I am in Wal Mart a lot.
I don’t guess I am particularly bragging about it, but you have to admit some pretty interesting things happen within the confines of the Wal Mart walls. Last week I was doing my weekly grocery run and found a check out lane that was not full. Normally all the checkers at our local store are very friendly and always seem somewhat happy to be there. However, on this day the checker that I found myself with obviously was not happy. Usually I speak and try to lighten the mood but, on this day, I decided to wait her out. She didn’t acknowledge me in any way. No smile, no greeting, nothing. I was intent upon seeing just how long this cold treatment could last when the woman in line behind me said “I really like your top.” I had to think for a minute what I had on and I realized that I was wearing a top that said “Ya’ll Need Jesus”. I thanked her and she said, “I love Him as well.” We began a conversation sharing with one another just how important Jesus was to us and I found these words coming out of my mouth. “There are so many unhappy people in this world and I just wish that they could experience the happiness from knowing Jesus.” And then it hit me! The checker was listening intently to the conversation and there was not a smile on her face. If anything, the scowl had grown more intense. I put the grocery bags in the cart, told the woman I was visiting with that I had enjoyed our conversation and I left. Then it hit me as I was pulling out of the parking lot. We were perfectly happy with sharing with each other about the Jesus that we knew, but never once shared our Jesus with the checker.
The Holy Spirit has dealt with me harshly all this week. The scripture Romans 10:14 keeps ringing in my ears. It says “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?”
Missed opportunities. We all have them. In the past week I have imagined the smile that the woman could have on her face had I stepped up to the challenge and just shared my Jesus with her in a more personal way.
I want to share a picture with you that Sid took of Rahem, one of our boys from Faith Home, on the day that he was baptized. I am not going to say anything about the picture because as they say a picture is worth a thousand words.
Rahem is one of many lives that have been changed because of Jesus and because someone listened and responded to the call.
As a result of that call they were not afraid to look at someone and say “Ya’ll Need Jesus!”
