Sarah asked me to write a post "all about my life" ... but, due to your interest and my time, how about I spare you and just give one situation instead? :)
As for a lot of you around here, Wednesday is our "errands day" and this particular week the bank was first on the list. I had been in a really cheerful, happy mood all day and cashing my paycheck certainly didn't hurt my moral any! After being called to the counter, the man helping me out asked how I was doing (wonder how many times he asks that in one day!). "Great!" I replied, and said something about it being a wonderful week. I think he was a little taken back by my answer, probably because everyone around me seemed to be having a depressing day (maybe their paycheck wasn't what they wanted :) ). After keying in a few numbers to pull up my account, he asked me why I felt it had been a good week-- why I was so joyful. I felt an instant heart freeze-- I had an opportunity to tell him of the joy of the Lord and only about 3 minutes to witness... but it was one of those times where no verses, no words came to mind to lead in to talking about salvation... I missed my opportunity. It's one thing to jump right in to taking about the Lord to a fellow Christian, but when you're introducing the very idea of an actual communicative relationship with Christ and trying to explain the resulting joy in a way that's not confusing with all the words we're familiar with in our "Christian circles"... that has to be something you've already prepared.
All week his question has been plaguing my mind. 1 Peter 3:15 says,
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you...
How would you have answered him? Why are you joyful? I should have been prepared to take that small opportunity as a divine appointment and share with him the joy only a personal relationship with Christ can bring. Part of a Christian's testimony is his or her attitude on the commonest of days-- an attitude that should not draw attention to oneself by flirting, or silliness, not bring others down by being rude or depressing, but one that brightens the room and brings glory to the name of Christ: joy! We are surrounded with people who are looking for peace, looking for joy, looking for love. The way we handle ourselves in simple, ordinary situations like a stop at the bank is enough to prick the curiosity of others.
We should be prepared to
explain our joy
and to
share it with others.
"My yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Proverbs 10:30
Labels: FOOD FOR THOUGHT
