Apr
5
2019
Kingdom Conversations
Posted in Evangelism 4 Comments
We talk many Thursdays at the grocery store.
There is no department that he works in consistently.
He pushes things, pulls things, cleans things, and sorts things.
I can tell that he enjoys people.
I do not remember how we started to talk about books.
It was a few years ago.
He likes science fiction.
He also loves the Bible.
He seemed to make excuses for liking that genre while loving God’s Word.
He did not have to make excuses for me.
I love books.
God uses all sorts of things to help us contemplate Truth.
I saw him this day and he seemed a bit weary.
He was not his usual pleasant self.
We passed each other on the baking aisle.
He answered my, how are you doing today, question without his usual enthusiasm.
Enjoy the rest of your day, I said as I continued on.
God is good, I added.
Yes He is, he answered.
Wait a minute, he said, as he turned to walk back towards me.
He proceeded to tell me about what he is reading in his Bible.
Do you know when the first death was in the Bible? He asked me.
Before I could even answer, he told me.
It was when Adam and Eve sinned and God killed an animal to make a covering for them.
Right there in front of the brownie mix, he shared the Gospel.
Right there with people walking past us, he spoke of the death of a substitute.
As I moved my cart a few times so people could get by, he spoke of God providing a covering.
He spoke of lofty topics in the baking aisle.
I was reading in Isaiah 14 about the one who wanted to be like God, he continued.
Can you imagine anyone wanting to be like God? He asked perplexed.
I mean we want to be like Him: holy, righteous; that is not what Isaiah was talking about.
Imagine someone thinking they could be like God, he mused.
It was the most wonderful conversation.
The man knew his Bible.
Life has not always been kind to him, but God is good.
That is something he says often; it is something we proclaim when we talk.
I left the baking aisle, smiling.
I went to the organic section and saw a young woman who works there.
She is a single mom.
She is an incredibly hard worker.
After asking about her children, I asked the question I usually ask.
Did you find a church, yet?
She wants to find a church home; she wants to bring her children there.
I told her about a church that meets on Sunday nights.
That is right near me, she said.
I can do that; I can bring my kids.
They have a camp in the summer that I was thinking about sending them to, she added.
Look into it, I told her, I’m going to check in the next time I see you.
She told me that her own mother is close to my age.
I respect her as an adult and a mother herself.
I also talk to her like I would talk to my own children.
She actually likes that I check in with her.
I went down another aisle and heard her talking to a co-worker.
Yeah, she told me about a church that meets on Sunday nights.
I can do that, she said emphatically.
I think I will check it out.
Thank you, Lord.
I was smiling the rest of my shopping trip.
I was amazed at how God weaves together these conversations.
They are no ordinary conversations; they are Kingdom conversations.
I had a few more things to do after the grocery store.
As I was driving home, an exclamation mark symbol flashed on my dashboard.
I knew that symbol meant my tires were low.
I made a mental note to tell my husband.
I got home and unloaded the groceries from my car.
I thought I heard a noise as I was getting the bags.
I looked at the two tires on the drivers side but they were fine.
I walked around to the passenger side and the back tire was as flat as a pancake.
Thank you, Lord, I said again.
Except for the symbol, there was no indication that my tire was flat.
The car drove fine.
Nothing was wobbly or shaky.
God protected me.
He allowed me to get home.
He was gracious enough to allow the flat tire to be in my own garage.
I was so grateful.
I thought of my day.
I thought of the wonderful Kingdom conversations.
I thought about how many people would equate God’s protection with what I did.
That could not be more wrong.
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5:45)
I had the privilege of being part of wonderful Kingdom conversations.
My protection or lack of protection has nothing to do with anything I did.
My protection has everything to do with what God has done.
Works righteousness is a dangerous thing.
I do this so God has to do that.
Look at all I did for you, God; You owe me.
Did You hear what we talked about today, God?
There has to be points for all of that!
Nothing is further from the truth.
It is not about what I did.
It is all about what God has done.
It is about God’s Grace.
God’s amazing grace.
God’s tender mercy astounds me.
Even if I had a flat tire on a busy road, God is still good.
God’s goodness is not situational.
Gods goodness is constant; it is part of who He is.
I am so thankful for the two amazing conversations God allowed me to have.
I did not make points for those conversations.
They did not guarantee me ease and smooth sailing.
It is not about what I do or you do; it is only about what God has done.
God IS good ! It amazes me how He brings people together to have much needed conversations about His word, His truths. Praise the Lord
It amazes me, too, Linda!
God gets all the glory!
Gina
What a beautiful shopping experience.
Thanks Gina.
It truly was, Carol.
Only God could orchestrate something so lovely!
Gina