Ruth's christian testimony: A great new start

Tuesday 3 April 2007

A great new start

I made contact with a member of her family and made arrangements to meet in her house on the appointed day. Stephen agreed to come. We arrived and were made most welcome. Tea was made and I came straight to the point. I told her that I was saved last August and that it had made a great change in me. I said that one of the changes was my decision not to have her cross-examined in court. She acknowledged this. I went on to tell her of the promise I made to God in relation to her visiting Sean. I said that I wasn’t just making the offer because I felt I had to, but with my hand on my heart I was happy to make it. She said she loved Sean and that she missed him. I said it would be better for me to come to her house with my hat in hand, and for her to come to my house with her hat in hand. Better for Sean and better for us, than if we went to court and for her to triumphantly come into my house unwelcome and against my will or for us to go to court and for her application to be dismissed again.

She happily agreed, I’m glad to say, and we hugged. We spent a short while talking and looking at photos, and left with the agreement that Sean and I would expect to see her for a visit the following Saturday. Since then (February 2002) she has been to visit every week. Recently we talked about the house and what to do with it. We have both agreed to sell it and put the money into a trust for Sean until he is older. I have allowed that she and a person of her choice be trustees, which means that I have honoured my promise to God by letting go of it completely. I am content with this arrangement and glad that it is no longer a thorn in our flesh, something unpleasant between us. Slowly but surely our relationship has been improving. Both Sean and I look forwards to seeing her every week and we all get along very well. I am grateful for the chance given to me by God for a new relationship with her.

Since writing this my relationship with Sean's grandmother has been very good. Sean is fourteen now and he not only spends mini breaks with his granny regularly but has also been abroad on a holiday with her several times.

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How to be right with God...

The following is taken from BCF Self Confrontation Manual for in-depth Biblical Discipleships developed by John C. Broger

If you do not already have a sincere (guiltless, pure, genuine) personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, you have a spiritual problem that only God can solve. Without this relationship to Jesus you are:

Hopelessly separated from God (Romans 6:23a; Ephesians 2:1-3 11-12: Colossians 1:21)

Spiritually dead in your own sin (Romans 3:23, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1, 5; Colossians 2:13)

Hostile to God (Romans 5:10a, 8:7; Colossians 1:21)

Blinded to Satan (11 Corinthians 4:3-4)
and held captive by him to do his will (11 Timothy 2:24-26, esp verse 26)

Powerless to overcome sin's hold on your life (Ecclesiastes 7:20; John 8:34, Romans 1:28-32, 5:6; Galatians 5:19-21; 11 Peter 2:19)

Unable to understand the things of God (Proverbs14:12, 16:25; Isaiah 55:8-9; 1 Corinthians 2:14)

Unable to please God or to walk in His way (Psalm 143:2b; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:9-12, 23; 8:7-8; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; 11 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5-7; Hebrews 11:6)

Incapable of living a spiritually fruitful and meaningful life (John 15:4-6)

God's answer to your spiritual problem is based on His character.

God is just, so you face His wrath and judgement in your sinful state (Romans 1:18, 6:23a; Ephesians 2:3; Hebrews 9:27; 11Peter 3:7)

On the other hand, God is loving and doesn't want you to perish in your sin (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 Timothy 2:3-4; 11 Peter 3:9)
so He draws you towards His Son, Jesus (John 6:44-45, 65)

The answer to your spiritual problem is found in God's Son, Jesus Christ.

By His gracious and merciful love, God gave His one and only begotten Son, Jesus, as the only answer for your helpless spiritual condition (Isaiah 53:2-12; John 3:16, 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 5:6; Ephesians 1:3-12; 1Timothy 2:5-6; 1 John 4:10)

Since you could not save yourself or do anything to merit God's favour and mercy (Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; 11Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5-7)
Jesus paid the full price for your redemption by dying on the cross for the penalty for your sins (Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3;-4; 11Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 1:7; 1Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Hebrews 10:10-14; 1Peter 1:18-19, 3:18)

God accepted and approved His Son's sacrificial death for your sins by raising Jesus from the dead (Romans 1:4, 4:25)
Jesus Christ is eternally alive (Acts 2:32; Romans 6:9; Revelation 1:17-18)
is with God (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 8:1)
and is Lord of all (Philippians 2:9-11; Revelations 17:14, 19:16)
Through His death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ is victorious over sin (Romans 6:10)
death (Romans 6:9)
and the devil (Hebrews 2:14)

Through Jesus you can:

Have your sins forgiven (Acts 5:31, 10:43; Ephesians 1:7, 4:32; Colossians 1:13-14, 2:13-14)
and be reconciled to God (11Corinthians 5:18-19)

Experience a spiritual new birth (John 3:3; 1Peter 1:3, 23; 1John 5:1)

Receive the gift of eternal life through God's gracious gift of faith (John 3:16; 5:24; 6:40, 47; 11:25-26; 17:1-3; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1Timothy 1:16; 1John 5:11-12)

Have access to God (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:18, 3:11-12; Hebrews 10:19-22)

Be a member of God's family (John 1:12; Romans 8:15-17; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 1:5, 2:19; 1John 3:1-2)

Understand the things of God (John 14:26, 16:13-15; 1Corinthians 2:9-13)

Become a new person with the capability for living in a totally new manner (Romans 6:4-22; 11Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 4:13)

and be empowered to change, to mature into Christlikeness, and to have an increasingly intimate knowledge of God Himself (John 17:3; Romans 8:2, 28-29; 11Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 1:6, 4:13; Colossians 1:9-11; 1Thessalonians 2:13; 11Peter 1:3-4)