So I am new to this whole "blog" thing, but I guess I will just jump right in. First off, I am a follower of Jesus Christ (also known as a Christian - I prefer 'follower of Christ' though because too often people miss that actual concept of Christianity). Now, I'm not trying to be forward or boastful or anything, but in order for the rest of this blog to make sense, that is a necessary fact.
This summer I plan on going on a mission trip to Senegal, West Africa. My family isn't too keen on the idea, but I am going anyway. As much as I respect my family and their worrying about me, that is where I feel God leading me. Tonight has proven that. As I looked at pictures from a trip many of my friends just took to Senegal, I was overwhelmed with a sense of urgency. The people there may never hear of Jesus Christ if we do not go. I live in America, but that does not confine me to interacting with only people in this great country. Christians are called to spread to gospel to "the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). I take that to mean, if you are able, you should go where ever you possibly can. It may be dangerous at times, but Matthew 28:20 tells us that Jesus will "be with us always, to the very end of the age." Although I am not guaranteed safety, I do have peace because of that.
I have said all of that to say this, even with that sense of urgency and peace, I still have a lot to learn about what God expects from me. Tonight I was given a swift "kick in the butt" so to speak. Here's what happened (I'll explain after that)...
As I was driving to Sunday night church and sat at a stoplight, a homeless man carrying a sign walked past my car. The sign read, "Family trouble" or something to that effect. Usually I convince myself that people like him are only looking for money for alcohol and drugs, but for some reason I had trouble doing that tonight. The light turned green, and I continued on with my drive, not looking back. Two hours later I took the same route home. The man was there. After driving past him all I could think was, "what if he is going to Hell?" As church-y as that sounds, it's true...On with the story... As much as I like to think homeless people could get a job if they really wanted it, this guy seemed to be in real need. And remembering that I have been looking for a job for four months now and still have had no luck, I decided to help him out, food-wise anyway. I went home and packed up a few snacks in a plastic bag and was ready to head out the door when I saw my Bible on the table. God has that uncanny knack for reminding you what's really important...the food would sustain him for a little while, but what about eternity? It was just my luck that at the moment I desperately needed one of those mini-Bibles that people always hand out like pocket-change, I couldn't find one. After a few minutes of searching I simply typed up a piece of paper with a few verses on it and the address of my church and headed out the door praying that he would still be standing there (it was getting dark at the time).
As I pulled up to the corner where I saw the man, he was facing away from me walking back up the street to start his begging over at the front of the line when the light turned red. I stuck the package out the window and yelled, "Hey, this is for you!" When he turned around, it wasn't the man I saw earlier today. It was a man who has been in the area for more than six months. A man who once harassed me at a gas station for some money. For a second, and I hate to say this, but I thought about pulling the package back into my car and tell him to get a job instead. I didn't. It was like my arm was stuck outside my car and I gave him the food.
While driving back home I remember almost being angry at God. The first thing I said was, "It HAD to be him, didn't it, God? This total stranger was a complete jerk to me and I'm being nice to him." And then it hit me...I know right from wrong because I have the Holy Spirit living in me. This guy probably has no clue. That piece of paper with a few Bible verses on it could be the only bit of Jesus that man ever encounters. And I thought to myself, I am wanting to go to a foreign country... Just because it is foreign does not mean jerks do not live there too. And anyway, those so-called "jerks" may be the ones who God put me on this earth for. I can't just tell people I like about Jesus, even though that would be easy. As a follower of Christ, I am called to love all the same. Completely. New. Perspective.
I've always been told to love God, and love people...but that took on a whole new meaning tonight.
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