Yesterday I had a moment. I was taking my wife to an appointment and I saw a man on the corner with a sign. Now I’m no different than most. The first thing that went through my head was POSSIBLE SCAM! He’s probably got a Porsche around the corner. Fortunately we have the Holy Spirit. I was promoted to take another look.

The sign read simply “HUNGRY”. The man was thin to the point of emaciated. His clothes were dirty and his head was down. At that point several Bible references came to mind and I knew how to move.

The first thing I did was to take care of my wife. We were just a block away from her appointment and it would only be a minute or two. I hadn’t spoke to her yet about the man. She hadn’t noticed him and I was still building a plan.

She climbed into the car after speaking with the medical staff and said ok off to Kroger (the local grocery). I told her about the man and that I planned to take a few minutes to detour. She was a rock. Ok let’s do this. That made my heart soar!

I drove back past the place where I’d saw him. He was there. Awesome. I drove another block and pulled into the drive thru at Dairy Queen. It was closest. I picked a simple burger meal and water. It took a few minutes. When I got the food I drove back. He was gone. I was heartbroken. Not just disappointed but truly distraught. I wanted/ needed to help this man.

My mind was kind of a shambles. But my wife came to the rescue. She said he couldn’t have gone far. Let’s drive and look for him. Back on the plan. You have no idea what Joy that brought me. My mind immeadiatley went to, were never gonna see him again and then my wife brought ration to the party. I Love my wife. So we went hunting. After a couple of passes through the area. We found him.

I pulled around and pulled off a bit in front of him. Not so close as to scare him but not far so that he’d not pass me if he kept moving that way. Now we drive a black SUV with tinted windows. Obviously he hesitated. I got out and walked back with the food in hand.

He tenantavely walked up head bowed and took the food. He said “Oh! You didn’t have to do that sir!”. I had mere milliseconds to reach this man. His head was lowered. He was ashamed. He was scared. But he was hungry in more ways than one. I know because the Holy Spirit was telling me. This man wasn’t a druggie. There were no track marks and he wasn’t disoriented at all. I also noticed a gold chain he wore. It looked like a keepsake. A druggie or an alcoholic would have sold it or not been able to keep it from being stolen more than likely.

With those mere milliseconds the Holy Spirit told me he needed to hear the name of Jesus.

I said “Jesus loves you.” Not a sermon. Not overly evangelistic. I didn’t have time. He was moving away. He was scared but he was more Hungry. As I said the words I was praying for God to act. If I’d said more the man would have likely bolted and not heard. At least that’s what I felt at the time. I did see a response to the message though. His eyes showed me that he’d heard the name of Jesus. I got back in the car and we left.

Those verses I mentioned earlier no doubt supplied by the Holy Spirit.

John 21:17 CSB

[17] He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said.

I’ve got to admit that this is not what I originally got from this verse but obviously research is necessary. That’s what was given to me first.

That man needed the name of Jesus. I am wholly convinced of that by the Holy Spirit.

Looking back I realize that I haven’t always listened to the Spirit. I haven’t always fed His Sheep.

Will you, do you, feed His Sheep?

Will you, do you, listen to the Spirit?

Matthew 28:19 CSB

[19] Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

This flashed through the emptiness in my head too. I think the Spirit put that there as an encouragement. There was no time for me to disciple but there is a guided prayer in this for this man here.

Will you, do you, allow the Holy Spirit to encourage you to go? To move?

Will you, do you, allow the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers?

Hebrews 10:32-34 CSB

[32] Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. [33] Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way. [34] For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, because you know that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession.

This was the Holy Spirit’s reminder. I have a better and enduring Possession.

Do you?

Love in Christ

Colby