Praying for the Flat Tire Folks

This is an email I received from my friend and mentor Rick Lovall. Enjoy.

Today I was convicted of praying for Jesus to help someone. Don't tell me you've never prayed that prayer before. You know the one. You're driving down the road, through the rain, and see someone stranded with a flat tire. Instead of stopping to help them and risk messing up your perfectly groomed hair you pray, "Jesus, please help those poor people". You then crank up the tunes and mash the gas trying desperately to get their look of despair out of your mind.

 

Ephesians 5:30 says "For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." You know Jesus' reply to your prayer would be, "You're my body...YOU go help them! I took you right to someone that needed help and you didn't even slow down."

 

The conviction I felt today wasn't about someone with a flat tire. My dad taught me long ago to help the flat tire folks out because you never know when flat-tire despair will hit you. The conviction I felt was while praying for Jesus to help a handicapped gentlemen I saw today. Granted, he appeared to be doing just fine...no flat tire, nothing all all seemed "wrong". But there I was...the helping hand of the Lord...the arm of Love...the voice of Grace...the legs of compassion...and I just kept driving.

 

Remember what Jesus taught..."I was hungry and you fed me. I was _________ and you ________ me." (Fill in the blank). We were called to serve....not just sermons on Sunday, but love on Monday, mercy on Tuesday, grace on Wednesday... you get the picture.

 

How embarassing would it be for me to pray that selfish prayer, only to hear Jesus answered it by sending someone else to help him? I can't imagine how I would feel if Jesus asked me, "Why didn't you help them?"

 

Just something to think about....

 

I love every one of y'all!

 

Rick Lovall