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Listen while you read: "Lord Speak To Me"1 (Lyrics) |
Hebrews 13:1-2 – Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. (NKJV)
I suspect that many lay people who "labour in the Lord's vineyard", both in and out of church, may never know who they have touched or how they have touched them. I was one of those fortunate enough to find out that I had, indeed, touched somebody positively, and the effect on me will never be forgotten.
I convene the men's coffee hour in our church every Wednesday morning from 10:00 until about 11:15 a.m. Attendance is between five and eight men. I brew up gourmet fair trade coffee beforehand, and when we're all assembled, good fellowship follows, with good conversation on just about any subject. At some point during the conversation, I interject with a brief devotional — sometimes one from the PCCweb Daily, sometimes one from another source, sometimes one that I have cobbled together myself. This always includes a few verses of Scripture and a brief prayer embedded within or added to the devotional. After the devotional, conversation resumes. I always hope that it would resume around the devotional just read, but this rarely happens. That's all right. I realize that there are some things in this life — like my effect or that of the Spirit on others — that I may never know. I nevertheless continue to "plug along" from session to session in the hope that I may, somehow, in the end, make a difference for our Lord. But I accept that I may never really know, and I am content with this fact.
There was one occasion, however, when I did get to know. While we men converse in one room, in the adjacent choir room, the lady who is our Minister of Music and Choir Director selects and practices hymns and an anthem for choir practice on Thursday evenings and for the upcoming Sunday. On this particular occasion, the doors to both rooms were open, and she heard the devotional. I have long forgotten what it was, but the important thing was the reaction of this deeply Christian woman. She told me how sincerely touched she was by the reading. I was startled, then thrilled, then humbled, in that order. I found it thrilling and deeply humbling to think that our Lord had used me to touch someone I knew in a positive way, and that He had thought fit to let me know it. I began to realize that this might be a privilege not granted to everyone and that I might not experience it again.
On reflection, though, I am probably flattering myself to think that my experience is unique to me. Surely other fellow-travellers have had the same experience. But for those who have and for those who have not alike, what should our continuing response be? The answer is to continue as we've begun, only more so. Who knows, we may be entertaining angels!
Colossians 3:23-24 – And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. (NKJV)
Prayer: Dear Father, use us — use us in any and every way You see fit, for Your glory, for the profit of Your kingdom, and for the salvation of others. We ask this humbly in the name of our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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