Day 4 | An Urgent Care Missionary

Command:

Ask the Lord of the harvest to send more workers into His harvest field. Matthew 9:38 (VOICE)

Read:

Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge:

“Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously. Matthew 10:5-8 (MSG)

Reflect:

As I headed to Urgent Care to get in line an hour before opening, my focus was on getting a throat swab and going home as quickly as possible. I was relieved when I drove up and saw only 2 people in line. 

As I stood in line, soon several other people joined. Eventually, as a few of us started quietly chatting about why we were waiting, suddenly a man waiting with his sick wife said to all of us, “I was paralyzed from the neck down and in the hospital 2 years ago.” All of us turned to look and stopped talking. 

He had our attention as he continued. “The doctors didn’t know what was wrong with me. I was a healthy strong construction worker but I couldn’t move. As I lay in the hospital bed, I prayed and asked God to heal me.” At this point, I noticed other people in line were getting uncomfortable. Then he said, “And God healed me. As you can see, I can walk again. God did that.” As he paused, someone else in the line said, “Yes, I believe in Jesus too.” Pretty soon several people spoke up. Seeing that God was using this time in a mighty way, I added “Yes, I’ve battled cancer twice and I also know how Jesus loves us and walks with us.” Someone then said, “I go to Eastlake Church and I know Jesus.”

As the Urgent Care opened the doors and the line began moving, our conversation died down. But the courage of one man to initiate a conversation about faith to a group of strangers in pain, forever changed me. It’s been two years and I’m still inspired by a stranger’s courage and commitment to share his faith story.

React:

Ask God to show you opportunities to share your faith story and to give you the courage to do so.

Pray:

Thank you Jesus for those who have shared their faith with me and inspired me to walk in your ways. Please give me courage to share my faith with others.