The Risk of Obedience | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: The Risk of Obedience | Previous Challenge Entry
By Matt Guddat
04/25/13
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

With sweaty hands and a wild heartbeat I reached into my pocket. Did God really say that? I was a new believer in Christ Jesus, how was I supposed to know Gods voice so soon?

And of all the things to say!

Time was running out as I glanced around the room. I had given money away before but this was different. In the past I had cheerfully placed a few coins in the church offering bag as it passed by, sometimes a few larger notes even, but I always had reserved some for myself. Today was different.

The offering bag was rapidly weaving its way through the congregation towards me and I had little time left for any calculated decision. Had God truly spoken to me? A thousand questions and objections rose but with no time left, and a great fear of disobeying my new found savior, I dumped the last of my pitiful coins into the bag fully aware of the potential consequences.

After the service finished my stifled nerves surfaced again. I had to travel a fair distance each Sunday to attend church. This distance included traveling on a train, then boarding a boat and finally catching a bus. Needless to say all this cost money. Money I no longer had! With the snap of his fingers, God could click it all into place… but would He?

I slowly meandered toward the train station wrestling with my thoughts. Had I just been young and over zealous, rushing ahead of myself? Maybe. Probably. But whatever the case I now had no option but to pray for Gods help.

I arrived at the station precisely when the train pulled up to the platform, without looking around I jumped on board. I had resolved to explain to the ticket collector that I had no money and plead my case, I knew my chances were slim as I had been kicked of a train before for this reason. What I didn’t notice was my friend who had jumped on the train also.

“Matthew, good to see you,” a voice beckoned me over to my friend and we exchanged greetings as I sat down to chat. I was embarrassed to admit my current situation to my friend and so avoided the subject completely. As the train conductor approached my heartbeat quickened yet before I could speak my friend cut in, “He’s with me, I’ll pay his way.”

I smiled and refused the kind gesture quietly praying that he would insist - which he did thank goodness! I sank back into my seat as relief flooded over me, I could almost hear God snapping his fingers as things began to click into place. One down… two to go.

I soon approached the ferry terminal and again resolved to explain my case to the lady at the ticket office. Yet she was not there. I peered into the staff room and saw no one their either, as I wondered through and around the building no one was to be found... anywhere! Seeing that the ferry was set to leave I decided to board and explain to a crew member, even if I gained a free ride I knew honesty was the best policy.

The boat arrived at its destination and I still had seen no one aboard the ship! In 16 years of living on this island this had never happened! I jumped off before the boat pulled away and walked towards the bus terminal. By now I was beginning to wonder, maybe God did speak to me. Maybe I had taken my first risk as a believer!

I arrived home that day with a broad smile beaming across my face. The bus driver was a friends father and gave me free rides when he was on shift. I sat in my bedroom and praised God for His faithfulness. He was teaching me that when we trust and obey, everything clicks into place, a lesson that would be tried and tested in the years to come.

Shortly after this experience I left my home to serve on the mission field. I could share many other stories of how God taught me to be patient and trust that he would look after me, yet this story recalls the first time I truly trusted him with risk involved. I pray you too would trust, obey and watch him ‘click’ things into place.

Authors Note: The above story is a true account.

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.