It was a cold night and Tom shivered in his worn-out jacket. He was at work as usual, doing a job many boys used to do, trying to sell newspapers. A blizzard was arriving, and it was so cold that people were hurrying past him to their warm, cozy homes, so he was not selling very many papers. Tom didn’t have a home to go to. This particular night, as it got darker and colder, Tom went up to a policeman and said, “Mister, you wouldn’t happen to know where a boy who doesn’t have a home could find a warm place to sleep tonight, would you? I sleep in a box around the corner in the alley, and it sure does get cold in there at night! It would be nice to have a warm place to
sleep tonight!”
The policeman looked down at him kindly and said, “Son, go down the street to that big white house and knock on the door, and when they answer, say ‘John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).’” So, Tom did; he walked down the street to the big white house and knocked on
the door.
Finally, a lady answered, and when she did, Tom said, “John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).” She said, “Come on in, son.” She took him inside and led him to a warm place by the fireplace. She had him sit in a cozy chair and left the room.
As he sat there Tom thought, John 3:16: I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a cold
boy warm.
A little later the lady came in and asked if he was hungry. He said, “Well, yes ma’am, I could use some food. You see it’s been a few days since I’ve eaten. I am kind of hungry.” She took him to a big table full of good, warm food. He ate, and he ate, and he ate, until he couldn’t eat any more! He sat there and thought, John 3:16: I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a hungry boy full.
After he finished, the lady took him upstairs to a bathtub full of warm, sudsy water. She left, and as he was soaking he thought, John 3:16: I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy clean. I don’t think I’ve had a real bath in my whole life, except when I stood in front of the fire hydrant when they were flushing it out.
After he finished, the lady had him get ready for bed. She led him to a big feather bed. He climbed in and she pulled the covers up close to his chin and kissed him goodnight on the forehead. As she left the room, she turned off the lights and closed the door.
He lay there and looked out the window. It was dark and cold out there and the snow was coming down, and he thought, John 3:16: I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a tired boy rested.
The next morning the lady came and got him up. She took him back downstairs to that big table. After he had eaten, she took him back to the cozy chair in front of the fireplace. She took her Bible down from the mantel and said, “Son, do you understand John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)?”
He said, “No ma’am, I sure don’t. The first time I’d ever heard it was last night when the policeman told me to say it.”
So the lady opened her Bible to John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) and read it to him. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). Then she explained to him about Jesus. And right there in front of that fireplace, Tom accepted the Lord Jesus into his heart and gave his life to Him. After a little while he said, “John 3:16: I don’t understand it, but it sure makes a lost boy saved.”
You know, I have to admit, I don’t understand it either. How could God love me so much that He would send His only Son to die for me, and how would Jesus be willing to do such a wonderful thing? I don’t understand it, but it certainly makes a lost
person saved.
And today, if you are lonely, sad, and lost in your sins, Jesus can make you truly happy, be your friend, and, most of all, save you from your sins.
Messages of God’s Love 6/11/2023