Where Did You Come From?

There is a wonderful story about St. Peter as he was walking around heaven. You must first of all understand Peter’s place in God’s Kingdom. He is the gatekeeper and has been given very close charge of all who would enter heaven. Peter was glad that he could remember almost everyone who had passed by his challenge at the gate. He remembered the quiet ones, the noisy ones, and the ones who were amazed.

But this day, he met several strangers. People he did not know. As he challenged them, their reply was we came in last night by the back wall.

This puzzled Peter. God had not told him of anyone else having a gate keeper's role. So that night, he slipped into the garden and went to the back wall of heaven.

There he saw Jesus Christ as he was lifting up a corner of the fence and waving for some dirty, scraggly looking people to come into heaven. Peter yelled, "Jesus, what are you doing?"

"Oh, don't be angry Peter; these are just a few of my friends. You don't mind do you?"

The moral of the story is, don't forget who it is who offers entrance not only into heaven, but into other's lives as well. He will always be the one who will prepare others to hear the good news that only you can bring.

Mid-Week Prayer

Oh, loving God, open the gates of our hearts and minds to the understanding that all are called to enter heaven, and we are not given the power to deny even a little child. We are told to rejoice and not judge, guide and not hold back. Today give us Your children that we might invite them to the celebration of your love just as you have invited us. We pray this prayer in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. I do not know what will await me when I come before the Lord in heaven, but I can find out what is waiting in the hearts and minds of the strangers in our midst. Will you do the same? Come and serve another in Christ name.