Eyes turned inward, she could still see the pages of her friend's already well-used Bible turning to verses of personal promise already fulfilled outside the necessity of time — verses that told of love and death and life and the story of her very own rescue.  She saw that finger trace the page down to the verse which offered the promises of Matthew 7:7 and then Matthew 16:19.  "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you."  "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."  Even now, so many years later, the verses leapt off the pages of her mind, and a sense of wonder returned.   How could it be that heaven itself could be placed at the disposal of one so young in years and in relationship?

Looking closely now, she recognized the tiny core spark that took hold that day — the precious spark which had never died, even when she had strayed.  Fanned by the breath of the Spirit and the desire for obedience, the spark had grown into the passion for the promise.  But she always remembered that wonderful day when this tiny spark lit a tiny prayer closet with a light more blinding than that spilling through the window outside.  The Truth dawned, the Way was accepted, the Life began, and the Glory continued.

Food for Thought:

How have the following verses impacted your life, particularly when you consider the salvation experience, and anyone you may have been privileged to lead to Christ?

Deuteronomy 11:18; Psalm 19:7; Psalm 51:2; Psalm 71:17; Ezekiel 11:19;

Joel 2:26; Matthew 7:7-8; Matthew 16:19; Galatians 6:14; Colossians 1:27

With as much detail as possible, write down everything that impressed itself upon you about the day the Lord rescued you from sin.

What verses are most precious to you when telling someone about the wonders of Christ?

Cross References:

Deuteronomy 11:18…You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.

Psalm 19:7…The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Psalm 24:7…Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in!

Psalm 51:2…Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Psalm 71:17…O God, Thou hast taught me from my youth; and I still declare Thy wondrous deeds.

Isaiah 65:17…For behold, I will create a new heaven and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.

Ezekiel 11:19…And I shall give them one heart, and shall put a new spirit within them.  And I shall take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.

Joel 2:26…And you shall have plenty to eat and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you; then My people will never be put to shame.

Matthew 7:7-8…”Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened."

Matthew 16:19…"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

John 14:6…Jesus said to him, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."

Acts 22:16…And now why do you delay?  Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name."

Galatians 6:14…But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Colossians 1:27…to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

© 2002 Kimberly H. Shoup

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