Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Persuasive Text/Book Review

This is a persuasive text I made up, and is also kind of a book review on "God's Smuggler" by Brother Andrew.


Do you ever wonder if what is in the Bible is true? Ever ponder that God’s amazing provisions for His children are just stories? You may recall the story in the Bible about God feeding and clothing the Israelites when they were in the wilderness. There is also the story where God provided protection for Esther the queen, when she opposed the king. Remember these aren’t just stories, they are true. I believe that God’s purpose for me involves Vanuatu. I believe that I am to help the poor and needy there. To get food and clothes and other necessities to them, of course you need money. Quite a lot of money. God has provided money for all those things already just recently. He cares about giving small needs, just as I should care. Just as we all should care. Brother Andrew in ‘God’s Smuggler’ knew that his Christian purpose was to get Bibles into communist countries. God provided Andrew for all that he needed. Andrew knew that Bibles, the books he had taken for granted, were in demand. That realisation opened the door to his Christian purpose.

Even though some things definitely don’t seem worthy of God’s attention, they are! They are completely worthy of God’s attention because they matter to His children. In the book ‘God’s Smuggler’, Andrew had to rely on God for all his needs. Starting out in a big, new city, he was a young, poor man. On page 78 of ‘God’s Smuggler’ Andrew says, “Toothpaste tasted good, new razor blades shaved quicker – but these were luxuries, not necessities. I was certain that should a real Need arise, God would supply it.” God provided Andrew’s food and money, but Andrew didn’t have enough money for small luxuries such as shaving cream and toothpaste. Luxuries that he tried not to worry about. Thinking lovingly and caringly for His new child, God allowed money to get into Andrew’s hands to buy those little luxuries God otherwise would not have bothered about. We undoubtedly think that God shouldn’t be irritated by some of our small troubled circumstances, but He does care about them. He wants to help. God loves us even if we don’t love Him back. 1 John 4:10 says, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us.” It’s sad that we think we can do everything on our own, and that we don’t need God’s help. The truth is we all need Him, whether we think so or not. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5. God knows what we need and we need Him so He can help us in the way we should go.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. This is proven true in ‘God’s Smuggler’. Andrew had a man that wanted to give him driving lessons. At first Andrew didn’t want to accept because he thought that he would never have the need for a car. The man pushed him into teaching him to drive, and soon after, Andrew was given a car! God knew, that’s why He wanted Andrew to learn to drive a car. That car drove him across country boarders, tens of thousands of kilometers. In Matthew 6:34 Jesus says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Andrew, eventually, cared only about the task at hand, learning to drive. We all worry about things that might not even happen. We ought to focus our attention on what is currently on our hands, then worry about what’s next, when it comes.

God is the One who attends to all our needs. In ‘God’s Smuggler’ millions of people needed Bibles and God provided them. God had Andrew deliver Bibles to where they were needed. Andrew needed Bibles, transportation, money, and safety. God provided for all these needs. God just wanted Andrew’s full commitment and above all his obedience to listen. Andrew had many times when he thought he couldn’t do something God wanted Him to. Of course he couldn’t do it! No one can get Bibles across communist boarders. No one can be known about and still slip in under the radar. No one can acquire tens of thousands of Bibles and get them into to needy hands. No one can blind the seeing eyes. Andrew prayed, “Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture that I want to take to Your children across this border. When you were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, You make seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see.” (page 117) Only GOD can do that! Humans are nothing without God! Without God, no one would live! Without God, evil would rule everywhere! Without God, everything would be dead! But, there is a God. A holy, sovereign, almighty, gracious, merciful and loving God. You have possibly heard the scripture verse “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have ever lasting life.” That is a wonderful scripture, telling of God’s amazing love for us. Another verse of God’s love and provision is in Romans 5:8. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That is the biggest provision God ever gave. His Son.

Like many youth today, Andrew was not a Christian. He never wanted God. He partied, got drunk, all of what God did not approve of. But God turned his life around, and Andrew became a strong Christian. Youth people can easily think that God wouldn’t forgive them of their sins if they wanted to change their life. Do not fear! Look what God did for Andrew. He worked through a man who used to never want to know Him. He changed a man who was of the world. Andrew helped me to see how much we need God and I believe you will see this too. God helps in big ways and in the outwardly small ways. God provides for those who follow Him, resulting in those who follow their Christian purpose. You KNOW that God will provide everything if what you are doing is His purpose for you.


“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” Philippians 4:19


What did you think?

2 comments:

  1. Wow, beautifully written Amariah. I have read the book the "God smuggler" as well and it is a very inspiring book. I especially love the line were he talks about making seeing eyes blind. God is good! And He is able to perform anything, according to His will and our faith. Thanks so much for the encouraging posts! Every time you write a post like this i am impacted, in a way you won't know, but thank you. Love your sister in Christ.
    p.s I wish more people followed you so they could read your beautiful words! God is going to use you Amariah.

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  2. thankyou Tinyde. :D
    yes i wish i had more followers too. when i follow others they don't always follow back. but that's ok. you can't really make people follow or comment. it's what they want to do.

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