MINISTER'S MOMENT

"Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness." (Romans 6:13)

As a successful journalist, he seemed to have everything the world could offer. One bright Sunday morning in 1971 while he and his wife were vacationing, they slipped into a little white clapboard church in Cove Creek, Arizona. The sight of the dozen or so people sitting on wooden folding chairs stirred the husband's childhood memories. Early in his life he had knelt by his bed and received Jesus as his Savior. But that was years ago.

The minister announced his subject---baptism. The journalist yawned but became attentive as the pastor talked of giving one's entire life to serve Christ. "Years ago I had asked to be saved," the man mused, "but had I offered to serve? I began to realize how much of me I had been holding back."

That morning the issue became clear, and Paul Harvey, one of America's best-loved broadcasters, surrendered his life to Christ.

A year later, Paul Harvey said, "Though I had learned John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.") early in life, it took me till last year to learn John 14:15 as well: 'If you love me, keep my commandments.' The Christian life is one of obedience, not partnership."

If we want to know the joy of living for Christ, we must render every area of our lives to Him.

Lord, sometimes I foolishly think that I can separate love from actions, that I can separate salvation from service. Turn my selfish desire for salvation into divine acts of service. Amen.

Charlotte Austin McCary's Chapel United Methodist Church