Did I ever tell you about the time I picked up a prostitute?

It was a rainy day, the kind of rainy day where it’s coming down in buckets and no one should be outside walking on the side of the road.  So I’m driving on Route 40 in Aberdeen MD in the early 90’s with my son in the back seat of my station wagon when I see her, she is walking on the side of the road near a motel (I totally missed this fact in my concern for her safety) and she looked to be about my age, 20’s. I stopped the car and leaned over, opened the door and hollered, “Get in!” She did.

She seemed very confused to be in my little station wagon; she was stick thin and soaked to the skin. She was beautiful but looked hopeless.  I felt such compassion for her. I thought she was walking to work. She mentioned she wasn’t usually into women but whatever and then my wonderful little boy in the back seat said, “Hi. Why ya walking in the rain?” She hadn’t noticed him until then. I asked where she was headed and then she told me she was a working girl. I being naïve told her I was too, I worked at the VA.  She said, “No, I mean a (speaking slowly) w-o-r-k-i-n-g girl. But thank you for not just assuming that.”

That day I took a young girl, someone’s daughter and perhaps a sister, to a nearby diner to have a warm bite to eat and hopefully she felt stronger afterward. What I wanted to do was offer her hope but I didn’t know Jesus then. All I could do was offer her a warm meal and a dry ride back to her hopelessness. I think back on that day and the only regret I have about picking up a prostitute was that I didn’t know Jesus to share true HOPE with her. I pray for that girl, no longer a girl but a woman, and I pray that someone else came along who was interested in the beauty in her heart and not just her face and body, someone who shared the Good News with her.

So I challenge you to remember exactly why Jesus came. He came to offer hope to the hopeless, to heal the sick, to forgive the unforgiveable, to offer Living Water! Here’s the challenge, with Valentine’s Day we often think of those we love but what about those who have no one who love them. The hurting, the broken, those in need of the Good News? Share the only Love that is lasting today! For Valentine’s Day this year introduce someone to the Man who will love them unconditionally and forgive their sins. The Man Jesus who was born of a virgin, lived a sinless, perfect life, died for our sins and on the 3^rd day rose from the grave! He conquered sin and Hell so we could come to be with Him.

No one is too far gone, there is no sin too evil, no secret too dark, nothing that Jesus cannot shine His Light on and offer forgiveness and a new life. I’m living proof. He did this for me.

If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior all you have to do is repent from your sins, believe in Him and accept the gift of salvation. Wearing nice clothes won’t save you, neither will driving a nice car or living in the better section of town, going to church won’t save you either, only accepting Jesus Christ can save us. Surrender to Him today.

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

“Father, I know that I have broken Your laws and my sins have separated me from You. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward You. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. Jesus, please come into my heart and forgive my sins, cover me with Your blood and wash me clean,  become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”