How the Christian conversion of a thief in Victorian London began a journey of faith for a Scots family living in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Audio version here
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
A couple of years ago, the WWJD movement swept Christian circles. I can remember seeing many young people wearing bracelets with those initials on them. It all had to do with the much loved book, “In His Steps” written by Charles M. Sheldon. The book was all about a church being transformed by an event that caused the congregation to ask themselves “What Would Jesus Do?” in every situation.
Like most movements, this one has had its day, and people have moved on to something else. Sheldon’s book can still be purchased online, but how many people are reading and applying it?
Sheldon wrote a much better book called “Broken Earthenware,” which is sadly out of print. It tells the story of a fierce thief called Boxer, who is dramatically converted one night during a burglary. Instead of remaining a thief, Boxer becomes an itinerant preacher, who is slain by the Spirit and washed in the blood of Jesus. Instead of bullying the people in his community like some sort of Bill Sykes, he changes the thieves and vagabonds, drunks and prostitutes in his part of London. He gets them to build a church and the book tells of his struggles with faith. In the end, his young son becomes a pastor and continues the work of Christ.
It’s a great book based on a true story. I owe my ministry, marriage, and children to Boxer’s conversion. Why? Well, you see Boxer’s son was known as Pastor Howard and when he was in his late eighties, he came to the 428 Gospel club in Glasgow, Scotland and preached a message about his father, which reduced everyone to tears, including my own wife Evelyn, who gave her heart to Christ when Pastor Howard gave the call. Boxer’s legacy of faith continues in the love of the Lord that both our children have in their hearts. God does indeed work in mysterious ways.
It is my fervent hope and prayer that you have also given your heart to Jesus in a personal way. All it takes is surrendering yourself to God’s love, looking for His forgiveness, and receiving His blessing through Jesus Christ, God’s Holy Son.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the people in the past whose lives and faith have touched our own. Thank You for the Spirit of conversion that transforms even the wickedest of people into becoming Your most devoted servants. Give us the courage to surrender our hearts to You today, and help us to place our lives into Your hands, both now and forever. Amen.
Short daily devotions for busy Christians and Church meetings
Showing posts with label boxer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label boxer. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Pride
Audio version here ... or here
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (NIV)
My mom often used to say to me, “Watch out! Pride comes before a fall, John!” Usually, she said it when I was being a typical teenager and wouldn’t heed her advice. I’d be going to do something stupid and, in my ornery, essert, and stubborn way, I wouldn’t accept her maternal wisdom.
For example, I used to sit on the porch in my front garden and ridicule the kids who walked by in the street. We’d call each other names and I guess it was a twisted form of territorialism. My mom was never impressed with this, and scolded me on several occasions, which usually ended with me walking away as she voiced those awful words, “Pride comes before a fall.”
Inevitably, my mom was right, because one day a kid from the neighboring subdivision walked past my front gate. I did my usual jeering, expecting him to do the same. He didn’t. He walked through the garden gate and dealt me a swift uppercut to my jaw. His name was Eddie Connelly and he was training to be a boxer. I ran into my house in pain, whilst Eddie continued his journey. My mom had seen the whole incident and she was very unsympathetic to my plight. I didn’t know what humiliated me the most – Eddie’s first class punch or my mom’s words ringing in my ear. I had learned a lesson on both accounts. I had been taught what I didn’t want to hear.
Pride leads us into blind alleys and causes us to reject help. Pride paralyzes addicts from seeking a cure. Pride stops us from asking for forgiveness and keeps us from healing broken relationships. Pride is amongst the deadliest of sins to our souls, and it always comes before a fall.
Jesus discarded pride when He humbled Himself and became, as Paul states, ‘obedient to death.’ He didn’t have to sacrifice Himself for our sins. He didn’t have to go to Jerusalem to be falsely accused and corruptly judged by the authorities. He didn’t have to walk the way of suffering to the Cross at Calvary, so that our world may be saved. Pride could have kept Him from doing all of these things. Love, mercy, and grace empowered Him to overcome pride and bring salvation to sinners everywhere.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes our pride imprisons our spirits and damages our relationships. Sometimes our pride ruins our dreams and diminishes our faith. Forgive our vanity; pardon our stubborn ways. Grant us the strength and courage to overcome pride. Be with us and lead us by Your love. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. (NIV)
My mom often used to say to me, “Watch out! Pride comes before a fall, John!” Usually, she said it when I was being a typical teenager and wouldn’t heed her advice. I’d be going to do something stupid and, in my ornery, essert, and stubborn way, I wouldn’t accept her maternal wisdom.
For example, I used to sit on the porch in my front garden and ridicule the kids who walked by in the street. We’d call each other names and I guess it was a twisted form of territorialism. My mom was never impressed with this, and scolded me on several occasions, which usually ended with me walking away as she voiced those awful words, “Pride comes before a fall.”
Inevitably, my mom was right, because one day a kid from the neighboring subdivision walked past my front gate. I did my usual jeering, expecting him to do the same. He didn’t. He walked through the garden gate and dealt me a swift uppercut to my jaw. His name was Eddie Connelly and he was training to be a boxer. I ran into my house in pain, whilst Eddie continued his journey. My mom had seen the whole incident and she was very unsympathetic to my plight. I didn’t know what humiliated me the most – Eddie’s first class punch or my mom’s words ringing in my ear. I had learned a lesson on both accounts. I had been taught what I didn’t want to hear.
Pride leads us into blind alleys and causes us to reject help. Pride paralyzes addicts from seeking a cure. Pride stops us from asking for forgiveness and keeps us from healing broken relationships. Pride is amongst the deadliest of sins to our souls, and it always comes before a fall.
Jesus discarded pride when He humbled Himself and became, as Paul states, ‘obedient to death.’ He didn’t have to sacrifice Himself for our sins. He didn’t have to go to Jerusalem to be falsely accused and corruptly judged by the authorities. He didn’t have to walk the way of suffering to the Cross at Calvary, so that our world may be saved. Pride could have kept Him from doing all of these things. Love, mercy, and grace empowered Him to overcome pride and bring salvation to sinners everywhere.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes our pride imprisons our spirits and damages our relationships. Sometimes our pride ruins our dreams and diminishes our faith. Forgive our vanity; pardon our stubborn ways. Grant us the strength and courage to overcome pride. Be with us and lead us by Your love. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
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