The Hope We Live For

Yesterday during lunch God used a little Indian lady to bring this to light for me. Yes, she is a devout Hindu and somehow the discussion at the table got on the subject on Pastors, Priests and Christians. About 4 to 5 of us were engaged in the conversation. “How can “those people” standup and preach and teach about this “Jesus Christ” and then be on the television the next day for child pornography, rape, cheating on their wives and stealing money etc? I just don’t get it???” I felt like this was a great time to “defend” my faith, I so badly wanted to blast her with the truth…..but I was silent. Instead of getting on the defensive, my heart broke and sadness came over me. “Lord, give me something to say…” I said to myself. “Nothing” is what he told me. “I know her heart and she will probably never come to me through my Son because her heart is so tainted already by my people. You will not be the one to help me here…I have other plans.”

I guess there are two points to this situation….one….what do you look like to people on the outside…what do you look like to God on the inside…are you protecting your witness or better yet protecting His? Or how about being His witness? I fail at this from time to time too, and sometimes having to pick up the pieces. Have you been there before?


Two….it’s ok to remain silent.”Quick to listen…slow to speak” comes to mind. Now, if God chooses to use me at another time with this person, I know partially what is holding her back to being open to Christ. We don’t always have to share OUR opinion or knowledge. We only know in part what God knows in full.


How would you handle this situation?