Margie Reid

John 3:16, Romans 10:8-10, Ephesians 2:8-9, Ephesians 1:13, Matthew 18:3,
John 14:6, Matthew 16:15-17

                                                      by

                                                           Mary Ahlborn

When I was a child, my parents took me to Sunday School. During the time I was in this class I had the opportunity to hear the truth concerning the death and resurrection of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, through my wonderful Sunday School teacher, Margie Reid.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

I did not know that when I disobeyed God, I was separating myself from a Holy God. Knowing God’s commandments (10 commandments) led me to understand what it was to sin and how I needed God’s forgiveness. I also realized because God is a just God, He must punish sin. Then I heard the gospel message Mrs. Reid taught, concerning God’s great message of Love;

“God loves us so much, He gave His only begotten Son, to pay the penalty for our sins and  whoever repents and believes in Him will never be separated from Him but will be in His presence, forever.  (John 3)

After hearing the gospel, we all bowed our heads and prayed, and it was then, I asked Jesus to forgive me and accepted His death on the cross for my sins.

And so it was, I believed……………………………………….. (Ephesians 1:13)

My grandfather was in the hospital at the time dying from a liver disease. He was an alcoholic and my mother would tell me how her family suffered as a result. I understood if my grandfather died without knowing Jesus, he would be eternally separated from God. Children were not allowed in the hospital in those days, so I wrote my grandfather a simple letter telling him how Jesus Christ died on the cross for his sins and how he could be forgiven and go to heaven if he repented and believed.

After my mother read my letter to him, my grandfather also believed and prayed that God would forgive him.  My grandfather asked to go into the bathroom to be alone. In that solitary place, he prayed and repented and God revealed Himself in a powerful way.  After he came out, he told all who were there in the hospital how God assured him, he was forgiven and told him, he was going to heaven.
(Romans 10:8-9)

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:43

I can recall the exact day and place when I first heard the gospel message and then the news about my grandfather’s salvation, How? Because on that day, I became “born again” filled with God’s Holy Spirit (filled with God’s love and joy) and knew then, without a doubt God loved me and I would be with Him forever.
(John 3: 1-21).

And so began the understanding of who “I am” in Christ Jesus and my journey of faith, many years ago.

Who assured me of my salvation?
Why, God of Course, the Great, “I AM”.
(John 8:58, Matthew 16:16-17)