“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” John 1:29-31
Words cannot begin to describe just how hot it was in their corrugated metal building that is the Messef school just outside Ouanaminthe at 11 AM and now they are outside standing in the shade where there was a gentle breeze and are waiting to wash their hands. Next, these young ones will pick up their Trinity/HOPE provided lunch and head back to their desk and sit down and pray before that first spoonful of rice and beans glides off the metal spoon and into their mouth. “Thank you Lord for this day, this school and this food. Forgive us for our sinful lives. Please bless the donors who bought the food for us, the cooks who prepared it and our teachers.” Today, when you sit down to your lunch, wherever you may be, please think about these five young children. A dollar and a quarter will feed these what is quite possibly their meal of the day. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘I Lay My Sins on Jesus’ that were written by Horatius Bonar in 1843.
“I lay my sins on Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God; He bears them all and frees us from the accursed load. I bring my guilt to Jesus to wash my crimson stains white in His blood most precious till not a spot remains. I lay my wants on Jesus, all fullness dwells in Him; He healeth my diseases, He doth my soul redeem. I lay my griefs on Jesus, my burdens and my cares; He from them all releases, He all my sorrows shares. I rest my soul on Jesus, this weary soul of mine; His right hand me embraces, I on His breast recline. I love the name of Jesus, Immanuel, Christ the Lord; like fragrance on the breezes His name abroad is poured. I long to be like Jesus, meek, loving, lowly, mild; I long to be like Jesus, the Father's holy Child. I long to be with Jesus amid the heavenly throng to sing with saints His praises, to learn the angels' song.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay