God’s Paper Boy
“By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” John 10:9
Greetings brethren and sisters in Jesus’ name. I’m encouraged in following Jesus’ example of spreading the good news of God’s love. Since the truck has not been running, the best way to get downtown is by Metropolitan Transit Authority and the Metro Rail train. It is an hour and a half either way on most days. “A blessing in disguise.” Riding in a truck is solitary. On the bus and train are many people of all walks of life. While waiting for a bus or train, there is given much time to seek out various people, talking to complete strangers, and having some who show interest in our street-type ministry.
There was a time when you could walk the streets of a city and hear the voice of a newspaper boy crying out, “Extra! Extra! Read all about it.” He called out to get the attention of people who were passing by so that they would come to him and buy a newspaper. That was the way the news was spread in those days.
How do people get their news today? People get their news in many different ways. For some, the newspaper is still their main source for news and they read it from cover to cover. Some may get their news from the radio. Probably the main way that people get the news today is from television. No matter how we get our news, it is important for us to know what is going on in the world around us.
A few mornings ago I started out to work with a pack of gospel tracts and booklets on the bus. A gentleman was quietly nodding on the seat where I chose to sit down. Gently tapping his knee to get his attention, room was made for me.
“Good morning,” I said.
He with a kindly response returned a “good morning.” Then, “How is your ministry going?”
“Fine by faith; the Lord is leading and blessing each day.”
His phone began to ring and he started on a conversation that lasted 2 minutes with his wife. After hanging up, he let me know that she tries to run everything. He also admitted it was his fault because of letting her go too far with things in business during their earlier years together. He also admitted to being a womanizer during his younger days and a retired general contractor and felt like he was reaping what he sowed.
A booklet was given to him called Salvation: Present, Perfect, Now or Never. We discussed the Scripture, “Before I was afflicted, I went astray; But now have I kept thy word.”*
Now was about the time the bus was arriving at his stop. He gently reached into his pocket and pulled out some folded currency, saying, “Here is twenty dollars; this isn’t much, but may help you along the way.”
“Thank the Lord, and may God bless you this day.”
I was not looking for an offering. Years ago, as God led us on street meetings, we let people know that we’re not preaching for money. The gospel of Christ is still without charge. “Freely ye have received, freely give,”* Jesus said. I believe God was just encouraging me along the way because of the hardship being endured at this time. I’m just God’s paper boy, spreading the Good News to the world. People need to know that He is the door, saying, “By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.”*
“Evangelio (the Gospel) is a Greek word, and signifies good, mercy, glad and joyful tidings, and makes all hearts glad, and makes them sing, dance and leap for joy.”
William Tyndale
(Translation)
“As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.”
Proverbs 25: 25
King James Version
“Hearing the good news is a beginning. The rest of our life forms our response.”
William Countryman
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