Please, Don't Shoot The Messenger!
“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
Matthew 28:18-20
It was 2:00 a.m. in the morning when an email arrived from a friend of mine who could not sleep. He was so excited about an encounter he had earlier that day he just had to share it. He wrote to tell me how the Lord led him to a hamburger stand where he and his wife ordered dinner and in the process he encountered a young girl who was hungry and asked my friends if they could buy them a plain hamburger and nothing else. Going the extra mile my friend asked if she would like some fries too and the young girl a little surprised by the offer said yes and then my friend asked further, would you like a Pepsi too? By this time the young woman realized she was standing before someone who genuinely cared and she dropped her guard and said yes as the tears she had been crying ceased and the frown she was wearing turned upward towards heaven and became a smile. Isn’t it amazing what a simple act of human kindness can do.
After my friend placed the order he decided to strike up a conversation about life and as he did the girl looked down at a young man who was seated on the curb near by and as my friend approached he noticed two things right away. First, the young man had a plastic Rosary necklace hanging from his neck with a white Cross and a plastic figurine of Jesus next to it and second, in his lap was a .45 caliber hand gun.
Staying calm my friend asked for forgiveness for enquiring but he couldn’t help but notice the Rosary beads and wondered if the couple knew what the Cross was all about and what it stood for. The young man said ‘no’ so my friend began to share Jesus with them and then walked back to his truck to retrieve some tracks he had there and returned gave them to the couple and then began sharing the love of Christ with this couple as they waited for their food to be prepared.
Oblivious to what was going on around them my friend failed to notice the handful of Sheriff cars that had pulled behind him but very quickly he picked up on the anger of a voice coming that said, “All three of you there sitting together, raise your hands up NOW!” As my friend looked up from where he was sitting on the curb there were now at least a half-dozen sheriff deputies with weapons drawn and pointed directly at him. His thought was, “Please don’t shoot the messenger” as all he was attempting to do was share the love of Jesus with a needy couple.
After further investigation the sheriffs determined my friend was just a “good Samaritan” just trying to help and as he shared with the sheriff that he was sharing Christ with the young couple the sheriff who had been using some pretty foul language himself during the encounter said to my friend that he was a Christian too and that my friend shouldn’t be talking to people “like this”. My friend, a little perplexed by the Sheriff deputies response said, “aren’t we suppose to share Jesus with everyone?”
The Sheriff released my friend to go and as he walked away he looked back and yelled to the couple who were still be held by the sheriff, “Remember what I told you about Jesus!” The couple said, both wearing a big smile now responded, “Thank you for telling us!”
My friends story reminds me of another story we read about in Matthew 9:10-13 where we read of the heart of not just evangelism but also the heart of ministry, period. Beginning in verse 10 we pick up the story, “Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
I remind our church family often that we are all broken people, living in a broken world among other broken people so finding people to minister is never difficult to do if you really desire to share the love of Jesus with hurting people. The question that begs to be asked in a world starving for hope is will we allow God to use us to accomplish His work.
Everyone who has been saved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross is chosen to be an extension of His love and grace in the world, His hands and feet as it were. Walk with God today, allow Him to use you today, loved one. Reach out in love to someone in need today and watch how God can use you to turn despair into hope, a frown into a smile!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
I LOVE YOU!
Matthew 28:18-20
It was 2:00 a.m. in the morning when an email arrived from a friend of mine who could not sleep. He was so excited about an encounter he had earlier that day he just had to share it. He wrote to tell me how the Lord led him to a hamburger stand where he and his wife ordered dinner and in the process he encountered a young girl who was hungry and asked my friends if they could buy them a plain hamburger and nothing else. Going the extra mile my friend asked if she would like some fries too and the young girl a little surprised by the offer said yes and then my friend asked further, would you like a Pepsi too? By this time the young woman realized she was standing before someone who genuinely cared and she dropped her guard and said yes as the tears she had been crying ceased and the frown she was wearing turned upward towards heaven and became a smile. Isn’t it amazing what a simple act of human kindness can do.
After my friend placed the order he decided to strike up a conversation about life and as he did the girl looked down at a young man who was seated on the curb near by and as my friend approached he noticed two things right away. First, the young man had a plastic Rosary necklace hanging from his neck with a white Cross and a plastic figurine of Jesus next to it and second, in his lap was a .45 caliber hand gun.
Staying calm my friend asked for forgiveness for enquiring but he couldn’t help but notice the Rosary beads and wondered if the couple knew what the Cross was all about and what it stood for. The young man said ‘no’ so my friend began to share Jesus with them and then walked back to his truck to retrieve some tracks he had there and returned gave them to the couple and then began sharing the love of Christ with this couple as they waited for their food to be prepared.
Oblivious to what was going on around them my friend failed to notice the handful of Sheriff cars that had pulled behind him but very quickly he picked up on the anger of a voice coming that said, “All three of you there sitting together, raise your hands up NOW!” As my friend looked up from where he was sitting on the curb there were now at least a half-dozen sheriff deputies with weapons drawn and pointed directly at him. His thought was, “Please don’t shoot the messenger” as all he was attempting to do was share the love of Jesus with a needy couple.
After further investigation the sheriffs determined my friend was just a “good Samaritan” just trying to help and as he shared with the sheriff that he was sharing Christ with the young couple the sheriff who had been using some pretty foul language himself during the encounter said to my friend that he was a Christian too and that my friend shouldn’t be talking to people “like this”. My friend, a little perplexed by the Sheriff deputies response said, “aren’t we suppose to share Jesus with everyone?”
The Sheriff released my friend to go and as he walked away he looked back and yelled to the couple who were still be held by the sheriff, “Remember what I told you about Jesus!” The couple said, both wearing a big smile now responded, “Thank you for telling us!”
My friends story reminds me of another story we read about in Matthew 9:10-13 where we read of the heart of not just evangelism but also the heart of ministry, period. Beginning in verse 10 we pick up the story, “Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
I remind our church family often that we are all broken people, living in a broken world among other broken people so finding people to minister is never difficult to do if you really desire to share the love of Jesus with hurting people. The question that begs to be asked in a world starving for hope is will we allow God to use us to accomplish His work.
Everyone who has been saved by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s Cross is chosen to be an extension of His love and grace in the world, His hands and feet as it were. Walk with God today, allow Him to use you today, loved one. Reach out in love to someone in need today and watch how God can use you to turn despair into hope, a frown into a smile!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
I LOVE YOU!
Recent
Archive
2021
2020
January
February
March
Why We Can Be FriendsBe What You Want Other's To BeThere Is A Song In Your HeartThe Afterward of FailureWhy God WhispersDon''t Worry, Be Happy!I Can See Clearly NowI'm In It For The Long HaulTrade In Your Fears For PeaceDaddy Hold YouThe EndA Guy Can't Just Sit AroundThe Birthday Boy!Worry Never WorksPromises PromisesTwenty Inches From BlissFit From HomeThe Silver Lining of SufferingThe Gift of PainDo Not Be Afraid
April
Two Tickets To ParadiseI'll Trade YouNo Substitute For TrustOur Greatest NeedHope DispensersYour Finest HourDreams Do Come True!How To Survive A PandemicFeeling ChippieThe Good In Good Friday!The Dark Before The DawnHow Stars Are BornOne A Day, And Leap Year Too!Please, Breathe On MeYou Can't Afford To WorryChristmas In AprilAre You Jesus?Comfort FoodSocial DistancingNew NormalThe Beauty of SelflessnessThrive Not SurviveDon't Ask Why Ask WhatEmpty Is GoodI Miss Your FaceGet Out Of Jail Free
May
Marriage IS WorkYou Are EssentialThe DestinationCourage Looks Like LoveLive The AmenRelentlessYou're Never AloneOpen For BusinessYour're ContagiousGod's Got Big EarsHigher EducationA Season, A Reason, A LifetimeTo Grope Is DopeYou PickWomen Like GodMaking A DifferenceOne Way LoveBlessed To BlessPeople God Uses
June
How To Defeat RacismDon't Be An AnimalJesus IS The AnswerBefore Not AfterDreams Do Come True!ImagineTell It Like It Can BePeace MakersHold OnThe Name Above ALL NamesThe Real You!Don\'t Lose Your PassionA Tale of Four Father\'sJust Do It For Jesus!IfIn or Out?Stay FocusedPriorities MatterGod's Green Thumb
July
August
Whistle While You WorkDon't Worry, Be Happy!Holy Moly, Just Look At You!You Can Do Hard ThingsJoy Is On The Way!Why Not Me?What's Your Backstory?ForgivenessJesus Is Our RainbowJesus In, Jesus OutThe 7 Factors of FriendshipBecause of YouLord, Teach Me To PrayHopeless End or Endless Hope?The Stress RelieverDefining MomentsA Supernaturally Scheduled DayWho's In Your Boat?
September
Hang In There 5 Minutes More!You Can Do It!What You See is What You GetMountains Were Made To ClimbLet Go, Let GodThe Third OptionWhat Will You Be?Better Than New!You Are A Best Seller!Heaven On EarthPray, Don't PreyTo love Is To ObeyIf I Could Live My Life Over AgainLet It Shine!Need A Hug?A Beautiful MessRun Through The TapeCause and EffectLife Is The PitsJust Say Yes
October
How To Have A RevivalLord, Teach Us To PrayBroken and BeautifulWhy God WhispersDig DeepThings Are Not As They AppearChildlike FaithGreat JobWhat On Earth Am I Here ForSafe In God's HandYou Be JesusYou Never Have To Advertise A FireRetraining ElephantsMission PossibleGo Nuts Today!Don't Hide The CracksOne Step AheadWho's Your Caddy?THINKPeter's Favorite PsalmFound Together
November
Success Through FailureNo FearAgainst All OddsGod Works For You But Not For YouThe Worship of TearsThank God For FleasHow To Thank A VeteranSoar Like An EagleOne Out Of TenHow To Get Through A StormCling OnKeep SwingingChoose Winning!The BlessingLessons From My Washing MachineHow To Put Happy Into Your ThanksgivingWe Exist To AppreciateThe Gift That Keeps On Giving
December
Peace On EarthHope In The DarkLessons From Long LinesHe's Making A List And Checking It TwiceKeep Rolling!You Have A ReservationWhen Heaven Met EarthThe Great Gift ExchangeA Thrill of HopeThe Real DealThe Perfect GiftFace Your FearsWinning Over WorryStability From A StableThe "awe" of HeavenJoy That LastsMessage From The MangerChristmas In Three WordsLook Up Not ForwardJust Because
2019
February
Heavenly RemindersThings Are Not Always As They AppearZihuatanejoSatisfied Wanting MoreGet In The Game!Always The Nails, Never The HammerA Four Footed EnemyAll InWhat's Love Got To Do With It?Lessons From A LeperLessons From A Former LeperNo MatchYour Mess Is Your MessageLessons From Your GPS"Ooooo ooooo ohoohohoo"Jesus MarveledShe Walks In BeautyShaken or Stirred?Bring The Rain
March
I Can't Love You AnymoreThe Gift of AttentivenessWha't Outside Your Tent?I'll Carry YouIt’s Worth The PainWorship On The BrainA Door of HopeGet Busy LivingHow Knowledge Becomes Power Please Do Not DisturbNew Normal5 Minutes LongerOur Conquering KingA Matter of PerspectiveAge Old WisdomFaith Your FearsThe Best Day Of Your Life… Starts Now!Who Grace Looks LikeHow To Have Lifetime JoyTo Know You Is To Love YouMistaken Identity
April
Life After The End Of The RopeLet's Get RealWhy God Made MountainsForgive And ForgetLoving You Is EasySweetly Broken Keep The Main Thing The Main ThingKnow God Know PeaceWisdom Never Gets OldOut of the WhirlwindMonday: A Pure and Holy PassionTuesday: The Passion Of JesusThe Passion Week: WednesdayJesus Love From Head To ToeFriday: The Passion JesusThe Ta-da of HeavenWhat's The World Coming To?A Love InvasionThe Gift of YouI'm With You AlwaysHow Is Your Balance?Bring The Rain
May
In Regards To HeavenHope WinsIshteeLove Is A VerbFinishing WellYour New Favorite BookGod Has No GrandchildrenCrossing GuardsYou Were Made For MomentsLiving Like A Rock StarA Wonder Filled DayLess is MoreAll Washed UpIf Your Child Goes Astray... Pray!Like Parent Like ChildBring Back The KingWith God You ARE The MajorityJesus IS EnoughWe Will RememberYou Are Stronger Than You ThinkEscape ArtistsYou Can't Back Into Your FutureThe Worship of Tears
June
For HankGod's 'GPS'A Friend Like YouDesire Discipline DelightDesire, Discipline, DelightYou Be JesusYour WorthA Living Love StoryThe Gift of GraceThe Power of AmenA Dad For All SesonsStuck On YouJust OneI Hope You DanceIt's Your Turn To ShineGlorious Day!Ancient Social MediaA Door of HopeLiving Like JesusPlease, Don't Shoot The Messenger!
July
Flawed Instruments Glorify GodHelp Is On The WayMay You Always Remain As You Are TodayOne Nation Under GodDivine AppointmentsDon't Trip Over Your PastWho's Counting?ShineLove Is A VerbBig Shoes To FillYou Never Have To Advertise A FireLet The Walls Fall DownOne Small Step, One Giant LeapOur God Rocks!Stirred To ActionThe Power of LoveTo Know Him Is To Love HimJesus Loves Pizza
August
September
October
Broken and BeautifulIn The Hands of The PotterRecognitionExtraordinarily OrdinaryBonded By A BonfireColor EverywhereWords To Live ByThe Best of MeJust Say YesChoose HappyThe Best Weekend Ever!Three Yet OneJust KISSGame ChangerHow To Beat An Escape RoomIt's What's Inside That CountsWhen Longer Isn't Long EnoughThe Whisperer
November
The Healing Power of a HugA Work In ProgressThe Best Day of Your Life Starts... NowYou Have Beautiful EyesLord, Teach Me To PrayFive Star FaithDebt Free LivingWhen Close Isn't Close EnoughHave I Got Something Just For You!Perfect In Any LightYour Strength Is Your WeaknessIt's Only A TestYou're Living An Adventure
Slow The PaceThe Art of AppreciationLasting MemoriesBlack Friday Saved My Life
Categories
no categories