Jumping into Chariots

My dad loved to talk to strangers. From cashiers to bank tellers to the scary guy on the street, everyone we met was treated to a smile and a hello when Dad was around. Those greetings often led to conversations laced with laughter and storytelling, though Dad had never met his new friend before.

As a kid, I was embarrassed during these exchanges. Now, though, I embarrass my own kids as I start conversations with random strangers.

We’ve all got our own lives to live. It’s easiest to watch the world pass by without getting involved in other people's lives. Approaching a stranger, after all, could mean getting stuck having to help him or her. It could also mean changing his or her life—or ours.

Like Philip hopping into a stranger’s chariot, our Savior stepped out of the comfort of His world and into ours—sitting with us, listening to us, and, with the empty tomb, turning us from strangers into His brothers and sisters.

We can’t get up close and personal with everyone we meet. But when we heed a tug to simply be near the people who pass into our lives, God might just be working through us to bring another child home to Him. 

So as I always say, be ready when you wake up in the morning, put your feet on the floor, and say,

Blessings,
Pastor Dave