Hey! You Can't Do That!
Hebrews 13:16 "Make sure you don't take things for
granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with
others. God takes particular pleasure in acts of worship -- a different kind of
"sacrifice" -- that take place in kitchen and workplace and on the streets."
(MSG)
At a grocery store in our town, the shopping carts are locked together, but
inserting a quarter releases a cart. When we are done, we put the cart back and
we get our quarter back. Many times when we are done, people will approach us
before we get the cart back, give us their quarter, and take our cart. On this
particular day as I was returning the cart to the storage area, a lady
approached me. At first, I did not hear her ask for the cart. Just as I was
about to put the cart into the row, I heard her say again, "I can take that
cart."
I immediately turned and said, "Here you go."
As she went to pass me the quarter, I said, "No, that's okay."
Her reply was, "Here", and she tried to hand me the quarter.
Again I said, "No, that's okay."
Her reply was, "Hey! You can't do that!"
I was about to take the quarter to avoid upsetting her, when out of my mouth came, "I was bought by a price, and He came for all who want to receive Him, so please take my cart as a blessing to you."
We spoke a bit more, and
then, she took the cart, and I left minus a quarter but with a great personal
blessing.
We know we are to spread the good news of Jesus. At times, we know what we need
to say to people, and then there are the times when we least expect it that He
gives us the words and speaks into someone's life. I have no doubt that the Lord
wanted to speak into this lady's life, and He used me in this moment. I also
recognize again how important it is to hear His voice or feel His prompting.
When I had left home that morning, I had not planned to be at the grocery store
at that time, but felt something prompting me to go there as my first errand and
not the second, as I had planned.
Philemon 1:6 - I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you
will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. (NIV)
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that Your timing is always perfect. Help us to have
more of those moments when we can be vessels to shed Your light into someone's
life. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Julie Bowles julieanni@rogers.com
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca