Summer Devotional:
No Other Name - A Devotional on the Book of Acts
Day 35 – July 11th, 2021
Read Acts 17:16-34
Helpful Background
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Questions - Let’s look at Paul’s description of God in verses 17:24-28. Write down details from this list.
Grab your journal or use the notes section on your phone.
Respond to the Scripture reading with your thoughts, questions, and/or prayer response to today’s Bible verses.
Who was instrumental in your life in helping you to meet and/or follow Jesus?
In order to answer your question, sharing my journey to Christ, I need to let you know that it will probably be longer than 200 words ... Bob Tuttle, a professor at Asbury’s Florida Campus, once told me that it takes approximately 25 “touches” for a person to come to Christ. Paul would say that he planted seeds, Apollos watered them, and someone else got to harvest. I have found that to be true in my life.
I had parents that felt it was important for me to be in Sunday School, so I was taken, every Sunday.
But somewhere in my early childhood I met a Catholic Priest, the Catholic Church was just down the street from my house, about a half a block away. That Priest, I do not remember his name, would invite my friends and I into his house and give us cookies and Pepsi. Then he would tell us stories about Jesus. From him I learned that Jesus has time, even for little children, often considered unimportant in today’s society.
As I grew, I developed the delusion that someday I might be a professional baseball or football player. Because games were played on Sundays, I figured that I would have to choose between God and pro sports. Then I discovered Gail Sayers, a running back for the Chicago Bears during the early 1960’s. Gail was not only a great player (I watched him score six touchdowns in one game) he was also an outspoken Christian, he loved Jesus and was not afraid to let others know. From him, I learned that I could love Jesus and pursue my dreams.
All those early “touches” showed me that God loved me and wanted the best for me. And it all came together when Rev. Earl Langguth came to be the pastor of the Dinuba United Methodist Church.
Earl brought a program to Dinuba, a “Lay Witness Mission.” In a Lay Witness Mission laity from other Churches came to Dinuba, spending Friday night through Sunday worship with us, telling us about how Jesus became real in their lives (they shared their stories). I don’t remember the name of the person who shared but I remember what they shared how Jesus always had time for them, how Jesus wanted the best for them, how Jesus truly loved them.
That Saturday night back in March, 1971, I decided Jesus had truly done so much for me, showering his love on me over and over again. All I wanted to do was to say “thank you” to him so I quietly went to him in prayer, again, just to say “thank you”. But “Thank you” became so much more, and by the end of that prayer, I was giving my life to him.
By the way, those “touches” have not stopped. Jesus led me to the most amazing woman ever to walk on this planet, my wife Cheryl. He has blessed me with two amazing sons, five fantastic grandchildren, and yes, even a pretty special daughter-in-law. He has continued to love me, even when I have messed up - he has continued to have time for me - he has continued to shower me with his love and blessings. And that is my story.
-Shared by Pastor Bob C.
In order to answer your question, sharing my journey to Christ, I need to let you know that it will probably be longer than 200 words ... Bob Tuttle, a professor at Asbury’s Florida Campus, once told me that it takes approximately 25 “touches” for a person to come to Christ. Paul would say that he planted seeds, Apollos watered them, and someone else got to harvest. I have found that to be true in my life.
I had parents that felt it was important for me to be in Sunday School, so I was taken, every Sunday.
But somewhere in my early childhood I met a Catholic Priest, the Catholic Church was just down the street from my house, about a half a block away. That Priest, I do not remember his name, would invite my friends and I into his house and give us cookies and Pepsi. Then he would tell us stories about Jesus. From him I learned that Jesus has time, even for little children, often considered unimportant in today’s society.
As I grew, I developed the delusion that someday I might be a professional baseball or football player. Because games were played on Sundays, I figured that I would have to choose between God and pro sports. Then I discovered Gail Sayers, a running back for the Chicago Bears during the early 1960’s. Gail was not only a great player (I watched him score six touchdowns in one game) he was also an outspoken Christian, he loved Jesus and was not afraid to let others know. From him, I learned that I could love Jesus and pursue my dreams.
All those early “touches” showed me that God loved me and wanted the best for me. And it all came together when Rev. Earl Langguth came to be the pastor of the Dinuba United Methodist Church.
Earl brought a program to Dinuba, a “Lay Witness Mission.” In a Lay Witness Mission laity from other Churches came to Dinuba, spending Friday night through Sunday worship with us, telling us about how Jesus became real in their lives (they shared their stories). I don’t remember the name of the person who shared but I remember what they shared how Jesus always had time for them, how Jesus wanted the best for them, how Jesus truly loved them.
That Saturday night back in March, 1971, I decided Jesus had truly done so much for me, showering his love on me over and over again. All I wanted to do was to say “thank you” to him so I quietly went to him in prayer, again, just to say “thank you”. But “Thank you” became so much more, and by the end of that prayer, I was giving my life to him.
By the way, those “touches” have not stopped. Jesus led me to the most amazing woman ever to walk on this planet, my wife Cheryl. He has blessed me with two amazing sons, five fantastic grandchildren, and yes, even a pretty special daughter-in-law. He has continued to love me, even when I have messed up - he has continued to have time for me - he has continued to shower me with his love and blessings. And that is my story.
-Shared by Pastor Bob C.
