While we were In Israel, my glasses broke. I asked the young man who was the concierge in the hotel where we were staying, if he could possibly recommend a place where I could have them repaired. He contacted his mother who recommended the shop that takes care of the prime minister’s eyeglasses.

The concierge personally delivered my glasses. Then an employee from the eyeglass store called me to let me know that my glasses could not be repaired, but that I could purchase another pair (of course). The employee told me that the concierge’s mother was in the shop and that she would wait for me. Well, my husband and I had to go.

We entered the shop, and four people were waiting for us: the owner, a young girl, the employee who had called me, and the concierge’s mother. The young girl was talking so fast because she wanted to make that sale! I put my hand on her shoulder and asked her to calm down. She smiled and relaxed. The concierge’s mother happened to be a judge. We introduced ourselves and blessed each other, as we kissed. The owner was wide-eyed, waiting to see about selling a pair of glasses to me.

The price of the glasses was so high that there was no way I would purchase them. I explained to the owner that my identity was not in how glasses may make me look. I asked him for his name. It happened to be a name in the Bible. I told him that God had told the man in the Bible who had had his name to go and warn his people, but no one would turn to God. He was obedient, even so. In the end, he was put into a tree trunk and sawed in half. I asked him if he knew God. He said, “I am not a reglious man.”

I said, “Good, neither is God religious. Let me tell you: God knows you, but you do not know Him. He formed you and knew you before He placed you in the womb to be born. You will have to know Him for Him to listen to you and answer the prayers of your heart. Do you pray?”

He said, “All the time.”

“Ah,” I said. “So you do talk to God. You must understand. He cannot answer you, because you must first know His Son. You see you need His blood to cleanse you, so that you can be clean before you talk to God.”

He stared into my eyes. I continued, “So just as your name says, you are being told about God and His Son, and if you refuse to believe, you will be alone in the prayers of your heart.” He drew closer to me. I said, “Ah, you are listening. You see God loves you, and He wants to answer you. But you must acknowledge His Son. He has sent me here to tell you about Him, and you must listen or you will not get any further in your life. God has allowed you to get so far, but not any further, because you must acknowledge His Son.”

He was silent, his eyes searching mine. “I am listening to you, and I am so moved.  I hear you, and I am in much thought.”

Now there were three listening, and two employees upstairs peering through a window and listening. A customer walked in, and all the focus went to him. I was interrupted. I could not go any further.

Two days later, we walked into a restaurant, and the first person we saw was the owner of the eyeglass store. I sat with him and talked with him about talking with God through His Son because He had given His blood to cleanse us from our sins. He listened intently. Then he said, “I want to show you how we talk to God.” He pulled out his iPhone and showed me a couple of photos of the inside of an ornate and gold religious building. In the middle was a gold triangle. He pointed to the triangle and explained, “See, this is the triangle by which we believe and talk to God.”

I said, “Let me show you mine.” I took out my iPhone and pulled up a photo of the cross with the two crosses beside it. You see, this is where the blood of the Son of the God of Israel gave His life with His blood for your sins and mine. There is no other way to approach God, but by the blood of His Son.” He was silent. He thought for a moment, but had nothing to say. I said, “No more sheep. No more goats, but the blood of God’s sacrificial lamb, His Son, Yeshua.

He seemed unsure, not knowing what to say. I said, “Tonight before you go to sleep, tell God that a woman named Claudia told you about His Son, who He is, and what He did. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He will not deny you.”

He smiled very sweetly and nodded his head, saying, “I will do this.”

I said, “You must have courage to ask and courage to believe in the answer.”

He smiled and said, “Okay. You have my card. You can contact me. Please stay in touch.”

I knew that he was not ready to surrender his life to Jesus, but I also knew that he had not yet heard the truth about God and His Son. He had a lot to think about and face. Before I spoke with him, there was no seed to reap. But now there is! I can’t wait to talk to him again after the Spirit of God has worked the truth in his heart.

 

“Abba, Father, thank You that my eyeglasses needed repair; otherwise, I would not have had the opportunity to tell about Your Son to this young Israeli Jewish man who had not heard the truth. Jesus, thank You for this young man’s listening heart. He is lost and needs You, Messiah. Abba, please draw him to Your Son. Do not allow his soul to perish. Please help me to stay in touch with him. Meanwhile, Lord, talk with him. Reveal Yourself to him. Holy Spirit, thank You for guiding my footsteps to that restaurant to continue the conversation about God and Jesus. I know that You were giving him the truth as he would receive it, having never heard about the Son of God who loves him. And, Abba, thank you for the others who were listening. Holy Spirit work the truth in their hearts as well. Jesus save their souls.”

 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

1 John 1:7

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26:28

1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, my God. 8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.”He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:1-8

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,

Hebrews 10:19

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

Ephesians 1:7

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:13

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

Romans 5:9

and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,

Revelation 1:5

All scripture is NIV.