My wife and I took a road trip this past weekend to celebrate our anniversary.
There’s a gas station we usually stop at that has a coffee shop as well. Seeing as how it was going to be a long drive home, I decided to get a large coffee. By the time my transaction was completed, I was shocked that the clerk didn’t say a single word to me. Moreover, he didn’t even smile and barely even made eye contact.
For a while afterwards, I was really irritated at the poor customer service. But then as we drove home, I started feeling convicted for him: instead of being upset with him, why don’t I start praying for him? Seriously. I don’t know what’s going on in his life. Maybe he is under extreme pressure right now. In a word, I should have been filled with grace, not judgement.
If I assume that he was not yet a Christian, then he is in bondage to Satan and that should have been of utmost concern for me.
Then yesterday after church, we were meeting with my parents for lunch. On our way, I saw a truck in the inside lane preparing to make a left turn. The car behind honked at them for seemingly no reason at all.
I needed to make a left turn at the intersection coming up so I signaled and make the lane change well ahead of this honking car. As the older gentleman pulled up behind me, I saw him mouthing something. I had a sinking feeling as to what was coming.
Sure enough, as soon as the light turned green, he honked at me. As I made my left turn through the intersection, I looked in my rear view mirror in just enough time to see him give me the bird.
My heart sank.
Christians: we are at war against an enemy we cannot see with our eyes. The clerk was not my enemy. The driver who honked at me was not my enemy. Satan is our enemy.
Far too often we forget that we are in combat against the forces of darkness in this world. We shouldn’t feel comfortable in this world. We are in hostile territory that is opposed to the God we worship.
“The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.” –John 7:7.
I needed these reminders this past weekend not to be surprised at the bitterness of some. Instead, have a heart of grace, mercy and peace and pray for those who need the light of Christ in their lives.
Have you had experiences like this? What did you do and what was the outcome?
May He Increase!
Megan (1)
Awesome post Pastor Joe. This post rings close to my heart. For all of my life I have been about evening the score and not allowing the other person to get on me. Many times I was the person responding with road rage, flavorful word exchanges, and on some occasions, fights. This is something that has taken a huge toll in my life.
By the grace of God, I am now able to let those things go and I now feel the way you described above. Every now and then a little of my past will surface: however, the Lord always reminds me.
I had a friend in the past who use to always tell me “You need to work with people where they’re at.” What does this mean? I think you answered it in your blog.
Brother Paul! Thanks for gracing the blog with your post.
I know God is going to continue sending these types of situations my way until I “get it.” It’s amazing sometimes how often they arise and I continue to react the way I do. But God–it would seem–isn’t finished with us yet!
Thanks again for the visit.