The picture so intrigued me that I kept the bulletin all these years; it was
dated Good Friday, March 29, 1991. The background is dark, and at the top of the
picture are thousands of snakes. In the foreground, there is a man dressed in
blue jeans, wearing a jacket, holding a hammer in his right hand, and
positioning a huge nail onto an open palm that is lying on a cross. There is a
giant snake coming towards him, and the man is looking directly at you.
Every time I gaze at this picture, it drives an arrow of truth into my heart. I
think of how I, by selfish actions, am continuously driving nails into the hands
of Jesus again and again.
Different circumstances that occur in our daily lives influence our actions by
the choices that we make.
While I was waiting in a check-out line at the grocery store the other day,
there was a woman in front of me who didn't have enough money to pay for her
groceries. She started to give back a couple of items to the cashier. When I
noticed this, I had a choice. Will I let this stranger continue, or should I
offer to pay the amount that she was short? I decided to tell the cashier to let
the woman take those items and that I would pay what she still owed. The woman
was very thankful, and she left. The cashier, too, was surprised and told me,
"What a nice thing to do!"
Matthew 5:16 – Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone
will praise your heavenly Father. (NLT)
It was after the fact that I realized that I had missed the opportunity to share
that I had done this out of love for Jesus. It was too late to let them know
that it is His Spirit that enables Christians to do good deeds towards other
human beings.
God continuously gives us opportunities to witness, and we are faced with
choices every day. Sometimes, choices are easily made, whereas at other times,
they are not so easy.
James 1:5-8 – If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to
you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your
faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as
unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people
should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided
between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. (NLT)
Did you have an opportunity to witness about God's love and didn't? What choice
will you make the next time?
Prayer: Lord God, You allow choices in our lives every moment, every day. Help
us to make the right decisions that would bring honour and glory to Your holy
name, always. Thank You for always being here for us. Amen.
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.