“Go and rescue the perishing! Be their savior! Why would you stand back and watch them stagger to their death? And why would you say, ‘But it’s none of my business’?
The One who knows you completely and judges your every motive is also the keeper of souls—and not just yours! He sees through your excuses and holds you responsible for failing to help those whose lives are threatened.” – Proverbs 24:11-12 TPT
We have landed in Indonesia. Yesterday, I went ahead and got a SIM card for my phone with a local phone number. I found a little street booth with a SIM card sign and walked up to find out details, quickly regretting my choice of SIM card booths.
The scene was outside a mini mart—tables and chairs set up in front of the store, with the booth in their parking area. About 5–6 locals, taxi bike drivers who seemed to be on break, were playing video games on their phones and napping. Two of them had their shirts off. Everything was dirty. The booth was filthy, the Hindu offerings were spilled and crawling with ants, trash all over the ground.
The young man helping me spoke no English and seemed like he didn’t know his job. It took much longer than it should have, and I was getting more annoyed by the second. I was so hot I could feel sweat running down my back and legs. I could tell Rich was hot and irritated, the flies were relentless, and I was becoming more impatient by the minute watching this young man try to figure everything out.
Staring at the men lazily laying around, I asked the Lord to help me love these people, because in that moment I felt almost none.
Watching the young man try to figure out how to install the SIM card in my phone, I wanted to say, “Just forget it. We don’t want it,” and find another, more legitimate place.
The Holy Spirit told me to shush and wait. He reminded me this man was relying on this sale. No one comes to his booth. He was trying. He was on the phone with his superiors getting help. He was doing his best to make it work. And I’m an impatient person who just wants things done and wants them done now. Typical American.
Slow down and consider the person, Annie.
I really looked at him. I saw him and felt sad for him. I don’t know his life or story, but he’s a person God created with a life that needs rescued. And I’m too busy to slow down long enough to care at all.
What am I going to do to help him? We can’t talk or communicate. There’s no ministering to him. How could I possibly help?
For starters, I can begin with a heart that WANTS TO.
Jesus can work with a willing heart. A heart looking for opportunities. A heart willing to consider others, LOOK at others, and touch others with kindness, patience, or even a smile while I wait.
Jesus can’t do much with an annoyed, impatient, self-focused, entitled woman who is only worried about her own agenda. 😔
He finally got everything up and running, and I paid him less than $25. A smile spread across his face. He had just made a little money. Maybe he would be able to feed someone in his family today. He also probably felt a little self-respect—a job well done and a smiling customer.
I was grateful for the Holy Spirit’s conviction.
Today, as I reflect on the encounter, I am realigning (yes, I know ChatGPT has ruined this word for all eternity, but it’s the one I want here lol) my heart to love more like Jesus.
What’s most important in every scenario?
Love God and love people. Every person, in any condition, Jesus loves them and made them. And He wants me to do the same.
That’s simple. That’s doable. And if I die to myself, there is no reason it cannot be accomplished everywhere I go, in everything I do.
Go girls, let’s LOVE GOD AND LOVE HIS PEOPLE.
