30. GOD WORKS REPENTENCE IN A HEART
Tuesday 18 July 1978 on Pacific Island Guam, U.S.A.: Day after
day, reading Bible stories to children, singing and praying together, and
taking them to Harvest Baptist Church
to get them taught well, it is most rewarding to see the
Holy Spirit work godly sorrow in their hearts. “Uncle Sam, I
steal candy at the store,” confesses a 7-year-old Vietnamese American girl (out
of the blue).
‘I see. So, you must tell Jesus you are sorry and ask Him to
forgive you. Will you do that?’ She sadly nods her head and follows me in
prayer. ‘We need to go tell the store lady and pay her.’ This is the hard
part. But with God’s Help I talk her into going with me. I question her
as to how much she thinks she has stolen over a period of
time and give her a $5 bill to pay for it.
With her in tow, I walk to the small (privately owned) store
nearby and we go to the counter where the store lady owner is. (Presently, no
one else is in her small store, which sure helps our privacy.) ‘I’m Uncle Sam. I’ve been teaching these neighborhood children about Jesus
and “Celina” tells me she has been stealing candy from your store. She has come
now to tell you she is sorry. ‘Celina’--.’
“Sorry.” From a little sinner’s head bowed most low in shame; the
tiny voice sounds out for all eternity and is recorded by the Judge of all the
earth. Glory to God!
‘Pay her the money.’ Then the little angel hands the lady the $5
and we soon leave. No doubt this gave the local Chamorro Catholic store lady
some food for thought.
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of.”
Reader Friend, have you allowed the Holy Spirit to work godly sorrow in your heart, or are you headed to eternal Hell fire to receive the never-ending punishment of your sins?
I greatly appreciate you diligent Sunday School teachers who tell your kids’ class of my missionary work and sometimes give me their offerings of $3 or so. Please tell them this story of “Celina” and that I use their offerings in such manner as making restitution for this repentant girl. Thank you, children, for giving. Thank you for being a Missionary Helper. May God richly bless you for all you do for me.
“Abba Father, please
save me from the sin of stealing. Please save me from the sin of coveting
things that are not mine, a sin that so often leads to the additional
sin of stealing. Help me to teach others not to steal, especially children. I
now pray for “Celina”. Please save everyone in her family to the utmost!
Bless them richly, I pray. Please fill Brother Richard with Holy
Ghost Power as he preaches Christ in Japan, calling on lost Japanese souls to
repent of serving dead idols and turn to the True and Living God (Who created
them) to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to save them. Amen!”