I had a good job driving a city bus, and most of the time I enjoyed it. However, sometimes people got on my bus who looked so evil they scared me. Their faces were not the least bit pleasant or peaceful. They looked sour and full of anger, and when they talked, they sounded vicious and vulgar.
What was I, a bus driver, to do about it? What could I do?
The happy part of this story is that I had come to know the Lord Jesus as my Saviour. I knew He loved me so much that He had left heaven’s glory to come into this sin-cursed world to die for my sins. And I also knew He loved all the passengers that rode on my bus, just as much as He loved me. And He loves you that much too. Did you know that?
But that’s not all. He not only wants to forgive our sins, He is able to forgive them. Because He is sinless and holy and has given His life on the cross to pay the debt of our sins, He can now give power to everyone who receives Him to become sons of God. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)). Wouldn’t you like to be a child of God, to be a part of His family? If you believe and become one of His children, you will one day live with the Lord Jesus in His home in heaven. That’s one of His promises!
But what could a bus driver do to help make all this happen to the people who rode on the bus? I could pray.
The Lord Jesus said, “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint [give up]” (Luke 18:11And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; (Luke 18:1)). So that’s what I did. All the time I was driving, I was also praying for those sad and angry people who rode on my bus. I prayed that God would touch their hearts with His wonderful love and that they would have His peace in their hearts. Then I would look at them in my mirror and see them looking relaxed. Some would be asleep, and some would even have a bit of a smile on their faces. I knew then I wouldn’t have trouble on the bus that trip. Then I’d pray again that God would make them want to have His peace all the time and that somehow He would let them hear and believe the gospel of His grace.
God loves to answer our prayers: “All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive” (Matthew 21:2222And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:22)). He encourages us to pray continuously: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:1717Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)). And don’t be afraid to ask: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:77Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (Matthew 7:7)).
The Lord Jesus is waiting to hear from you.
ML-11/15/2009