Devotion on January 7
From
“The One Year Book of Christian History”
“His life was changed by an ugly car, a pretty girl, and Mr. Pridgen.”
By the age of thirteen, Johnny Hunt was already heavily abusing alcohol. His mother worked two jobs to provide for her family, and Johnny capitalized on the lack of adult supervision by getting into all kinds of trouble. When he was fourteen, he found a fake ID and gained entrance to the local poolroom, where he began playing pool five to eight hours a day. Johnny dropped out of school at sixteen and was hired as the manager of the poolroom.
His first car was an old beat-up junker that was so ugly he was embarrassed to be seen in it. So instead of driving it, he had his friend drive him home from work each day. One day when his friend was in a hurry, he dropped him off a few blocks away from his neighborhood, where Johnny saw a beautiful girl twirling a baton outside her house. After that, Johnny asked his friend to drop him off there everyday, hoping to catch a glimpse of her as he walked by her house. His strategy paid off – they met and were married within the year!
His wife, Jan, soon began to talk about their need for church. Johnny was trying to be a good husband, but going to church was not part of his plan. Then a man named Mr. Pridgen began coming into the hardware store where Johnny had taken a part-time job. As Mr. Pridgen paid for his purchases each week, he would tell Johnny how Jesus had changed yet another life and invite him to church. Week after week Johnny was hounded by both Jan and Mr. Pridgen. He finally gave in.
They began attending Mr. Pridgen’s church, and after a few weeks Johnny was surprised to feel the Lord working in his heart. “Things began to change. I went to church, and everything seemed fine so long as there was preaching or singing. But when the pastor would say, ‘We’re going to stand together and sing an invitation hymn,’ I would begin to weep. While others bowed their heads in prayer, I’d ease out a handkerchief and wipe my tears.”
During the morning service on January 7, 1973, Jan noticed his tears. She questioned him, but he didn’t have words to describe what was happening to him.
That afternoon Johnny asked Jan whether she was interested in attending the evening service. And added, “Jan you know that I have tried to clean up my act, but I have failed. Well, if Jesus Christ can change my life, He’s welcome to it.” She could hardly believe her ears! That night, when the invitation was given, Johnny went forward and put his trust in Jesus.
From that moment on, Johnny Hunt was a changed young man. He went to all his old hangouts, sharing with his old friends what Jesus had done for him. When a skeptic asked him, “What are you going to do now that you’re saved and going to heaven?” His answer came easily, “Take as many people with me as I can.”
To achieve this goal, Johnny decided to become a pastor. He finished high school, attended college and then seminary, and became a Southern Baptist pastor. After years in the ministry he still has the same message: “Jesus took me from the poolroom to the pulpit, and he changed my life. He can change your life, too!”
He often prays, “Thank you, Lord for rescuing this wayward son. Thank you for that ugly car, for that pretty girl, and for Mr. Pridgen.”
Reflection
Have there been circumstances in your life that God has used to draw you closer to him? You may not have realized at the time that it was God working in your life. Thank Him for where He has brought you and where He will take you!
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
From
“The One Year Book of Christian History”
“His life was changed by an ugly car, a pretty girl, and Mr. Pridgen.”
By the age of thirteen, Johnny Hunt was already heavily abusing alcohol. His mother worked two jobs to provide for her family, and Johnny capitalized on the lack of adult supervision by getting into all kinds of trouble. When he was fourteen, he found a fake ID and gained entrance to the local poolroom, where he began playing pool five to eight hours a day. Johnny dropped out of school at sixteen and was hired as the manager of the poolroom.
His first car was an old beat-up junker that was so ugly he was embarrassed to be seen in it. So instead of driving it, he had his friend drive him home from work each day. One day when his friend was in a hurry, he dropped him off a few blocks away from his neighborhood, where Johnny saw a beautiful girl twirling a baton outside her house. After that, Johnny asked his friend to drop him off there everyday, hoping to catch a glimpse of her as he walked by her house. His strategy paid off – they met and were married within the year!
His wife, Jan, soon began to talk about their need for church. Johnny was trying to be a good husband, but going to church was not part of his plan. Then a man named Mr. Pridgen began coming into the hardware store where Johnny had taken a part-time job. As Mr. Pridgen paid for his purchases each week, he would tell Johnny how Jesus had changed yet another life and invite him to church. Week after week Johnny was hounded by both Jan and Mr. Pridgen. He finally gave in.
They began attending Mr. Pridgen’s church, and after a few weeks Johnny was surprised to feel the Lord working in his heart. “Things began to change. I went to church, and everything seemed fine so long as there was preaching or singing. But when the pastor would say, ‘We’re going to stand together and sing an invitation hymn,’ I would begin to weep. While others bowed their heads in prayer, I’d ease out a handkerchief and wipe my tears.”
During the morning service on January 7, 1973, Jan noticed his tears. She questioned him, but he didn’t have words to describe what was happening to him.
That afternoon Johnny asked Jan whether she was interested in attending the evening service. And added, “Jan you know that I have tried to clean up my act, but I have failed. Well, if Jesus Christ can change my life, He’s welcome to it.” She could hardly believe her ears! That night, when the invitation was given, Johnny went forward and put his trust in Jesus.
From that moment on, Johnny Hunt was a changed young man. He went to all his old hangouts, sharing with his old friends what Jesus had done for him. When a skeptic asked him, “What are you going to do now that you’re saved and going to heaven?” His answer came easily, “Take as many people with me as I can.”
To achieve this goal, Johnny decided to become a pastor. He finished high school, attended college and then seminary, and became a Southern Baptist pastor. After years in the ministry he still has the same message: “Jesus took me from the poolroom to the pulpit, and he changed my life. He can change your life, too!”
He often prays, “Thank you, Lord for rescuing this wayward son. Thank you for that ugly car, for that pretty girl, and for Mr. Pridgen.”
Reflection
Have there been circumstances in your life that God has used to draw you closer to him? You may not have realized at the time that it was God working in your life. Thank Him for where He has brought you and where He will take you!
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
