Earlier today on Bellshill Salvation Army Band’s Facebook page I shared the devotions I shared at band practice last night. I’d like to share those devotions with you tonight.
Last week I went to a cafe to get a coffee. I have known the woman who served me for a number of years, so we usually chat while she’s serving me – this particular day was no different.
Once she’d made my coffee, I paid for it and she stamped my loyalty card. I thanked her and said I’d see her later, and went to go. Just as I was about to leave the cafe, she shouted after me, “Thanks. Save me later”. I turned, just as she started laughing, apologised and then said, “There’s no way I want to be saved”! That took me by surprise.
I was about to go back and ask the woman more, but there were a number of others waiting to be served in the cafe, and she had quickly turned from me, and started to serve them. As she started serving the next person in the queue, she laughed with them about what she’d said to me, and I heard her then saying,”Why would anyone want to save me, as I’m not into all that religious stuff!”
Wow! I was caught out and was lost for words. I had to take a moment or two to compose myself before I carried on my way. I’ve found myself thinking about that ‘encounter’ a number of times. As I mentioned, I have known the woman in the cafe for many years, but to be honest, I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned during our conversations that I am a Christian and a member of the Salvation Army. So I don’t know if her response to me worried her in some way, because she remembered I am a Christian, or if it was simply a coincidence how she tried to laugh off her comment.
In Mark’s gospel Jesus tells us to
Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all.
Mark 16:15 (The Message)
Since that day last week, I’ve challenged myself – should I have said something as soon as the woman said, “Save me later”? Should I have tried harder to try and speak to her either then or later when no-one else was around? But what would I have said, as I’m not the best at expressing my faith verbally (unless I’ve prepared something in advance), or for that matter, verbally communicating with others in general.
God instructed us to be his witnesses, to go out into the world, and share the gospel with those who don’t know or accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. It’s a difficult task though isn’t it! If my ‘encounter’ in the cafe is anything to go by, we have a huge challenge ahead, as many will put up barriers, and give all sorts of reasons why they can’t or won’t be saved, or they will simply state that they don’t want to be saved. I therefore challenge each of us to consider whether we are doing all we can, to be an effective witnesses for God.
God needs us to be his witnesses!
The Distinct Dot 