The year was 1974. I was stumbling through the no-man’s land called adolescence. At the age of thirteen, I had emerged from childhood, but was years away from adulthood. When I think of myself at the age of thirteen the word that comes to mind is “awkward.” That says it all.
I was at youth camp the summer of 1974 when my friend, Jerry, took it upon himself to play matchmaker. This is the same Jerry I wrote about a few weeks ago who went down with the homemade raft in the pond behind our house. After the stunt he pulled at youth camp, I realized we should have left him in the pond with the sunken raft!
Jerry decided to set up a date for me with the prettiest girl at youth camp. A “date” at youth camp meant you sat together at the evening service, then went to the snack bar afterwards for hamburgers and ice cream. I was an awkward thirteen-year-old. She was a sixteen-year-old beauty queen. Frankly, this thing was impossible from the start, but Jerry was determined.
I will never forget the humiliating moment when Jerry walked up to the beauty queen, muttered a few unintelligible words, then turned and pointed me out. All I could think to do was grin and wave. The look on her face said it all. Let’s just say I knew at that moment the deal was dead in the water. Jerry the matchmaker, failed.
Did you know that the Holy Spirit is a matchmaker? He was sent by the Father to seek out and secure a bride for Jesus the Son. Like any good matchmaker, the Holy Spirit doesn’t draw attention to Himself. He doesn’t talk about Himself. Rather, He talks about the One He represents. The Holy Spirit speaks to us about Jesus. He seeks to bring us to Christ so that we might fall in love with the lover of our souls. This is His ultimate mission.
My friend, Jerry, failed me in his efforts at matchmaking. But the Holy Spirit did not fail in bringing me to Jesus. He succeeded! Because of the Holy Spirit I can say about Jesus, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (Song of Solomon 6:3). I am included in that great company of believers called the Church - the Bride of Christ - thanks to the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Todd Weston
I was at youth camp the summer of 1974 when my friend, Jerry, took it upon himself to play matchmaker. This is the same Jerry I wrote about a few weeks ago who went down with the homemade raft in the pond behind our house. After the stunt he pulled at youth camp, I realized we should have left him in the pond with the sunken raft!
Jerry decided to set up a date for me with the prettiest girl at youth camp. A “date” at youth camp meant you sat together at the evening service, then went to the snack bar afterwards for hamburgers and ice cream. I was an awkward thirteen-year-old. She was a sixteen-year-old beauty queen. Frankly, this thing was impossible from the start, but Jerry was determined.
I will never forget the humiliating moment when Jerry walked up to the beauty queen, muttered a few unintelligible words, then turned and pointed me out. All I could think to do was grin and wave. The look on her face said it all. Let’s just say I knew at that moment the deal was dead in the water. Jerry the matchmaker, failed.
Did you know that the Holy Spirit is a matchmaker? He was sent by the Father to seek out and secure a bride for Jesus the Son. Like any good matchmaker, the Holy Spirit doesn’t draw attention to Himself. He doesn’t talk about Himself. Rather, He talks about the One He represents. The Holy Spirit speaks to us about Jesus. He seeks to bring us to Christ so that we might fall in love with the lover of our souls. This is His ultimate mission.
My friend, Jerry, failed me in his efforts at matchmaking. But the Holy Spirit did not fail in bringing me to Jesus. He succeeded! Because of the Holy Spirit I can say about Jesus, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (Song of Solomon 6:3). I am included in that great company of believers called the Church - the Bride of Christ - thanks to the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Todd Weston
