Yesterday was a long day at work - some tough moments and no real answers as I left for the day. On the way home, as I went through an intersection in a small town that I go through every day, I noticed an unusual sight for that area. On the street corner was a young man with a sign that said "Homeless - I will work for food". I've seen those signs before and they always tug at my heart. Sometimes I stop and give a few dollars I have in my pocket. Sometimes I just keep going and say a little prayer for the person. Yesterday, yesterday that was my undoing. I did not have ANY cash in my wallet and yet I kept hearing "I was hungry and you fed me" over and over in my head. So....there I am, continuing to drive towards home frantically wondering "do I turn around and go back and find a way to give the man food, do I keep going, WHAT DO I DO"? I literally am saying out loud (with tears running down my face) to God "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO - I NEED YOU TO TELL ME WHAT DO DO! WHY WON'T YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO?!!"
Truthfully, I still didn't hear exactly what He wanted me to do but I did feel a peace that if that young man is there again today, I will stop and I will try to help. Yesterday, though, it was acceptable for me to keep going. More importantly though, in a moment, this is what I knew: God will never remember and chastise me for failing to stop and help that young man - that's what grace is all about. That's what it means when it says my sins (if it was a sin) are removed as far as the east is from the west. God will NEVER remember that. Being obedient, going that extra mile, helping someone will only allow God to "reward" me one day. It might add a jewel to my crown but it won't take one away. That is a picture of grace that will stay with me for a very long time.
No comments:
Post a Comment