Yesterday I was reminded of a lesson my parents constantly instilled in me… You never know who’s watching so it is better to behave.  A pair of chance encounters vividly drove this point home.  Story time….

Yesterday I was running a load of boxes from our church building to Mission Printing in Arlington.  I had recently cleaned out my truck and of course had taken my tie down straps out of the truck which left my load of 12 large boxes perilously perched in the truck bed.  Sure enough while driving I was cut off and the entire load shifted as I firmly applied the brakes.  Nothing flew out but I saw lids flying and trouble was close at hand.

I was pulling up to a stop light so I hopped out of the truck and jumped into the bed to reposition things until I could make it to a place where I could stop to properly fix things.  When I got back in the truck my phone rang and it was a preacher friend from East Texas named JJ.  I answered the phone and JJ said, “Hey Buddy!  Is everything OK with your car?”  A bit confused I looked around until I saw JJ waving at me from the car in front of me.

What are the odds that he would be in town at that very moment at that specific light where I would hop out of my truck.  We chatted for a bit as the stop light changed and then I told him not to judge as I pulled into a liquor store parking lot to reposition my load of gospel tracts 🙂

I continued down the road with my newly secured load.  Within a mile I spotted a familiar vehicle, it was my neighbor BJ out on a PGR mission in preparation for Veteran’s Day.  What are the odds that on a side of town I don’t venture to often that I would see two people who were also attending to business in that area at that time.

I am sure everyone reading this post has similar stories of running into people while on vacation or a business trip.  It is always interesting to consider the number of relationships we have and what a small world it truly is.  It is always best to behave because you never know who is watching.

Of course we do know that God is always watching.  If you want to have a fun conversation with a little kid, try talking to them about the omnipotence and omnipresence of God.  It is a concept that I have a tough time grasping as an adult but a young child can bring a fun and interesting perspective to the conversation.  There are some definite benefits to always striving to put your best foot forward:

• Your act of kindness, patience, or forgiveness could make a lasting impression on someone.  We never know what the people around us are going through and your seemingly innocuous act could make a huge impact on someone else.
• One harshly spoken word or flagrant action could forever change the way people perceive you, your family, or those claiming to be followers of Christ.
• I often pray for God to give me an opportunity to reach out to people.  There is no telling the time or place where God will give that opportunity so I need to always be at the ready.

Hebrews 13 is a great passage on this topic.  I am going to close this post with the entire text.  Make sure you don’t miss Dinnertime Devotionals 40 at the very end of this post.  I hope you have a blessed day and are a blessing to everyone you meet.

Let brotherly love continue. ² Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. ³ Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. ⁴ Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. ⁵ Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ⁶ So we can confidently say,

⁷ Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ⁹ Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. ¹⁰ We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. ¹² So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. ¹³ Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. ¹⁴ For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. ¹⁵ Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. ¹⁶ Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

¹⁷ Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

¹⁸ Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. ¹⁹ I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.

²⁰ Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, ²¹ equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

God’s word is a great encouragement to us.  I hope you will spend some time with your family talking about God.  The sincerity of parents who walk the walk and talk the talk of their belief in God is constantly seen as the #1 factor in a lifelong faith in children.  It is my hope that Dinnertime Devotionals 40 is a blessing to your family.