Who was the young man approaching my car in the parking lot of a business?
I was somewhat wary of him as he apologized for bothering me. Obviously embarrassed, he asked to use my cell phone. “I’ve lost my billfold and I need to phone my mother.” I hesitated, thinking it could be a scam. But eventually I handed him my phone. He stood beside my car and dialed a number. “Mom, I still can’t find my billfold. I found thirty cents in my car, and I’m going to buy gas with that to get home.”
As he thanked me for the use of my phone, the young man again apologized for disturbing me. As he turned to walk away, I pulled a five dollar bill from my purse and offered it to him, saying, “I give this in the name of Jesus.”
Surprised, because he hadn’t asked for money, he asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I replied. And once again I stated, “I give this in the name of Jesus.”
It was a simple way of witnessing, but I realized God could use my words to point the young man to Jesus, or if he was a Christian, to encourage him to grow in his faith. Some may believe I was naïve in giving the man five dollars, but I felt the leading of the Holy Spirit and followed.
Christians witness through the words and the actions we say and display. A smile or a friendly greeting may be what someone needs to encourage them when they’re having a bad day.
Wearing clothing and jewelry with Christian messages and placing bumper stickers on our cars can be good witnesses—but only if our words and actions correspond with them.
What do your words and actions tell others about you?
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Norma C. Mezoe strives to be a Barnabas in her writing and in her living. Norma has been a published writer for thirty years and has written for magazines, devotionals, and S.S. literature. She is active in her small church as clerk, teacher, and bulletin maker. Norma may be contacted at normacm@tds.net.