By Claudia Koenig
We were recently checking into our hotel in Sydney, Australia. The hotel reservationist was a young woman from Ecuador. Since I speak Spanish, we began to talk about the cultural differences she had to adjust to as she made her home in Australia.
Since we arrived early in the morning, our room was not ready, so we had to wait in the lobby for a couple of hours. The reservationist was very hospitable. She had coffee and treats served to us.
My husband took a look around the hotel. When he returned, the reservationist was with him. She wanted to know if were doing okay and if there was anything that we needed.
She began to share about her decision to stay in Australia or return to her homeland. She went into the details about her parents and siblings. She is the only family member away from home. She had won a scholarship that gave her the opportunity to be in Australia. Now she had to determine if she should stay or go back home. She had to consider her family in Ecuador and her future.
I told her that she has a greater decision to make; she needs to know the One that has the plan of her life in His hands.
I told her that without knowing Him, her life plans may not be what He would want for her.
I shared Jesus with her. I told her of His love for her, who He is and what He did. I told her what the Bible says about the plans God has for her to give her a future and a hope, a plan that works all things out for good and gives Him glory.
I told her that she must believe in the Son of God for her salvation first and then seek Him through reading the Bible and praying. Tears begin to appear in her eyes. I stood and approached her. I asked her if she would like to believe in Jesus and ask Him to be the Lord of her life. She said that she did. We prayed together and she gave her life to Jesus.
She thanked me with a big smile and told of how she felt so relieved. Her face was glowing! I ask her if she has a Bible. She said that she did not, but that she would get one. I shared with her where to start reading and told her to seek God for His answer to her decision. I told her, “The Living Word will guide you with the help of the Holy Spirit. She was so joyful! Her eyes filled with tears again. She said, “You are so sweet to do this for me. I will get a Bible and start reading. Thank you!” I told her, “It is what Jesus has done for you.”
My husband, she and I were now brother and sisters in Christ. God’s glory surrounded us with His joy!
“Abba, when we least expect it, You have a soul near by that is ready to believe in Your Son and have eternal life.”
“Thank You, Yeshua, that our hotel room was not ready because You were calling a soul to know You. How privileged we were to fall into a schedule out of our control because Your eyes are on a sheep who will be Yours, and they don’t know it. And, You have caused the circumstances to fall into place for one soul to call Your own!”
“Holy Spirit thank you for Your gift of patience, kindness and gentleness. How it is that you settle our souls to prepare our hearts for what God is going to do to save a sheep that does not know that it belongs to HIM!” Glory to the Holy Name of Jesus!
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. - Psalm 32:8
Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. -- Psalm 100:3
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. -- John 10:2
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. - John 10:7
Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. -- Psalm 105:3