On-the-Spot Obedience

By: Doug Demetre

Isaiah 42:6

I have formed and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations.

This verse is referring to our Lord Jesus. Through CIC I have come to realize that it applies to us as well. I am learning that to be truly obedient to the Holy Spirit we need to draw on his power and be confident.

A few years ago, when I owned an Ace hardware store, I was busy as a cashier. There were a few customers in line when I noticed a lady looking around. I asked if I could help her and she said she didn’t know. I was busy so I told her to take her time. After a while I looked up and she still looked bewildered. I was taking care of the people in my line when a CIC brother was standing directly in front of me. At the same time, the lady left.

I felt that I needed to tell her Jesus loved her, but she had just left. The immediate presence of my CIC brother reminded me that being busy is one of the key factors in Satan’s preventing us from being a light to others. I solicited this brother to talk to the remaining customers while I ran out the door and stopped the lady.

She told me again that she had no idea why she was there. She had just been released from the hospital and, while driving home, saw my store and she felt she needed to go in. She didn’t know why. I told her that Jesus loved her and asked if it would be OK if we prayed together. She bowed her head for prayer 

Afterwards agreed that she had needed to hear that Jesus loved her. Then she left. I never saw her again.

Sometimes we are called upon to be a light. There may be no other reason, nothing more spectacular than that. God knows what he wants; we just have to be obedient to his purpose for us.

TAKE THE CHALLENGE: When have I allowed myself to become too busy to obey a prompting from the Holy Spirit? How can I overcome this in the future?