Read: Matthew 16:21-27 and John 15:13
Spontaneity is not one of my strong points. I function best when things are neatly ordered and there is a high degree of structure. Most times, things must make sense to me or I can see the purpose that they will serve, before I will embark on them. I prefer to have all of my ducks in a row . . . a very neat row, and don't like surprises. These qualities have been an asset in helping me serve in the gift of administration. But they have also been a stumbling block at times to yielding to the Spirit of God. It can be hard to veer off the path I have so neatly charted out to spontaneously go in another direction.
Over the years, the Lord has been working on that area in my life to teach me how to have a plan and function in my giftedness, yet also be able to drop my plan instantly when He desires to alter my course. I can remember one particular incident that occurred about twenty years ago. I had decided that I would like to experience taking a bus ride. I had flown before, taken the train, and had also been on a boat. But what was it like to ride the bus? I called my mom, asked if she'd like a visitor, and set up the time for her to pick me up from the terminal. I had arranged to take a taxi from my house to the train station. I would have to change trains once before reaching my stop, and walk about a block to catch the bus.
As I took my seat by the window on the second train, I noticed a lady's purse there. I asked the woman already seated if it were hers. It was not. This is where the battle inside of me began. The "right thing" to do was to turn it in when I got to my stop. If I did that, however, I might miss my bus. For between the taxi ride and waiting for the train, I was way off schedule and would only have minutes to walk to the terminal. The woman beside me made it clear by her expression that she wasn't getting involved. I thought about leaving it there, hoping the next person would take care of it. God would certainly understand; I just didn't have time to do it without possibly messing up my plans. Then I thought, what if that were my purse? What would I want? I would want someone to care enough about me and my situation to have compassion and do the right thing. I turned in the purse, filled out the proper paperwork and headed toward the terminal. I was only fifty feet away when I noticed a bus driving off. It was mine; I had missed my bus!
Our scriptures for the month tell us several things about our Christian journey. First, doing the right thing isn't always popular. When Jesus told the disciples about His coming suffering and death, Peter rebuked Him. Second, doing the right thing isn't always easy. Jesus said following Him meant that we would have to deny ourselves. Third, doing the right thing doesn't always end the way we think. We may have to repeatedly lay aside our plans to assist in someone else's life.
I will never forget that lesson. I was shocked to see my bus pulling off. I had altered my plans and chosen to do the right thing; what I knew was right in the eyes of God. Surely He would in turn reward my choice by seeing that I got to the bus terminal in time. But He didn't. Yet, although I suffered loss, God had a greater purpose that day. I received a card in the mail from the owner of the purse. She thanked me profusely stating that she was glad to know that there were still honest people on earth. Doing the right thing is always the right thing to do!
Prayer
Lord, no matter the cost, let me always choose to do the right thing. In Jesus' name, Amen.
