H.B. Charles - The Difference Jesus Makes: Trusting Him in Every Situation

2014 by
H. B. CHARLES JR

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Edited by Jim Vincent

Interior design: Smartt Guys design and Erik M. Peterson

Cover design: Geoff Sciacca and Erik M. Peterson

Cover image: Wavebreak Media / 123 RF

Author photo: Derrick Wilson

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Charles, H. B.
The difference Jesus makes : trusting Him in every situation / H.B. Charles Jr.
pages cm
ISBN 978-0-8024-1227-0
1. Trust in GodChristianity. 2. Bible, Mark IV-VCriticism, interpretation, etc. 3. Jesus ChristParables. I. Title.
BV4637.C427 2014
248.86--dc23
2014011023

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To my wife, Crystal.

The Lord Jesus Christ has made all the difference in my life. But one of the ways in which Christ has changed me is by giving you to me. I am who I am and where I am because of your love, support, and encouragement. You are my best friend, my ministry partner, and my sunshine! I love you.

Friend,

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I was in junior high school the first time a girl gave me her phone number. I did not ask for the number. As our families had dinner together that Sunday evening, it was obvious that I liked her. But I did not have the guts to ask for her number. I didnt even know that was what you were supposed to do. But she saved the day. Before we left the restaurant, the young lady told me she needed a pen. I borrowed one from somebody and gave it to her. She then wrote her number on a piece of paper, folded it, and handed it to me.

Call me sometime, she said.

I was so blown away by what just happened, I didnt respond. But I had every intention of calling her. There was more important business, however, for me to tend to first.

I was the preachers kid. And there was nothing cool about me back then (or now, for that matter). I hung out with the two most popular boys in school. But I was only popular because I hung out with Billy and Michael. We made an unbeatable team for three-on-three games at lunch. They were able to capitalize on our schoolyard fame. The girls loved Billy and Michael. I, on the other hand, made the girls nervous when I came around. But I now had chips to get into the big game. I finally had a girls phone number.

I didnt have a sense of fashion back then (or now, for that matter). If it was clean and did not itch, thats what I put on. But that Sunday night, I laid out my clothes. I ironed my pants and shirt. And when everything was in place, I put the folded paper with the girls number in my back pocket.

The next day, at just the right time, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the number. Whats this? I asked. Oh, yeah. This is that girls phone number. I forgot I had it.

You would have thought I just did a mesmerizing magic trick. The guys all gathered around and began to ooh and aah. They asked me questions about the girl. They asked me when I got the number. They had all kinds of questions. And I joyfully answered them all. It was great, so great that I couldnt let this be a one-time show. But I knew I would not be getting another girls number any time soon. So I had to milk this situation for all it was worth. I kept the number in my pocket for days. And whenever I had a new audience, I would go through my routine. It wowed the crowd every time.

Eventually, the multiple shows took their toll on my key prop. The folded piece of paper ripped. But I refused to let that end my performance. I simply got another piece of paper and wrote the girls number on it. And the show continued. But it was just a show. I impressed all the guys in school with a number that I never used. The pretty young lady who gave it to me was a year older than I. But my father said she was too mature for me. So he did not allow me to talk to her. In fact, I was not allowed to talk to any girls on the phone at the time. Dad said I wasnt ready. I had been strutting around the schoolyard for days bragging about a number from a person I had no relationship with.

I can look back at my boyhood shenanigans and laugh. But that experience also troubles me. I dont want that to be my experience with Jesus.

The Lord Jesus Christ has reached out to us in His incarnation, taking on flesh and becoming one of us. And He has given us His number, if you will. He has given us the Word of God by which we can know Him better. Many of us carry it around with us. We bring it up in conversation to impress others. But we do not have a real, life-changing relationship with Jesus. Is that you? Are you professing something you do not possess? Have you experienced the difference Jesus makes?

The goal of this book is to show you from the Word of God that Jesus is worthy of your trust in every situation. No matter what is going on in your life, Jesus can make the difference.

I endeavor to press this case by retelling a series of miracles Jesus performed, as recorded in the gospel of Mark (chapters 2, 45). Most of these miracles follow a long day of ministry, in which Jesus taught the crowds the parables of the kingdom of heaven (Mark 4:133). These parables affirm that Jesus is the Messiah-King, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and promises. And these parables assert the certainty of the kingdom of heaven, regardless of how things in the world may look to the unbelieving eye.