He walked in not knowing what he would find, but certain God had led him here.
You see, after much prayer the night before the Lord had impressed upon him to go to the church up the street, the church where I’m a pastor. Despite being disabled, not having a car, and braving a cold winter wind, he walked several blocks this morning to see and hear what God wanted him to see and hear.
All he knew was that he needed something for the heart. That’s what God had communicated to him through Scripture and prayer: Go to that church to hear something about the heart.
So, guess what the title of my sermon was today? “Guard your heart.”
Hearing his story after the service brought tears to my eyes, knowing, like him, that the Lord had led him to this church to hear this particular sermon.
I wish I could share the rest of his story with you, but it’s too personal, too tragic and too fresh. Besides, I don’t want to betray my new friend’s confidence. Suffice to say he was a broken man who needed what he received: A Scriptural message, someone to listen to his heart-breaking story, and someone to pray with him.
Why do I share this story with you? For two reasons: First of all, to remind us that God is real, actively involved in people’s lives and loves us.
If you think God is oblivious to your circumstances, think again. He’s not only aware but is actively helping you, sometimes behind the scenes and sometimes in more obvious ways, such as what happened with this man.
I also wanted to share this story to remind us that God can use anybody, and I do mean anybody. Those of you who really know me are painfully aware that I’m a complete idiot, a knucklehead of the worst kind, and a first-class sinner.
And yet, the Lord decided to steer a desperately depressed and broken-hearted man my way. What in the world was He thinking?
Because I’m such an idiot, and because what God did this morning is an undeniable fact, I’ve concluded the Creator of the universe can apparently use anyone who 1) has a pulse, 2) loves His Son Jesus, and 3) makes himself or herself available.
If you’re like me, meeting the first two criteria is relatively easy, but the last one, well, that’s a lot harder. Am I right? And yet, if the Lord can use a knucklehead like me, imagine what He can do with you?!
So, what’s the point of all this? Be amazed, be inspired, and be encouraged, but most of all be available.
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’"1
1 Isaiah 6:8
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