Monday, February 29, 2016
I had an experience this past Saturday afternoon at a nearby car wash I won’t soon forget. A young lady, seemingly still in her teens, approached me as soon as I started the wash cycle offering to sell me a pair of flip flops and basketball jersey both with the Spurs logo for ten dollars. I thought about it for a few seconds and since I had no small change to offer, I told her “no thank you.” She, in turn, politely said “thank you” and walked away. Being the normal human reaction, I suppose most people would have done the same thing I did. As I continued going through the wash cycle, however, and as I saw the young lady slowly disappear in the distance, I finally realized what I had just done and confess that a few tears welled up in my eyes. I had failed to give her a word of hope. Here was a young lady in need, and I had failed to tell her that God had a better plan for her life, that she didn’t have to go around scrounging for a few bucks here and there. That most surely would have been better than the quick fix a few bucks may have provided her.
I prayed “Lord, if you give me another chance and bring her back, not only will I gladly give her the only 20 dollar bill I have, I will share the gospel with her and see how else I can help her.” I was not given that chance. I cried, not because I feared the Lord would punish me for that sin, for He is our loving, merciful Heavenly Father. I cried because I had failed to help the young lady. More importantly, I had failed Him.
Some may ask: “What sin, Brother Joe?” This one: James 4:17 says: “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” I pray that the next time the Lord presents me with a new opportunity to touch someone’s life, I won’t fumble the ball as I did this time. We hear people often adhere to the idea that we all learn from our mistakes and though I believe it, there is a much better option. In this case, don’t wait till you learn from your mistake; learn from mine.
Memory verse for the week: (Colossians 3:12) “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
