Oh, Father, I am worn out! We spent the day cleaning out and reorganizing our shed. I am spent! Bless our time together, may Your word be clear to all those that read!
********
His name was Bill. He wore a T-shirt with holes in it, ratty blue jeans, and never wore shoes; this had been his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He was esoteric and very, very bright, and had recently become a Christian while attending college.
Across the street from his campus was a well-dressed, very conservative church. One day, Bill decided he wanted to attend a church service and walked in the church’s front doors. The service had already started, and Bill made quite a spectacle as he walked down the aisle, looking for a seat.
Unfortunately, the church was completely packed on this particular day, and he couldn’t find a place to sit. By now, people were looking a bit uncomfortable by his presence, but no one said anything. Bill walked closer and closer to the pulpit and when he realized there was no place to sit, he squatted down and sat right on the carpet at the front of the church. (Although this might be perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, this kind of thing had never happened in this church before.)
The tension in the air was thick. Then, from way at the back of the church, an elder slowly began making his way toward Bill. This particular elder was in his eighties, had silver-gray hair, and always wore a three-piece suit. While known to be a godly man, he was also very elegant and very dignified. He walked with a cane and, as he walked toward Bill, everyone whispered among themselves, “You can’t blame him for what he’s going to do. How could you expect a man of his age and background to understand a college kid sitting on the floor?”
It took a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church was utterly silent except for the clicking of the man’s cane. All eyes focused on him. The minister couldn’t even begin preaching until the elder finished what he set out to do. Suddenly, the church saw the elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowered himself and sat down next to Bill; he was not satisfied that Bill might worship alone.
The congregation was overcome with emotion. When the minister gained control of himself, he said, “What I’m about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget. Be careful how you live; you may be the only Bible some people will ever read.”
1 John 4:11-12 (<<click here to read the passage)
Lord, reading this passage, the phrase “Be careful how you live; you will be the only Bible some people ever read.” came to mind – and the above story was a great example of living it out. Its truth is found in today’s passage of Scripture.
“Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.” NLT
What do people see when they look at me? When I speak, when I act, when they encounter me, do they just see me? Or does Your love find “full expression” in me? I realize that I am weak and far from perfect but nevertheless, You can use me to touch the world. 2 Corinthians 4:7 fits here, too.
“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” NLT
I, in my own strength and abilities, am powerless but with You filling me, Lord, I can live out Your love. May my life truly reflect Your presence within me. May I strive to be careful how I live; I will be the only Bible some people ever read. Amen.
(May 12th, 2017, Fri, 5:26 am)
May 29th, 2023, Mon, 7:09 pm
