Bum Rap
Theme for the Week: Redemptive Relationships
Wednesday, October 3, 2001
 1 of 1
Key Bible Verse: Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18).
Bonus Reading: 1 John 3:14-17
During the evening service, a homeless man stood in back, listening. At the close, I sat on the edge of the platform, exhausted. I looked up to see this man, with shabby clothing and matted hair, in the aisle awaiting permission to approach.
I nodded and thought, He's going to hit me up for money. When he came close, I saw that his two front teeth were missing. His odora mixture of alcohol, sweat, urine, and garbagetook my breath away. I asked his name.
"David," he said softly.
"How long have you been homeless, David?"
"Six years."
"Where did you sleep last night?"
"In an abandoned truck."
I reached for the money clip in my back pocket. David put his finger in my face and said, "No, you don't understandI don't want your money. I'm going to die out there. I want the Jesus you talked about."
I swallowed hard as God's love flooded my soul. David sensed the change in me. He fell on my chest, burying his grimy head against my white shirt and tie. Holding him close, I talked to him about Jesus' love. David surrendered to Christ that night.
Jim Cymbala in Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire
My Response:
I'll keep my eyes open today for someone to whom I can show God's love.
Thought to Apply:
Christians often.
want God to clean the fish before they catch them.
Jim Cymbala (New York pastor)
Adapted from: Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire (Zondervan, 1997)
For your convenience, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire is available in the ChristianityToday.com bookstore.
Copyright © 2001 by the author or Christianity Today, Inc./Men of Integrity magazine.
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Jesus, enlarge my heart so that it reaches out to touch men for whom You died.
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