Turning Point

Ida Scudder came from a long line of missionaries, but had no interest in following in their footsteps. She’d seen firsthand the pressure and poverty of missionary work in India. That changed after Ida graduated from college and visited her parents in India. One night, three men knocked on the door of their house, one after another. All three begged someone to help their wives, each of whom were having problems in childbirth. Ida’s mother was ill, Ida had no training, and the local culture wouldn’t allow her father to help.

She later wrote that all of them had died in the night. “I….thought very seriously about the condition of the Indian women and after much thought and prayer, I went to my father and mother and told them I must go home and study medicine, and come back to India to help such women.” Ida established the Vellore medical complex offering evangelism, Gospel witness, and critical medical services to Indian women.1

 

Can We Hear the Knocks?

Missionary historians refer to this story as “Three Knocks in the Night.” When we hear knocks on our doors, we have the three most generous words on our lips: “God loves you.” They turn into loving acts of kindness; for biblical love is selfless, given without strings to whoever needs it.

It’s harder to love those who have insoluble problems or unsightly traits. But true love isn’t based on the appeal of the recipient but on the grace of the giver. In his book, Herbert Lockyer wrote, “The love the Spirit dispenses is not human, but divine…. It has no favorites, it can love the most unattractive…. It is the Spirit, then, who perfumes the life with love.”2 This is how God loves you despite your actions, looks, station, or status.

Moses told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 7:7-8: “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number…for you were the least of all peoples; but because the Lord loves you.” He loves us just because He loves us—our pattern for loving others. Think of your unreasonable boss, prodigal child, complaining church member, sour relative—anyone unlovely in your life. Remember what Jesus said: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45).

 

A “God Loves You” Plan

This is the fuel that keeps our lamps burning. We’re surrounded by “sinners.” But Christ died for them, and the love of Christ compels us to do all we can to help them experience the love of Jesus. The most generous thing we can give others is the Good News of God’s love.

Andrew Fearing wrote about a wealthy widow who opened her home and heart to orphans. Eventually she became mother to 36 children. She dealt patiently with all but one boy. He was thin, pimply, sickly, irritable, sulky, and complaining. Try as she might, she couldn’t seem to love him like the others. One day the boy was more irritating than usual. In desperation she grabbed his hand, dragged him to sit on the porch swing, and told him to put his head on her lap and fall asleep. After a while, he did. The day was warm, and the woman nodded off too. She dreamed she was in the place of the boy on her lap. Her head was resting on the lap of the Father, and she became conscious of her repulsive self, contaminated by sin. “Yes,” she heard a voice say, “but I love you anyway, and My love will straighten you out and make you beautiful.” The woman woke, looked down at the dirty face on her lap, stroked his hair and kissed his cheek. He awoke and for the first time a smile came to his lips and a slight glow to his eyes. It was the beginning of a gradual and lifelong change.3

The most generous thing you can do for others is to tell them: “God loves you.”

 

David Jeremiah is the senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church and the founder and host of Turning Point for God. For more information about Dr. Jeremiah or Turning Point, visit www.DavidJeremiah.org.