Weekly Devotional 11-17-14 Robert

Weekly Devotional 11-17-14 Robert

I met Robert on Nov. 17, 1961 on the streets of Los Angeles, Ca., at a street service conducted by Open Air Campaigners for Christ, a group of young college students and business people. Robert had become familiar with Open Air Campaigners a few months earlier and thought it would be a great training experience for the young college students of a Sunday school class he and his wife, Barbara, had started some time earlier. If I remember correctly, the name of the class was “The King’s Heirs,” and Robert and Barbara started the class because of a lack of true Biblical exposition in the area where they lived. They had previously been teaching the Bible without knowing the Bible. But, while vacationing at a certain Bible camp they came into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and their lives were dramatically changed. They came to understand that knowing about Jesus, and knowing about God, was not the same thing as knowing them. At that camp, they both had a “born again” experience and came to know God and their Savior, Jesus Christ.

Fifty three years have passed since that Saturday night when I met Robert, and a lot has happened. Many changes have occurred since that time. But, Robert and Barbara have not changed. They are the same today as they were then, in love with, and on fire for their Lord. Hundreds, if not thousands, are now citizens of heaven because of their faithfulness. In our ever-changing world, God has not changed, nor have they. Approximately 55 years ago they came to understand that unless a person is reborn from above (born again) he or she is separated from Holy God. They came to understand back then that salvation only comes by the grace of God and by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit. And they unswervingly hold to that today.

Robert is now 90, and Barbara is not far behind. After all their experiences of life, they still believe that Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus explains clearly that a person must be born again (born from above) in order to experience heaven. Consider this passage; “1There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.’ 3Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ 4Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’ 5Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he
cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’ 7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit” (John 3:1-8 NKJV).

They still hold that such a rebirth is entirely of God, and they consider Ephesians 2:1-13 an affirmation of that truth. Consider; “1And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 11Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Un-circumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

The message of these two passages changed my life, as it has of millions of others, and Robert and Barbara would tell you that it can also change your life. Ask God to help you believe the message, and when He opens your understanding (which He will), commit yourself to following Jesus and you will enter into a relationship with Holy God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

[While this little work is not intended to elevate Robert and Barbara (which they would not appreciate), I personally do thank them for their input in my life. And, I thank the Lord they serve for what he has done in their lives and mine.]

stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power, The Work of God on Behalf of Man

www.gbchurch.us

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