I was packing up yesterday afternoon to go home on my bicycle, when I noticed that the bike lock and cable had fallen off the carry-pack somewhere along the in-bound trip earlier that morning! I was totally unaware of when it fell off. I determined to re-trace my route, but I did one more thing: I prayed. (One’s spiritual return to God takes a similar path.)
That might seem a little strange. One might wonder if such a small thing is worth bothering God. I mean, isn’t God more concerned that the Earth is spinning properly, that the Sun is consuming its hydrogen fuel at a proper rate, and that Hurricane Edouard is not going to blow away the Louisiana—Texas coast? Doesn’t His heart go out to families who are in the process of watching their loved ones die? Isn’t He more concerned about the needs of the critically ill, or about providing a time of decision for the spiritually lost?
Uh, … yeah!
So, what’s a preacher’s bike lock to Him? It gave Him an opportunity to show His preaching son again the power of Jesus’ simple words, “And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (Jn. 14:13 – 14)
As I look at the VBS picture above, I am reminded of the Philippian Jailer Story. Of course God was concerned that His preaching sons had been beaten earlier in the day, and that they were hurting. Being imprisoned, however, gave them a chance to share the Gospel with other lost people as well, like their fellow inmates and, ultimately, the jailer and his family. These could possibly have been reached in no other way. God took a sorry situation and gained a great victory that night, as the jail was rocked open by a midnight earthquake.
God is concerned about lost things, but especially about lost people. He wants everyone to be saved! (II Pet. 3:9) I have prayed that our Lord would send the lost to us. He did so, with our VBS outreach. I have prayed similarly for our MCREST guests. I am doing so, for our upcoming Friend Day. God will provide; let’s be ready to share the Gospel, when they ask!
I found my lock-&-cable, by the way. It was laid neatly on a manhole cover, along my route, about a mile from my home.
|
