Push, Pull And Carry Them To The Cross

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 23;39

As I look back on my journey to the cross there is one man that is imbeded in my thoughts forever. This one man did all he could to push, pull and carry me to the cross.

When I met Joe he didn't have a lot of extra money. With a wife that did not work at the time and three young kids I could see that life was a struggle. As a new agent on a thin budget I used to always come to the office coughing like a maniac. I did not have the money for any type of medication. Joe saw this immediately and in one swift swoop he was determined to help out.

One Monday morning I walked into the office hacking as usually. Out of the blue Joe says " Come on ,there is someplace I want to take you. " With his stern voice I was determined to follow. We jumped in his car and he took me to a shoe store and said " You are always sick. I want you to wear these rubbers. I care about you. " Those big top rubbers were the ugliest thing I had ever seen. But because Joe bought them I was willing to wear them.

On another occasion Joe could see that I was confused about Christianity. I was desperately trying to separate religion from the relationship of Christ. Once again, Joe piled me into his car and took me to a book store. We searched the shelves until he found what he was looking for. He bought the book Evidence Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell. and handed it to me. His words were " Here, I think this will help you cut through the confusion." That book was a major turning point for me to understand the message of Jesus Christ.

I used to think that climbing to the top you had to be cut throat and thinking only of yourself. But Joe, with his Bible tucked in his hand, showed me the love of Christ. This reflection of love was a statement spoken without words.

That love begin with Christ and then absolutely engulfed his wife. After Joe told me the heart warming story of how he met his wife Maryann ,I walked away touched, never to be the same. That night I wrote, " Did you know with just the mention of your wife's name your whole face lights up? Without even saying one word you have taught me about love."

When I finally accepted Christ his wife gave me a big hug and said " We have been praying for this for a very long time." To think he did all of this while I was living with my girl friend still just slays me. He did not judge me he loved me. He did not look at me for the sinner that I was he looked at my just like Christ does realizing and hoping I would someday be washed in the blood of Christ.

The song " They will know we are Christians by our love by our love" has always been one of my favorites. This word agape is a greek word for charity. This is represented by helping the tempted, bearing each others burdens, encouraging the weak and not finding fault with others.

Well, Joe knew this love, he grew this love and then he gave it away.

My brother in Christ
sweet Joseph
I will never be the same.
You showed me Jesus Christ
and you did it without shame.

I am touched beyond any measure
that man will ever understand.
It is all because of you my friend
that I am now holding Jesus hand.

Brad McGill
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