The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"A Moment In Time. Eternal Significance"
It was a small gesture in time. But greatly appreciated, and bearing significance forever.
All the pumps were occupied as I pulled into a gas station yesterday. I took my place in line behind a gentleman who was filling his tank. When he finished and pulled away from the pump, I noticed he drove to a parking place nearby. He stepped out of his car and walked toward the station, perhaps to pay for his gas or to make another purchase. I realized he had moved so I could pull in to pump my gas, something he did not have to do. I rolled my passenger side window down and thanked him. He smiled in response, and we had a very brief discussion about kindness and conscientiousness. The man's attitude matched his actions, and I drove away realizing opportunities lay before me based on his graciousness.
First, I could give thanks to our Heavenly Father for blessing of the moment. It was little more than that, but the Lord meets us along the pathways of His providence as we seek to walk with Him by faith. We can miss the fact of His presence and working in matters that may seem merely human, but which actually teem with His living presence. I realized this in the encounter with the gentleman, that his attitudes and actions served as a blessing that flowed through him, but which originated in Another. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17).
I also realized ongoing opportunities await at the throne of grace, based on the gracious action of the gentleman. I prayed for him as I drove away, and hope to do so whenever I visit the gas station. Again, we had little time for more than a brief mention of the Lord and His blessing. Far more time, Lord willing, will allow me to pray for the man in the future, that whatever his need may be in relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ, God will work accordingly. Indeed, brief encounters portend of eternal glories as they lead to prayer, and as God answers in ways that will bear significance forever. "We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal" (II Corinthians 4:18).
Finally, I felt encouraged and challenged by the man's example, and have little doubt it will influence me in days to come and ways to come as a guidepost planted by a human action, but which will serve as as a divine reminder: "This is the way. Walk ye in it" (Isaiah 30:21). Human beings are imitators of one another, for good, and sadly, too often for ill. God gives people to serve as reflections of His character, nature, and way. Following good examples can be synonymous with following Him, even as the Holy Spirit directed the Apostle Paul to beckon believers to walk in his footsteps: "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:10).
Again, a small gesture. It looms large in my heart, however, and continues to bequeath significance for me, and perhaps now, for you and others with whom I will share the blessing. God works through the multiplier effect, infusing seemingly small actions and brief moments with glories that will extend into eternal blessedness. He receives all the glory thereby, and we receive the blessing of seeing His hands, feet, and heart in those of people who likely have no idea of the blessing they are to us, based on their serving to reveal the Source of all goodness, kindness, and gracious conscientiousness.
"For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen."
(Romans 11:36)
Weekly Memory Verse
We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
(II Corinthians 4:18).
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