Without saying a word, Father placed a hand on Alex’s head. Mother placed her hand on the boy’s forehead.
“In the name of Jesus, we command you, evil spirit, to leave Alex,” Father said. “We have given Alex to God, and you have no place in his life.”
After the prayer, Alex returned to his normal self. He smiled and laughed like nothing had happened.
The devil had tried to snatch away Alex, but Jesus had given him a new heart. Mother hopes that Alex grows up to have a heart for mission and that his story will change hearts.
“I have given his life to God,” Mother said. “We feel that Alex has a special relationship with God. His life has been difficult, but we believe that God will do something wonderful with him.”
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