Re: Dedication

Bruderhof wrote:

> In the ensuing weeks Eberhard must have used almost every free moment
> to read and think things over. He would say later that the image of
> Jesus had come to him in blinding clarity. To follow Jesus became the
> most urgent demand on his life; it was an inner vocation that called
> him above everything else. His parents, who returned home in early
> September, did not realize at first the drama taking place in their
> son’s heart. He withdrew into himself. The only noticeable sign of
> this spiritual change was that he began attending youth meetings held
> by a young pastor. 
> 


On the surface Eberhard’s behavior hardly altered – at least not until 
October 2, 1899. While walking downtown that day he suddenly came to a 
decision, turned off the main street, and made his way to the young 
pastor’s house. Apparently the pastor was not particularly surprised to
see 
him, and he listened to Eberhard’s flood of questions and reproaches,
among 
them, “Why do I hear so little about the Holy Spirit from you? I long for 
the working of Jesus’ spirit.” To this the pastor calmly responded that it

was simply and solely the working of the Holy Spirit that had brought his 
“young friend” to him. After imparting some careful advice, he sent 
Eberhard home. Once there, Eberhard shut himself in the drawing room, 
leafed through his pocket Bible to the third chapter of John’s Gospel, and

read it aloud. Then and there, on October 2, 1899, Eberhard Arnold spelled

out for himself the meaning of “born again” (John 3:3); confessed his 
belief in Jesus, the Son of God (John 3:16); and in reading the words of 
John :21, resolved to break with all sinful behavior and, in the future, 
“to act according to the truth.” What is more, he weighed in detail the 
change in lifestyle and the costs that this step would demand of him.