The Main Thing

This morning was my day to do morning devotions with the ladies at the mission, and this was the first time I had difficulty deciding on a topic or scripture passage. I was wrestling with what I could say to these ladies that would make some sort of difference in their lives. I tossed around a few ideas, but I kept coming back to the main thing...the gospel. So as I began this morning, I asked the ladies to think about their greatest need, then I invited them to share if they felt comfortable doing so. One lady said that she just needs to be happy. Another said she needs a steady job. And a third said she needs a better financial situation. Finally one lady said, "I know this is a trick question...you want us to say 'salvation is our greatest need.'" (She's in the discipleship program at the mission, so I'm glad she caught on!) We spent some time discussing why every person's greatest need is to be forgiven of his sins and how we can be forgiven by a Holy and Righteous God. I told them I was not trying to trivialize their physical and emotional needs, because they are certainly real to these ladies. They're in a homeless shelter after all. I've heard enough life stories of shelter women to know that the pain runs long and deep. I just wanted to offer them the hope that transcends this life by pointing them to the Christ. I trust His Word will not return void.