Thursday, January 12, 2023

Reflection - Paul Van Gorder - A Lost Experience

Source (book): "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Chapter 29, "A Lost Experience", Page 35.
By Paul Van Gorder, Our Daily Bread Author
 

 Restore to me the joy of your salvation. - Psalm 51:12
PHOTO: Restore to me the joy of your salvation. - Psalm 51:12
Read: Psalm 51:1-13

A pastor in Los Angeles, United States, visited a man and asked if he was a Christian. "Oh, yes, I was a member of a church in Ohio," he said, "and when I asked for my letter of church membership before coming west, I sat down and wrote out my Christian experience. I took them both and put them in a little box. I would like to show them to you."

But when he got the box, it was evident that a mouse had gnawed its way into the container and destroyed the papers. He said to the pastor, "I have lost my Christian experience and my church letter."

If all that the man lost was those two documents, it was no great loss. Many put great stock in a baptismal certificate or a church letter, but have experienced no genuine work of grace in their hearts. Only faith in the Savior will provide salvation.

Genuine Christians can also take a warning from this story. Their once vital "experience" may have been "put in a box" and allowed to deteriorate. They have failed to keep it fresh and vibrant by daily fellowship with the Lord through prayer and Bible study.

If this describes you, cry with David, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation" (Psalm 51:12).

Faith in a creed can go stale - faith in Christ can be fresh every day.
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Restore to me the joy of your salvation. - Psalm 51:12
Read: Psalm 51:1-13
 

 Restore to me the joy of your salvation. - Psalm 51:12
PHOTO: Restore to me the joy of your salvation. - Psalm 51:12
Picture posted by Old Town Crier
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https://oldtowncrier.com/2020/05/05/chasing-happiness-aka-not-freaking-the-f-out/


A pastor in Los Angeles, United States, visited a man and asked if he was a Christian. "Oh, yes, I was a member of a church in Ohio," he said, "and when I asked for my letter of church membership before coming west, I sat down and wrote out my Christian experience. I took them both and put them in a little box. I would like to show them to you."


 A pastor in Los Angeles, United States, visited a man and asked if he was a Christian.
PHOTO: A pastor in Los Angeles, United States, visited a man and asked if he was a Christian. "Oh, yes, I was a member of a church in Ohio," he said, "and when I asked for my letter of church membership before coming west, I sat down and wrote out my Christian experience. I took them both and put them in a little box. I would like to show them to you."
Picture posted by Vicki Nelson, College parent central
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUKP6KvKHvC7A80Oel3OyaYA3BICUj2uZfLF1r61NAcbRlEoq_L8kQsuIOq8x7Zjqsn3FXDVojOwm9NFOhRudch4ZgdhX3epu8JeIEraMOqeoft5y4WsYIpkmjQKlxl4nFHxMRJ48wPwyKfHDe8QCZheJSifTMD_Ps5rtXdUIQOSHnUE39qsliZqk/s1189/talking-in-sunset-e1520865630626_1.png
https://i0.wp.com/www.collegeparentcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/talking-in-sunset-e1520865630626.jpg?w=2100&ssl=1
https://www.collegeparentcentral.com/2020/07/please-tell-your-student-these-8-things-before-they-go-to-college-this-fall/


But when he got the box, it was evident that a mouse had gnawed its way into the container and destroyed the papers. He said to the pastor, "I have lost my Christian experience and my church letter."


 But when he got the box, it was evident that a mouse had gnawed its way into the container and destroyed the papers.
PHOTO: But when he got the box, it was evident that a mouse had gnawed its way into the container and destroyed the papers. He said to the pastor, "I have lost my Christian experience and my church letter."
Picture posted by Mary Beth Griggs, Popular Science on 29 January 2021 at 01:00 pm
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https://www.popsci.com/uploads/2021/01/29/TPK5DL7STZDSFAKVB4DVEJMJF4.jpg?auto=webp
https://www.popsci.com/get-rid-mice/


If all that the man lost was those two documents, it was no great loss. Many put great stock in a baptismal certificate or a church letter, but have experienced no genuine work of grace in their hearts. Only faith in the Savior will provide salvation.


 If all that the man lost was those two documents, it was no great loss.
PHOTO: If all that the man lost was those two documents, it was no great loss. Many put great stock in a baptismal certificate or a church letter, but have experienced no genuine work of grace in their hearts. Only faith in the Savior will provide salvation.
Picture posted by cru.org


 Genuine Christians can also take a warning from this story.
PHOTO: Genuine Christians can also take a warning from this story. Their once vital "experience" may have been "put in a box" and allowed to deteriorate. They have failed to keep it fresh and vibrant by daily fellowship with the Lord through prayer and Bible study.
Photo from Marcus Lindstrom, gettyimages
Picture posted by Barbara Stensland, Life effect on 23 May 2019
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https://lifeeffects.teva/eu/articles/ms-and-summer-when-the-living-isn-t-easy-1


If this describes you, cry with David, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation" (Psalm 51:12).
Faith in a creed can go stale - faith in Christ can be fresh every day.
 

 Reflect and Pray
PHOTO: Reflect and Pray
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
Show the way that Jesus had trod;
Then I will tell of Your saving grace,
Until the day when I see Your face. - Hess
Picture posted by Graduate Study at Oxford on Friday, 11 October 2019 at 10:07 pm
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Source (book): "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Chapter 29, "A Lost Experience", Page 35.
By Paul Van Gorder, Our Daily Bread Author

"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon

'Faithful to the end', A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon<br>
Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html


"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html


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'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html 


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Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html
 

"Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part I - III (Links), posted on Wednesday, 09 December 2020
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part.html
 

Reflection - Growing Old Gracefully, Part IV - V (Links), posted on Thursday, 22 April 2021
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/12/reflection-growing-old-gracefully-part_9.html
 

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Reflection - Number Our Days, Chapter 1 - 40 (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 November 2021
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2021/11/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-1-40.html
 
 
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/03/reflection-number-our-days-chapter-41.html
 
 
"He Walks with Me - Devotions for Your Caregiving Journey with God",  © 2018 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Shelly Beach

 Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022Reflection - He Walks with Me (Links), posted on Tuesday, 16 August 2022
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2022/08/reflection-he-walks-with-me-links.html



Reference
[1] From "Classic Gem: Timeless Devotions from Our Daily Bread Authors", Copyright © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries, Chapter 29, "A Lost Experience", Page 35.


Links


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