Praying That People Come to Know Jesus

I came upon this story about Arthur F. Burns, who served as an economic counselor to a number of presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Ronald Regan. He also served as chairman of the United States Federal Reserve System and as an ambassador to West Germany. He was a man who opinions carried a lot of weight in Washington. Arthur Burns was also a Jew. When he began attending an informational White House Christian prayer group in the 1970’s, others in the group were not sure how to involve him. Different persons gave leadership to the prayer time each week and the leader would call upon someone to close in prayer. Weeks passed and no one called upon Arthur Burns to lead in prayer. Then, one week, another newcomer to the group was leading and he did not know that Burns’ was a Jew. As the prayer meeting ended, the newcomer turned to Arthur Burns and asked him to close the time with prayer. Some of the old-timers glanced at each other in surprise and wondered what would happen. Without missing a beat, Arthur Burns reached out, held hands with others in the circle, and prayed this prayer: “Lord, I pray that you bring Jews to know Jesus Christ. I pray that you bring Muslims to know Jesus Christ. Finally, Lord, I pray that you bring Christians to know Jesus Christ. Amen.” I cannot think of a more important prayer for us to pray than for persons to come to know Jesus Christ. Jesus is the way to a restored relationship with God. He is the truth that is unchanging and always relevant. And, He is the source of life that is abundant and eternal. He is the one and only Savior. Everyone needs to know Jesus. I also cannot think of a more appropriate prayer that we could pray for our neighbors, friends, family and other connections than that they come to know Jesus Christ. Holy Week Easter is a great time to put some feet to those prayers with an invitation to worship with you. You can pick up some of the invitational cards that were in the bulletin Sunday to help you make that invitation to others. This Saturday would be a good time to join others in praying that persons come to know Jesus Christ. Our Holy Week Prayer Vigil will be from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. It will be held in the chapel. Come an spend some time in prayer. The Magnolia Festival is this Friday and Saturday. We will have a tent there. And could still use volunteers to take a time at the tent. You can contact Jenn Bryant for times, jbryant@gmvumc.org Sunday afternoon is our OLD FASHIONED EGG HUNT that will be held at Black Creek Park. All the fun begins at 3:30. We will have a Church Family picnic at 5:00 and then worship at 6:00. Bring your picnic basket, with a little extra for our guest, and invite someone to join you in this afternoon of fellowship and worship. Don’t forget one of our Outreach Ministries is the Children’s Home Easter Egg Hunt. Children from across Alabama who are in our United Methodist Group Homes will gather at Camp Sumatanga on April 23, for a great day of fellowship that is led by Clyde and Brenda Cork. They need our help in providing the prizes for the eggs. You can mark your donations for “Children’s Home Egg Hunt.” As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.