Dr. John Sullivan, a majestic preacher of the Word evangelistic, and a pastor who taught me during my seminary days tells the story of a wondrous discovery for a positive and loving missionary, take this in as you've never taken another story in, for you will find it will bless your heart, as it has blessed mine over the years. Seems some years back a man who from birth had been born with a defective arm, it was withered to the shoulder and he actually had a sort of limp hand hanging off his shoulder, the deformity bothered him no end, but wanting to be faithful to God, he refused to lament or fee sad about it, he claimed he was accepting it, but somewhere deep inside his soul he really was questioning why God would have him be born thus, and then on top of that all, call him into the mission field. In his missionary training he was often looked upon as one with faith, but he was doubted, after all, how much good could a one armed, withered handed missionary do? He finished his missionary training in good stead, and was given an assignment that he couldn't believe, the leper farms off the coast of East Africa! Now he was really confused, but wanting to serve God, he felt it wrong to question God's will, and went about his assignment with that resolve only missionaries can generate, but in his heart of hearts he still did not understand God putting him in this place. When he entered the compound he was told where he could go, who to visit, where to spend his time at, and then he was told, "don't bother going over to that hut over there, the man in there has had his sorry self turned toward the wall, he won't speak to anyone, he's just as hateful as he can be." This man didn't know what to do, so he went about his assignment, until one day, finishing his task, he entered the hut and said to the man, "I don't want to bother you, I just want to pray for you." He heard a harrumph from the man, felt the bitterness toward him, but nevertheless prayed. Finishing, he left, vowing to return to pray with the man again. This he did for a year, each day, receiving no response, nothing except this sense of bitterness. As he was preparing to leave one day after prayer, he didn't get going quite as quickly and he saw the man turn over from the wall, as he noticed something, the man's arm had withered to being just a hand from the Leprosy- he couldn't help saying, "hey, you are just like me." And it was then that he realized why God had done all that He had done in his life, as the leper who hated everyone began to cry, and they wept together. HEY- isn't that what we're all supposed to be about, being "just like" each other?
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Per Signum Crucsis (By The Sign of the Cross) De Inimicsis Nostre (From our Enemies) Libera Nos, Deus Noster (Deliver us, our God) In Nomine Patris (In the name of the Father) Et Filii (and of the Son) Et Spiritus SAncti (and of the Holy Spirit) Amen
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