"Thus far has the LORD helped us" (1 Samuel 7:12).

I remember the day I placed my faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  I was raised in a home where we attended church weekly and I suppose we considered ourselves religious.  In fact I remember my long string of "Sunday School perfect attendance" pins.  But it wasn’t until I was in High School that I recall being specifically challenged by Christ's claims upon my life and the need to personally repent of my sin and accept Him.  

Like many, I assumed I was a Christian based upon my church background or being "good" in comparison to those I perceived as "bad".  But after a clear presentation of the Gospel I knew better.  I didn't receive Christ initially and lived in rebellion for awhile, knowing in my heart that I was not submitting to Christ.  God used a popular song at that time, "I wish we’d all been ready", to bring conviction to my heart. Many of you "old-timers" have probably heard it.

On August 22, 1971 I was persuaded to attend a large convention in Kansas City, Missouri where that evening an evangelist by the name of Lowell Lundstrom* spoke.  I was deeply convicted of my sin and need for Christ. At that service I placed my faith in Christ.

Samuel served God some 3,100 years ago as the last leader during the period of the Judges.  In fact he anointed both Saul and David as kings.  Samuel served his generation faithfully, overcoming dangers from without and apostasy from within. In today’s text he made a tangible memorial to God’s faithfulness to him and the people.  He set up a stone and named it Ebenezer (which means "stone of help"), and stated, "Thus far has the Lord helped us." That must have been a wonderful moment and it’s my testimony today.
 
Whether you know the date of your spiritual birthday or not (and many do not), have you placed your faith in Christ and are you faithfully serving Him today?  Can you join Samuel and me in proclaiming, "Thus far has the Lord helped us?"  I sure hope so!  And now my goal is to faithfully serve Christ my entire life and one day, when my time of transition comes, declare with the Apostle Paul, "I have kept the faith."

I met Brooksyne in Bible College in 1973 and we married in 1976. We have served the Lord together since that time, pastoring several churches, serving as chaplains and now primarily in this online ministry.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

* Evangelist Lowell Lundstrom is still faithfully serving the Lord. Here's his website.

I am aware that most readers have already placed their faith in Christ and accepted Him as their personal Savior. However you may be reading this and realize that this is a step you need to take. Here is a concise presentation of the Gospel with a challenge to receive Christ. I pray that every reader will be a faithful follower of Christ!  "The Four Spiritual Laws"

"He Leadeth Me" Gilmore, Joseph H. / Bradbury, William B. © Public Domain CCLI License No. 2005306