I greet you in Jesus' precious name! It is Sunday morning, the 3rd of March, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We go straight to the Gospel of John 3:7, and that very, very famous scripture, Jesus says you must be born again.

"Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'

A beautiful old book was sent to me by a farmer in England a few weeks back, a beautiful book that was written in 1950's, and in it was an illustration which I want to read to you because it touched my heart very deeply. It goes like this: "A father lay on his deathbed and was saying farewell to his family as they stood around him. Affectionately greeting his wife, his daughter and his sons, he used the same expression to each one of them, "Goodnight my dear, when we meet again in the morning, there will be no night there." But then turning to the youngest boy, he put out his hand and said, "Goodbye John".

The poor boy was hurt by this and said, "What do you mean, father? You said "goodnight" to mother and the others but "goodbye" to me." "Yes, my boy. Your mother, your father and your minister have prayed for you. The Spirit of God has been striving with you, but it has all been to no avail. This is goodbye for us." The wayward youth was so overcome that he dropped to his knees and he cried his way, sobbed his way, to Calvary. Then, with his last labouring breath, the father took his hand and said, "Goodnight John, when we meet again in the morning, there will be no night there."

Maybe I am speaking to a wayward son, a wayward daughter, I would encourage you not to leave it too late before you are born again. Maybe you would like to repent right now and pray this little prayer with me:

Dear Lord Jesus,

I heard this little story and it has cut me into the quick, and I know that I am not in the right place with you. Please forgive me today before it is too late. I will serve you with all of my heart and I repent of all of my sins.

In Jesus' name, amen.

The Lord bless you and have a wonderful day,
Goodbye.