Becoming a Christian was the best thing that ever happened to me in my life, but it was very confusing at first. What would be expected of me? How am I suppose to behave? I had always understood Christianity to mean that I had to be perfect and sinless; if I wasn’t then I must not really be a Christian. As God began to take real situations in my life and open my heart to see the spiritual application, it changed my perception of Christianity. I realized that becoming a Christian meant that I could start a new life and begin a journey with God. This story is part of my early journey with God and what He taught me about being obedient.
For several months I had been without a job. I wasn’t really looking for one but I wanted to do something more productive with my life. I received a call from Naomi, the secretary at my church. She had a job offer and I accepted. I was on my way to fill out the papers to make it all official when I stopped to pick up a combo meal from the local burger joint. While waiting to order I decided to get two combos and take one to Naomi as a thank you. I had never been to lunch with her and I didn’t know what she liked, so I got hers the same as mine. I felt very proud of myself for doing something nice for someone else and could hardly wait to get to the church. About that time I remembered that sometimes a volunteer comes to help her. What if she was there and I didn’t get her anything, so I decided that I could give her mine. This meant that I would have to see if she was there before I ate any of my food or drank my soda. Just when I thought the problem was solved I wondered what I would do if they were gone to lunch or already had plans, then I would have extra food, and reheated burger and fries are gross. As I was dealing with this dilemma in my head, I saw a man on the side of the road in front of a convenient store. He looked to be barefooted and his clothes were old and worn. He had long blonde hair matted with dirt. I had never seen him before. I live in a fairly small town and it is uncommon to see people on the roadside like that but he was my answer. If they already had plans, I said to myself, then the extra food I could bring back to give to him. Again, just when all my problems were solved, God said, “Give it to him now.” “Wait, what, NO!” I exclaimed as I sped up, “I got that for Naomi.” And He said again, “Give it to him now.” “But Lord,” I said in disappointment, “I want to give it to Naomi, that’s who I bought it for.” He said, “Naomi is taken care of, I want him to have it.” By this time I was about a mile down the road. I turned around and headed back to the store with a whole new argument. “What am I going to say to him Lord? I don’t want him to think I am looking down on him. What am I supposed to say? ‘Here, you look like you could use some food’ or ‘The Lord told me to stop and give this to you.’ I don’t know what to say.” God said, “Don’t worry about what to say.” When I got back to the convenient store, I didn’t see him. I was afraid that I had argued with God too long. But, just as I was about to give up hope, there he was walking across the parking lot. I walked over to him calling “Sir”, and my eye was drawn to a couple in a car, they were looking at me as I walked toward him. I heard the man say, “Oh, I thought you were talking to me.” I turned my attention back to him and said, “Oh, yes sir, I was talking to you, I’m sorry…” I don’t know what I said after that. Something about a friend and extra food. He was following me to my car when I said, “It is only going to waste if someone doesn’t eat it.” I lead him to the passenger side and pulled a hamburger and fries out of the bag; I handed it to him along with a coke. I never looked at his face I only saw his hands. I watched him walk away struggling to carry everything. Then, a couple getting gas caught my eye, they were watching me, as I watch him. I didn’t look for him after that but he was headed for the back of the store. I got in my car and continued on my way, but I was only a few miles down the road when I realized that I did not give him a napkin. Then an avalanche of mistakes came rushing into my head. I didn’t give him ketchup, salt, or a bag! I had an empty bag sitting in the seat next to me that he could have used to carry his food. I didn’t need that bag; it was serving me no purpose. And how could I leave without telling him about Jesus! I didn’t tell him about the Lord! It was so hot that day I could have let him sit in the air-conditioned car to eat, then I could’ve shared Jesus with him. While I was beating myself up for all the wrongs I did, God said, “Thank you for being obedient, you did fine.” I always look for him when I pass that convenient store and remember the day I pleased God.
This story is one that I cherish because looking back I believe that I am the only one that saw the barefooted, long-haired man that I fed that day and God taught me a lesson in obedience. God didn’t ask me to share Jesus with that man, He didn’t ask me to give him a ride, or give him a napkin, bag, or condiments. God asked me to give him the food and told me not to worry about what to say, and that is what I did. Be careful that you are not too critical on yourself. Just obey God and enjoy your journey with Him.
Sharon Hoskins
“Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch” Luke 5:4. Jesus instructed Peter to cast his net into the deep for a catch. I was struck by how Jesus said “deep” as if Peter had been fishing in the shallow waters. I thought about myself before this week; had I been sitting in shallow waters hoping to make a catch? As Christians, it is easy to get comfortable with the depth of our knowledge, the depth of our relationship, and even the depth of our commitment and service. Many things can attribute to our comfort. We can be too busy with work and our kids activity schedule. We can be set in a routine and not willing to change. However, many times it is fear that keeps us from going deeper. Fear of what might be required of us. Fear of failure. Fear of a commitment. I know because I have let all of these fears keep me from going deeper at different seasons of my life. But, for five wonderful days in May 2016, I sought God’s face with a desire to launch into the deep. As a result, I found a deeper relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. No more shallow waters and no more fears. Take a risk to launch into the deep and let go of your fears, I promise God will not fail you.
