A number of years ago, during World War II, a young man serving in the armed forces was seeking the meaning of life. He had been raised in a home in which the parents did not know the Lord, although they were good to him and did what they could for him.

While in the military service he met some men who had been taught the way of salvation. They explained the Gospel of Christ to him. The Holy Spirit was working, and one night the seeker found himself in a church service being held on the base.

The chaplain was teaching: "And you will dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you will be my people, and I will be your God."

At this point the Holy Spirit came on the young man. The love of God filled him. It sounded to him as though God were saying, "I greatly desire to be your God, if you are willing to be My people."

He exclaimed half aloud, "Did God say that?"

It seemed to him this was the reverse of what it should be. We humans should be the ones asking God if He would consent to be our God, not God asking us if we would be His people. The love being expressed by his Creator touched him deeply.

After the service he walked from the Quonset hut. The stars shone more brightly than ever before. The night air was alive with a new Spirit. He had been born again by the Word of God.

Two or three weeks later, feeling a need to hear directly from this God who expressed such love, he tried something that he does not advocate today because it could lead to a superstitious approach to the study of the Scriptures.

He asked, "O God, speak to me."

Then he flipped open the Bible at random and put his finger down blindly.

Under his finger were the words:

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them on the table of thine heart: so shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:1-4)

The truth burned into him as though God were talking directly to him: "My son, forget not My law; but let thine heart keep my commandments."

Obedience to His Word is all that God requires of any of us. It is the Father's good pleasure to give us His Kingdom. If we will obey Him, He will be our God.

How wonderful that God should be our God! How wonderful that we should become a son of God, that God should become our Father!

To be continued.