A Heap of Burning Coals

So it’s confession time.

But it’s also a praise report for what God showed me so vividly this past Saturday.

It was my wife’s birthday so I wanted to take her to a nice breakfast. She didn’t care where we went, as long as it had a patio. She likes eating outside and so I quickly though of a local restaurant that has a nice patio area.

As we pulled up to the restaurant, I saw a group of men sitting at a table in the patio section. It appeared to be a business meeting as I saw at least one open laptop. I grumbled under my breath and got irritated because if there was even a table left, I was bugged because I figured my two year old son would be a distraction to their meeting. All I wanted was to have a nice, relaxing birthday breakfast for my wife and this group of guys was spoiling my plans!

So we walked to the restaurant and I was still irritated at what was going to await us. When we got inside, I told the host it was a party of three and we wanted to sit on the patio. At this point, I didn’t care if we disturbed their meeting because after all, this was Saturday morning and it was my wife’s birthday, darn it!

One of the waiters peeked out and said there was a table available but they’d have to clean it off. I thought to myself: “Get busy, buddy.” After a few minutes, our table was ready and we followed the host outside to the patio.

The gentlemen–I think there were about six or eight of them–were quietly discussing something but I didn’t pay any attention. I just wanted to get to our table and ignore them. I was hoping my son wouldn’t cause too much of a commotion at this point.

Then, God showed me what HIS plan was!

I don’t recall exactly what was said, but it had something to do with a church and . . . the Gospel! Yes, this group of men sitting at this table appeared to be pastors of a local church!

I was brought to tears as I told my wife how bad I felt that I would be that selfish. I told her that I was recalling that passage in Proverbs that went something along the lines of:

For you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you. –Proverbs 25:22.

I was the aforementioned head in this passage and I was being showered with burning coals! Shame on me, I told my wife for acting so wickedly!

After repenting of this, I thanked God for loving me so much that He would not let this behavior go unnoticed by Him. Thank you, Lord, for correcting me.

For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son who He receives. –Hebrews 12:6.

What about you? Has God disciplined you in an obvious way? What has been your experience?

May He Increase!