All He Had to Offer - I Give You Me!

 

Here is a story, reported to be true, about a nine-year-old boy who

lived in a rural town in Tennessee. His house was in a poor area of

the community.

 

A church there had a bus ministry that came knocking on his door one

Saturday afternoon.

 

The child came to answer the door and greeted the bus pastor.

 

The bus pastor asked if his parents were home and the small boy told

him that his parents take off every weekend and leave him at home to

take care of his little brother. The bus pastor couldn't believe what

the child said and asked him to repeat it. The youngster gave the

same answer and the bus pastor asked to come in and talk with him.

They went into the living room and sat down on an old couch with the

foam and springs exposed. The bus pastor asked the child, "Where do

you go to church?"

 

The young boy surprised the visitor by replying, "I've never been to

church in my whole life." The bus pastor thought to himself about the

fact that his church was less than three miles from the child's house.

 

"Are you sure you have never been to church?" he asked again.

 

"I'm sure I haven't," came his answer.

 

Then the bus pastor said, "Well, son, more important than going to

church, have you ever heard the greatest love story ever told?" and

then he proceeded to share the Gospel with this little nine year old

boy.

 

The young lad's heart began to be tenderized and at the end of the

bus pastor's story, the bus pastor asked if the boy wanted to receive

this free gift from God. The youngster exclaimed, "OF COURSE!"

 

The child and the bus pastor got on their knees and the lad invited

Jesus into his little heart and received the free gift of salvation.

They both stood up and the bus pastor asked if he could pick the

child up for church the next morning.

 

"Sure," the nine year old replied.

 

The bus pastor got to the house early the next morning and found the

lights off. He let himself in and snaked his way through the house

and found the little boy asleep in his bed. He woke up the little boy

and his brother and helped get them dressed. They got on the bus and

ate a doughnut for breakfast on their way to church.

 

Keep in mind that this boy had never been to church before. The

church was a real big one. The little child just sat there, clueless

of what was going on. A few minutes into the service, these tall

unhappy guys walked down to the front and picked up some wooden

plates. One of the men prayed and the child, with utter fascination,

watched them walk up and down the aisles. He still didn't know what

was going on. Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, it hit the child

what was taking place.

 

These people must be giving money to Jesus. He then reflected on the

free gift of life he had received just twenty-four hours earlier. He

immediately searched his pockets, front and back, and couldn't find a

thing to give Jesus.

 

By this time the offering plate was being passed down his aisle and,

with a broken heart, he just grabbed the plate and held on to it. He

finally let go and watched it pass on down the aisle. He turned

around to see it passed down the aisle behind him. And then his eyes

remained glued on the plate as it was passed back and forth, back and

forth all the way to the rear of the sanctuary.

 

Then he had an idea. This little nine year old boy, in front of God

and everybody, got up out of his seat. He walked about eight rows

back, grabbed the usher by the coat and asked to hold the plate one

more time. Then he did the most astounding thing I have ever heard of.

 

He took the plate, sat it on the carpeted church floor and stepped

into the center of it. As he stood there, he lifted his little head

up and said, "Jesus, I don't have anything to give you today, but

just me. I give you me!"

 

-- Author Unknown