Mysterious Providence

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones tells the story of an extraordinary event in the early days of his ministry at his first church in Aberavon. One Sunday morning as the Doctor was about to preach he noticed that the inside of the church had gotton unbearably hot. So he stood up and asked the elders to open the windows of the church to let in some cool air. He then began to preach -- just at that time, the most notorious drunk and bully in the town, a most ruthless man, was walking by the church to go down to the pub in order to tank up. As he walked by the church, he heard Jones preaching through the open windows, and there and then fell on his knees in repentance.

Isn't that encouraging? When, as Christians, we think of our own family members, neighbors, co-workers, and others who are not saved, we need to realize that no person is beyond God's reach if God so wills to bring one to saving faith. It is his power; it is his providence; it is his grace; and it is his will that is at work in salvation! Ah, the mysterious providence of God in salvation!