the "Thank you" ministry

We struggle, at times, with how to share our faith and how to represent the living Lord to the outside world.  We know that we've been called to be a "peculiar people" and to be "set apart" to serve Him.  We know that we are to be "in the world but not of the world".  We know the secret (that really isn't secret) to eternal life by putting the full weight of our trust on the work of Jesus on the Cross and the work of His Father to raise Him and the work of the Spirit to convict our hearts and convince our will to lay self down and take faith up.  But we face headwinds when we step out into the world and we feel pressure to just blend in.  Yesterday it occurred to me that there is one thing that we can do to make a difference.  The world says that whenever we buy something...food...goods...services, the exchange of money is the requirement for the transaction to be complete.  But these transactions are also strategic opportunities to show a different attitude than most nonbelievers.  The goods and services purchased are nothing, in value, compared to the people involved in the purchase...those who do the work and make the sale...or even receive our money at the cash register.  Every opportunity we have to buy something can be an opportunity to look a total stranger in the eye and, for a moment, show sincere interest.  We can go one step beyond the world when we go one step beyond the exchange of money, or the swiping of a credit/debit card, to acknowledge the person behind the purchase.  So, as an example, after I bought and ate my sub at the local franchised sandwich shop yesterday I decided to walk back to the counter where the folks had made the sandwich and tell them "Thanks, for that great sandwich...I sure appreciate it".  I can't prove it, but I think that something happens in human hearts when even small gestures of sincere gratitude are expressed.  It's actually love on display in a simple way and I think that the Holy Spirit rides on these simple actions to touch hearts and begin to open doors as part of the process that leads to faith.  You might call this the "Thank you" ministry.  (It's not just the sandwich that has value in that sandwich shop!)

 

Titus 2: ¹³Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; ¹⁴Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

blessings,

Rob Smith