SHARE LOVE WITH ANGRY & THE UGLY?
To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid of the guy. HE WAS BIG…….AND UGLY! I’m 6’3” and he was as tall as me but a whole lot bigger! He had one of the biggest necks I’ve ever seen, and it was covered with tattoos. Angry, threatening tattoos. and he wasn’t pretty. He had a big scowl on his face. Everything about him said, “I am bad, you better know it, and you better LEAVE ME ALONE!
But inside I heard the whisper of the Holy Spirit saying, “Talk to him and tell of the love Father God has for him.” I walked past the table where he was sitting in the dining area of Sam’s Wholesale Club, and circled back again. “Grant me wisdom and boldness Lord,” I prayed as I walked toward him.
His eyes locked on mine as I approached and I said, “Do you mind if sit down?” He nodded yes and I said, “Hey I’ve got a question for you!” “Okay, what do you want,” he asked, not too friendly, as he sized me up. “Well here it goes,” I said to myself. “I’m just wondering, how long has it been since anyone told you HOW MUCH God LOVES YOU?” I asked.
His eyes bored into mine, and then he dropped his head and appeared to be thinking on this and then replied, “It has been a long, long time.” So, I briefly and concisely told him of God’s unconditional love, His amazing grace, that He gave his life for us as a sacrifice for our sins on Calvary’s cross, and that God had a plan for his life now.
He listened intently and politely, never interrupting. When I finished, he said, “I just got out of PRISON yesterday.” I’m confused, I don’t know what to do. No one wants to hire me and I don’t what to do or where to turn. While we continued to talk, his countenance changed and he seemed to relax. His heart, previously hardened by his life choices and prison, become soft to the touch of the Holy Spirit. I gave him an address for an employment opportunity and left, feeling relieved and joyous!
The proof of the validity of God’s Word was seen in those moments. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)