Gas Station Obedience
by Bill Harvey
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Many times in my Christian journey, God will quietly prompt me to help someone. One evening, after dark, I was driving through Buchanan on my way home. As I drove past an old gas station, I noticed a woman with 3 or 4 kids parked there with obvious car problems. Instantly, God prompted me to stop and offer help. I really don’t know much about fixing cars, so my flesh started an inward battle and I began justifying to God why I shouldn’t turn around and go back. I’m happy to say that night I did obey God’s prompting, but it took much longer than it should have. After two miles, I turned around and went back to ask if there was any way I could help. She told me that someone was already on the way, but she thanked me.
Obedience was the lesson that God was driving home in my heart that evening. I was taught that obedience is doing what you’re told to do, when you’re told to do it, with the right heart attitude. If you don’t exercise all three of these aspects, it is disobedience. That evening I disobeyed God, but the Spirit of God living in me didn’t give up, He kept working. Praise the Lord He doesn’t give up on us and is still molding us and shaping us to be like Jesus!
Prayer: God, give me ears to hear Your voice, even when it’s a quiet whisper. Help me to exercise instant obedience in every situation. Thanks for never giving up on us.
Bill, I read your story a long time back, but I really appreciated it. It is not always easy to discern God's promptings like these--I tend to focus on what's in front of me instead of keeping my spiritual eyes open. But when I actually do, and when I obey, it may not be "convenient" but it is always WORTH IT. Thanks for the reminder.
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