Angono Rizal, Philippines
4 June 2023
"God can use simple things in life to save His people."
@ifit4jesus.org
An eventful Sunday morning
On June 4, 2023 it was a warm Sunday morning, I took a Grab car, ride from Pasig to Muzon, Taytay Rizal about less than an hour drive. I’m attending a church service at Pag-Ibig Baptist Church in Muzon, Taytay Rizal. That same day, we're also scheduled to travel to Iba, Zambales up in the northern part of the Philippines to attend a 2 days camp. I enjoyed the church worship and preaching that day, and I was given an opportunity to share my life testimony, to pray for the people and to bring back all the glory and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ for all the many miracles God has done in my life. After the church service is over, I had a very brief opportunity to meet and greet with church members and leaders over at lunch and it was a very fruitful fellowship to meet the wonderful people for the first time.
Together with the church's Senior Pastors Josefino “Phonny” Jorquia, Al Tupos and brother Ambo, we went ahead with our trip going to Zambales. Pastor Phonny graciously droves me around the area of Muzon and Angono using his car. That was the first time I went around these town after a very long time of being away from my country and I reminisce biking in these places during my high school. We drove around few places including the residential subdivision where Pastor Phonny lives on top of a hill. The scenery from where I remember ages ago was so different now, however it was nostalgic to see familiar places and somehow, I felt that I was on a different town. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the ride around the area.
Meeting an Old Uncle at the gasoline station
As the hour was getting late, we decided to head on our way to Zambales but needed to stop at a gasoline station first in Angono to refuel before heading out. We stop at the nearest gasoline station where pastor Phonny regularly go to fill-in his car and stop for awhile.
We all noticed an old uncle probably on his late 70’s or early 80’s. He was slowly making his way from left side of the car and walk behind the car, approaching us on the right side where I was sitting in front besides the drivers seat. He was selling rags "Basahan" to customers at the gasoline station.
The old uncle delightfully approaches me hoping that he could sell some of his rags. I know God is telling me something about the old man as I felt a desire to share Jesus to him. As the old man approaches, I lower down the window in anticipation and the old man started to offer me to buy the rags, he brought five (5) pieces to me. I ask him how much the rag was, I can hardly hear what he’s response was as he spoke very softly.
1 John 3:17-18
17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth
I bought the rag that he has brought with him and gave 100 pesos with just the intension to bless him. The uncle thanked me softly and then slowly went back to the side of the car and came back with more rags to give me. He was so delighted to bring me the rags according to the amount I paid him for. I never thought that a simple gesture to bless him by buying the rags would give him great happiness. I told him to keep the rags and not to think about the small amount I gave and that he can sell it to other customers so he can sell and earn more that day. At that moment I knew God convicted me to share Jesus to the old man. That I need to share the priceless peace of Jesus Christ that brings joy to every man to the old uncle.
I briefly talked to the old uncle and asked him if he knew about Jesus Christ? We talked for a while and shared Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior and that he died for me and pay for my sin and saved me from eternal death and by faith in Jesus we can be saved, Jesus can do the same for him. So, I invited him to accept Jesus and we both prayed together. Seeing him touched by the Holy Spirit brings joy in me, I know deep in my heart that the Lord God almighty will now and forever be with him. I believed that Christ will be with him all the time, in any kind of situation God's peace will be in him. God's plan will start to manifest in his life and one day I pray to see him again in a different situation and I hope to hear how the Lord changes his life according to God's purpose.
God’s love and salvation are freely given to all. Jesus Christ paid for our sin and the result of sin is eternal death. Jesus paid for our sin with His precious life. Jesus died so that we can live and by God’s grace we are saved. God’s mercies are new every morning and His grace is abundant and is freely given to those who recognized and accepted that all of us are sinners, truly repented from sin and accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In doing so, God gave us the assurance of eternal life through Christ.
The peace of Jesus Christ lives in us every day because of His great love for us. Jesus did not came to condemned us, but to save us from sin or eternal death.
John 3:16-17
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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
There is limited time on earth, life even though how successful we can be, is nothing without Christ. The peace and assurance that Jesus Christ brings into our personal life are treasures that has greater importance than any treasure on earth.
I thank the Lord for allowing me to share the goodness of Christ to a man I do not know, using a very simple thing that he has. A rag "Basahan" that he sells for a living, now a rag that God touches so that he will have an everlasting life through Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour. May the good Lord Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit continue to bless him with peace and restore his health. That the good Lord according to His purpose heal him in the mighty name of Jesus.
To God be the glory and praises.
@ifit4jesus.org