Saturday, February 22, 2025
“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:5-7 KJV).
One Sunday night long ago, a pastor was delivering a sermon he had written about temptation. Departing from his notes, he became more personal and cried out to the people, “Maybe there is someone here who is thinking about throwing himself off that bridge out over there, so hopeless because he believes it is too late for him not to enter into temptation! Stop! Stop! There is hope in Christ! He will forgive and save even you!”
Some weeks later, one of his church members informed him of a woman who had contemplated throwing herself off that very bridge. She almost did it too, but there was much sunlight outside. Fearing someone might notice and stop her from ending her life, she had moved into the crowd of a nearby church building to await nightfall. It had been that pastor’s church building… and it had been the night of his sermon on temptation. She had heard his Gospel invitation, assumed God was talking to her through him, decided not to jump after all, and trusted the Lord Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for her sins!
Brethren, the lesson is simple: we give God’s words, and let the Holy Spirit do the rest. We might not see results for weeks, years, decades, or in this life at all. That makes no difference whatsoever! What matters is God gives the increase; we who plant and water are unimportant. Remember today’s Scripture, and never forget it! Perhaps, dear friend, you are not even a Christian. Maybe you are planning to jump off a bridge, too. Stop! Stop! There is hope in Christ for you also, and He can save even you as well. You have come to the right place, to read this Gospel of Grace: “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
333 Words of Grace 