I was listening to my sister Dee’s devotional on Acts chapter 9…specifically, Saul’s conversion. Before she started, she mentioned something that had happened earlier that day, which she regretted. While she was in a waiting room, she had a long conversation with a stranger, who lived in the same town in which she works. She said that they talked about all kind of things, but that every time the conversation started to turn toward God, the guy started on a new subject. She let the guy direct the conversation, and just followed where he led it. She later thought about it, and realized what a missed opportunity it was, how she wished she had talked to him about Jesus. Her story jabbed me in the heart just a little…well, maybe a lot.
I had a similar experience about 12 years ago, when I lived in Florida. I am not insinuating by any means, that I have not wasted many opportunities since then, but this is the one that breaks my heart every time I remember it. My best friend Ronda was living with us at the time. Those of you who know us well, know that she was quite sick. Her heart diseases were progressing along with other medical conditions. I had taken her to a new doctor and was sitting in the lobby for the duration of her visit. As I sat there, I noticed a lady around my own age, sitting there with tears streaming down her face. She was obviously upset and seemed heartbroken. I kept feeling that nudge to talk to her. If you are a Christian, you now what nudge I am referring to. The one where the Holy Spirit is trying to get your attention, and telling you to do something. The one we should never ignore. I sat there for over an hour arguing with the Lord. He would impress upon me to speak to her and share the grace, hope and peace I had found in Him. Instead, I came up with excuse after excuse. “She doesn’t want to be bothered.” “What if I upset her more?” What if I mess up or say something wrong?” I actually convinced myself that I knew her need better than God did. Soon enough, Ronda came out to the lobby and we left. All that lady got from me was a sad smile as I left the room. I can not even tell you, how badly I have been convicted of that. What a wasted opportunity, not only to share the gospel, but to be obedient. What an unnecessary burden I carry. I have asked God to forgive me, and I know that He has, but it doesn’t change the fact that I missed the chance to share the Light of the World, the Life Giving Water, the Hope for all mankind, with this individual in desperate need of the Good News. I have and continue to pray that the next person God sends her way will do what I would not.
I read a testimonial written by a VP on the SBNA Mission Board who also had a similar experience. He was upset to be sitting in a hospital emergency room and not out fishing as planned. He was angry, and kept himself occupied by playing a game on his phone. The ER was packed and a lady, who was sitting in a wheel chair crying, was placed beside him. He couldn’t help but overhear her phone conversation about the horrible accident she had been in. Her car had flipped and she was trapped for an extended period of time. She told how a couple of teens had stopped, and sat there talking with her and had prayed for her. She kept saying how she could have died. Even after she hung up the phone, she continued to sit there and weep. What a perfect opportunity to ask her if she knew what would have happened to her if things had turned out differently…if she had died. His lousy mood kept him from interacting with this banged up, hurting lady. Finally, he was able to go home, and guess what….his kids had an amazing story for him. A lady had flipped her car right in front of them, and they had stopped, stayed with her, and prayed for her until helped arrived. Wow!! God had put all these circumstances together so that he could share the gospel with her, and he ignored that chance. He said to this day, he still hurts when he thinks about that missed opportunity to share the love of God with this hurting individual.
I truly believe that we would be overcome with grief, if we knew of all the opportunities we miss out on every single day. Thankfully, God loves people way more than we do! Regardless of how someone looks, how they act, what the wear, or what they have done, Jesus died for them. He gave His life for all! What if Jesus ignored Zacchaeus? He was a hated tax collector and no one else would have given him the time of day, yet Jesus called out to him, and went to his home. Salvation came to Zacchaeus’ house that day. Luke 19:9 “Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”What about the woman at the well, who was living in sin. Jesus took the time to speak with her even though she was not a Jew, and she believed in him along with many others. John 4:39-41 “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers “. or demon possessed Mary, or the leaper, or any of the other thousands of people who came to Him during his ministry on earth? What about Saul, the persecutor of the church? Acts 9: 1-5 “Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ 5He asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The reply came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Because God loved Him and called him to Himself ,the gospel was spread throughout the world. What about Peter? Jesus knew he would deny Him, yet He still loved him and called out to him. Peter was used greatly to build the early church. Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” We may not see the value at the time, but who knows what all God can do with the life of someone we love enough to share Jesus with! When God says to speak, we need to speak. Take those opportunities to share hope with someone today!
Trusting Through Brokenness 