I’d like to share something that happened to me a while back.
I don’t want this podcast to be about me, but sometimes our testimony can help someone else who is going through something similar.
God hears our prayers.
I prayed that God would bring someone into my life that day who was in need. Someone I could talk to and share the gospel with. It was extremely cold out and I got in my truck and went to pick up my friend Stan for breakfast. On the way there I saw a homeless man with a backpack walking along the side of the road. The Holy Spirit was tugging at me to stop and offer him a hot meal and some conversation. But, I quickly decided that it wasn’t safe and maybe he was using drugs or maybe he had something illegal in his backpack. Maybe he had mental issues. I let my maybes overwhelm me and I drove on.
A little further up the road was another man with a backpack. What are the odds? I slowed down and I wanted to stop. I wanted to get out of my nice warm truck and talk to him. Everyone has a story and I wanted to hear his. But my maybes kicked in and the same fears rose up in my mind. I couldn’t even stop and talk to this man. Another wasted opportunity.
I was getting close to Stan’s house and on the side of the road was a man with a backpack carrying a cup of coffee. Well by now my mind had become programmed to rationalize everything away. So, he had a cup of coffee. No need for me to stop. He’ll be ok for now and I drove on.
Three times God gave me an opportunity and I wasted it.
Three times I had a chance to be kind and reach out to someone with the Love of Christ. Three times he knocked at my heart and I closed the door. I was denying Christ as the Holy Spirit tugged at my heart. In much the same way that Peter denied Christ three times. I could have let this experience crush me, but instead I used it to help grow my faith.
So what can we take away from my experience at that time? This is a short podcast but I’m sure you found many areas that were lacking.
The first thing that got the ball rolling was judging these men. When you judge someone you have already condemned them in your mind. By that very action, there is no way that you can approach anyone in a christ-like manner.
John 7:24 says “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
By passing judgment you have already created fear and doubt in your mind. Your judgment has become your stumbling block and it will hamper your ability to share the love of Christ with others.
Romans 14:10-13 really brings that message home and it says,
“Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.”
Coming out of our comfort zone is never easy.
Fear whether real or imagined can rule our lives. But, if our trust in Him is complete, there is no fear. Because we know that he will see us through.
Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
We are not walking alone.
We are going to be discouraged. We are going to say to ourselves, I could have done this better. But don’t dwell on your shortcomings. Learn from them and grow in Christ.
Deuteronomy 31:8 says, the Lord himself goes before you and will be with you . He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.
Love conquers all. When you’re reaching out to others love should be at the center of everything you do
1 Corinthians 16:14 says do everything in love.
1 John 4:18-19 There is no fear in love. But, perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love Him because he first loved us.
My Pastor always ends his sermons with a reflective question, “What do we have church? Seven days.” Seven days, what are you going to do with them?
As we get ready to close this podcast out I’d like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. I encourage you to use this Thanksgiving to reach out to those in need. Remember there is no fear in love. May God bless you and keep you safe always.