One day this week as I was listening to Revive our Hearts, I heard Nancy make a statement about the Christian who thinks they can “go it alone.” This is the person who isn’t faithfully connected to a local body of believers. She stressed the importance of being actively involved, supporting and being supported by the fellow believers there. My heart fully agreed!
Wednesday night in prayer meeting I was met with one reason we need the fellowship of other Christians. I heard three dear ladies in our church stand and give testimonies about opportunities to share the Gospel this week – one was in a store and chatted with a customer, one on her job at the hospital, and the last talked with a man over the phone – a stranger dealing with bank business! As I sat and listened to their testimonies my heart was stirred with the desire to be used of God in that way. I know the Lord has brought those opportunities my way, but I’ve been distracted by my own busyness or the task at hand and missed them. I came home determined to ask God to open an opportunity for me, then to look for it!
As I had my prayer time this morning I said, “Lord, help me to be faithful to you today and to see the opportunity to witness and not let it slip past me.” As I went to the grocery store I was looking. I was at Ingles and it was early afternoon and the store was relatively quiet. I was nearing the end of shopping when I remembered that I needed to go to the produce department and talk with one of the workers. The week before I had accidentally dropped my pen down into the case holding the corn on the cob! The produce worker had told me he would clean the cases and keep my pen for me. However, when I asked another gentleman about it, the pen had not been retrieved.
“Oh, I’ll come back later”, I said. This young man kindly answered, “No, you go finish your shopping. It will only take me a minute. I’m happy to get it for you!” I watched him go get a cart and begin unloading the produce on that stand. I went on my way to get my last few items, thinking about how kind he was and how grateful I was that my nice pen would be in my purse again! The Lord quickly brought to my mind that the kindest way I could thank him would be to share the Gospel with him.
As I made my way back to the produce stand the worker looked up at me, pulled a Cross pen from his shirt pocket and asked, “Is this what you lost?!” Indeed it was, and I thanked him for his kindness and told him how much I loved shopping in their store because everyone was always so helpful. Then I said, “You’ve been so kind to me, let me share something with you.” I handed him a tract that says, “Will you go to heaven when you die?” I said, “This is even better than finding a lost pen, because it holds the Truth about how to be sure you can go to heaven. This is the best news there is.” “Yes, you’re right,” he said. “Thank you!”
I pray that he took the time later to read through it, and that he will trust Christ if he isn’t saved. I’ll be back in that store in the near future and I’ll be praying for an opportunity to ask him what he thought about what he read. I walked away knowing that this was God’s appointment and that He had given me this sweet opportunity to share about my Savior.
I wonder if I would have been looking for that chance if I hadn’t been challenged by those sweet ladies at church? I doubt it. I would have been on a mission – my mission instead of God’s. So thank you, Linda, Sue and Ethel for being faithful to witness and for sharing your testimonies at church. God used you in my life! I also say, thank you, Lord, for the Church – what a blessing it is! I wouldn’t make it as a Lone Ranger Christian!
Praying you’ll be in a Bible believing church this Sunday,
One day this week as I was listening to Revive our Hearts, I heard Nancy make a statement about the Christian who thinks they can “go it alone.” This is the person who isn’t faithfully connected to a local body of believers. She stressed the importance of being actively involved, supporting and being supported by the fellow believers there. My heart fully agreed!
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It is not just in church that we can be reminded and challenged. I love reading testimonies on blogs that are uplifting.
Keep those good posts coming.
Carol FLett
http://www.godleadsusalong.com
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Excellent post, Denise! We weren’t meant to “go it alone”. This post was linked to at the bottom of today’s “Peek from My Porch” and I just had to check it out. We all know “Lone Ranger Christians” — but God’s intent is quite different. Thanks so much for sharing this. I think I need to find time to browse your archives. There is so much encouraging help here.
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Thanks for being a part of the non-Lone Ranger Club and being an encourager! I so appreciate you reading and sharing your heart!
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