[Hope]

Last Lord’s Day evening we had our usual gospel friends meeting. We had 18 friends in attendance. We also had 12 believers who had come to assist in the introducing of Jesus to the friends. I do not know which was the most amazing to me. On the one hand, as friend after friend streamed into my home, I felt like kneeling down and worshipping the Lord. On the other hand, I am amazed at the diversity of believers who have joined in. One brother is a Christian from Iraq who attends a Bible church. Another is a sister who is a psychiatrist and attends a mainline Presbyterian church. Another attends a community church. One couple just recently begin to joined us from the local church. Then there are a few from our little group of humble and meek who meet in the Lord’s name here in Durham.

We reviewed the case in John chapter 11 regarding the resurrection of Lazarus. I never know where the anointing will fall. At the very beginning, the passage says, “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.” I began to explain that since there is no mention of parents and that in those days people lived with their parents until marriage perhaps these were orphans. I told the friends that Jesus loves orphans and chose to spend the evenings of his last week in this modest dwelling. Two friends who are now believers became orphans when they were teenagers. They are R. and his sister S. I began to declared that just as Jesus loved Mary and Martha and Lazarus He loves R. and S. I then begin to fill in the blank with the names of others including several of the friends. As I spoke of the Lord’s specific love for each of those there, we all were filled with gratitude. Many of the friends began to tear up and several had a few tears coming down their cheeks. I nearly lost it myself.

After the sharing from the word, we broke spontaneously into small groups. This went on for over an hour. It was so beautiful and awesome to witness two or three friends gathered around one or two of the believers as they gave witness to life in Christ.

Finally, may I request you take a charge to pray for us. Please keep the following passage in mind, Col 4:2-6, Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; in order that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person. NASB

Your Brother in Christ Jesus,
Hope, Don Rutledge