I did a funeral service the other day and we did it in a church with friends and family but afterwards we were to go to the cemetery for a family only committal service. They have a large family, and it made it easier for the whole group to be alone together that way. I finished the service at the church and invited the folks attending to come to an area inside where they could visit with the family before we left. It was a friendly group, and people were talking about the wonderful person we were remembering. I greeted people for a while but decided that I might as well head out to the cemetery and make sure all was well and be there to greet the family before our short service. I was dressed in my usual funeral clothes of white shirt and tie and my black clerical robe. I figured I had a lot of time, and I was thirsty as I got in my car, so I decided to stop in at McDonald’s to grab my favorite diet coke. I do that a lot, so it just seemed like any other run to Mac’s to grab a soda. I drove up in the drive-thru and held out my money and when the young lady finally turned to take it, she looked at me and just stared for a moment and without taking my money just said slowly, “Who are you…?” I’ve never been asked that question in the drive-thru, and she went and said again slowly “What are you doing?" And without missing a beat, I just said, “Well, right now I’m doing a funeral!” That didn’t seem to help…and I tried to explain why I was dressed the way I was and that I was in the middle of a funeral…yeah…she just kind of smiled. I thanked her and just gave her a cheery “Goodbye, see you next time!” I am
so used to going through that drive through I didn’t even think about how people might look at me. But later I thought about that question…what if people asked you today “Who are you? And then, “What are you doing?" Would you be able to say “I am a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ? And then answer that I’m out here doing my best to love God and love the people around me? To receive Christ means to trust him for salvation, to believe in His name and to follow him in obedience. It isn’t just knowing facts about Jesus or admiring his teachings. Receiving him involves personal commitment to him as the only Lord and Savior and only then becoming a child of God. And the job is pretty much each day just making God look good! So, if that’s you, get ready to let them know. And if it isn’t you, remember…with a heartfelt prayer, you can change all that in a moment before the day’s over! Here’s our Bible verse for today…
John 1:12-13 NLT But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (13) They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
Remember I'm praying for you,
PJ
so used to going through that drive through I didn’t even think about how people might look at me. But later I thought about that question…what if people asked you today “Who are you? And then, “What are you doing?" Would you be able to say “I am a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ? And then answer that I’m out here doing my best to love God and love the people around me? To receive Christ means to trust him for salvation, to believe in His name and to follow him in obedience. It isn’t just knowing facts about Jesus or admiring his teachings. Receiving him involves personal commitment to him as the only Lord and Savior and only then becoming a child of God. And the job is pretty much each day just making God look good! So, if that’s you, get ready to let them know. And if it isn’t you, remember…with a heartfelt prayer, you can change all that in a moment before the day’s over! Here’s our Bible verse for today…
John 1:12-13 NLT But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (13) They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
Remember I'm praying for you,
PJ