“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”—Jesus (Luke 19:10 NIV)
Charles grew up on a ranch out in the country. His weekends after school were filled with chores and working with horses. Every Sunday morning Charles would get up early and go out to the corral to break and exercise the horses. The main road into town ran right by the corral and every Sunday numbers of families on their way to church passed by Charles working the horses.
One Sunday as Charles rode horse back a car slowed and one of his neighbors stop and shouted. “Hey, Charles come go to church with us today!” Charles shook his head and thanked them for their kindness but he was busy as they could see. So slowly the car pulled away.
The next Sunday once again this same car slowed down and his neighbor again invited Charles to church, but once again he declined graciously. You see Charles was not a bad boy and he really did not have anything against church, it just that he was busy and didn’t really have time. So he thought.
The next Sunday again like clockwork the neighbor’s car stopped and another invitation was offered with the added incentive of dinner on the grounds with fried chicken and homemade pie. Charles admitted later he was intrigued, what teenage boy isn’t intrigued by food, but once again he politely declined.
The next Sunday again the car stopped with another invitation. By this point Charles had the sneaking suspicion that his neighbors were not going to give up until he went to church with them, so he promised he would go next week.
When the next Sunday rolled around the car stopped. Charles climbed in like one of the family and went to the little Baptist church at the end of the road. That first Sunday was the first day of the rest of his life.
Soon going to church became as natural as getting up and going to school. Not long after he began attending, Charles opened his heart to Jesus and gave Him his life completely.
Today Charles is a retired coach and grandfather. He is the patriarch of a large Christian family, and is an active deacon in his local church. I had the honor of being his pastor, and count him as one of the finest men I know.
I cannot wait until I get to heaven to meet Charles’ neighbor who loved him enough to stop time and time again to say “Charles, come with me to church today.”
It dawned on me today that every one of us could be that kind of friend and neighbor. Who could you invite to go to church with you this Sunday? Don’t underestimate what God can do with one simple invitation!
