“While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them. Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they might not look with their eyes, and understand with their heart and turn — and I would heal them.” John 12:36-40 (NRS)
City water department workers were replacing old water lines and they watched as Alma and Leo set up the ladder in their front yard by the apple tree. As the husband-wife team began picking the fruit, two of the workers came over and began helping. As their baskets filled up, Alma had an idea. “How many men are in your crew?” she asked the city worker. “About eleven, I think,” he replied. “Alright, as a thank-you for helping us, I am going to bake apple pie for the whole crew. It will be ready on Monday morning at 10:00 am. Pie and coffee for all of you.”
The crewman looked at Alma in a quizzical manner. She could see that he was skeptical. Monday morning, however, while the coffee was brewing, Alma and Leo set up a table in the carport, then set out cups and desert plates along with forks and napkins enough for the water crew. Then Leo went out and invited the crew to take a break and enjoy apple pie and coffee in the shade. Soon silence surrounded the community as heavy equipment was shut down. The workers sauntered over and sat in lawn chairs around the table. But Alma counted only ten of them. “Where is the other crewman? Didn’t you say there were eleven?” she asked. The crewman who had helped pick the apples grinned as he said, “Yes ma’am there is another man on our crew, but he chose to stay in the office today because he didn’t believe you would have apple pie.”
(Adapted from a story told by Alma Barkman in Guideposts)
Dear Father, thank you for the report of your grace and mercy. Empower us with the faith to receive and believe your report as given in your Word. Enable us to act on the report. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his Word and accept it as truth,