A Reminder That My Life Is Not My Own

A couple of weeks ago Lucretia and I arrived at Panama City Beach and went to check into the place where we were staying.  We have stayed there about three or four times…but we haven’t been there since the Spring of 2006.

I walked in and saw the lady behind the desk & told her we wanted to check in.  She said, “Noble, right?”

I asked, “Yep–are we the last ones to check in today or something?”

“Nope,” she replied, “you guys are the only ones checking in today–most people are arriving this weekend.”

Then she looked at me and said, “Hey, you are the pastor aren’t you?  I remember you–you pastor a church in the upstate of SC.”

I was floored!  I don’t really remember ever telling this woman I was a pastor…but she remember it–FROM TWO YEARS EARLIER.

Later on that night I had this thought, “Integrity in life–no matter WHERE I am or WHAT I am doing is key to long term success…NOT just as a pastor, but as a follower of Jesus!”  

I can break away from my routine.  I can break away from my schedule.  However, I can’t ever break away from the fact that Jesus has called me to be devoted to Him at all times–anywhere I go.

People are watching me.  (They’re watching you too!)  I think that the BEST thing that a Christian can do to advance God’s kingdom here on earth is to understand that and really try to maximize every moment that God gives us to model for a hurting world what it means to walk intimately and deeply love Jesus.

The apostle Paul said in Ephesians 5:15-16 that we should be careful as to how we live, being wise and making the most of every opportunity.  In that rental office that day it hit me like a ton of bricks–EVERY word I speak and action I take communicates to everyone I meet how I really feel about Jesus.

I need to be so aware of…

• How I act when someone pulls out in front of me.
• How I treat the server in the restaurant, especially when something seems to be wrong with the order.
• How I speak to my co-workers.
• How I react when my daughter does something that displeases me.
• How my voice tone is with my wife.  (Your spouse ALWAYS knows how your walk with Christ is going!)
• How I treat the person I’m dating.  (OK…that doesn’t apply to me…but I wanted the singles to feel like I was including them.)
• How I speak to people on the phone.  (Telemarketers are the exception!)

I could go on.  I don’t know if this does anything for you–but it was a HUGE reminder for me.