If We Will Just Cooperate!
For sometime now, I have been reminding our congregation that God is much more active in our lives than we suppose. The literal rendering of Psalm 23:6 is “surely and goodness and mercy shall pursue me all the days of my life.” Jesus said it a little differently but no less powerfully when he described the work of the Holy Spirit in John 14:26. “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
A latest obvious activity of God in my life took place a couple of weeks ago. My car was in need of mechanical repair and maintenance. So, I set an appointment with a mechanic while clearing my calendar to be able to drop off my car at the designated time. When I dropped off the car, he asked me, “Do you have the transmission kit?” I replied, ” No, You didn’t order it?” “No,” he said. “I thought you did.” I begin to feel my frustration rise as we went into his office to order the kit. “It will be here at 8 o’clock in the morning, ” the mechanic said cheerily. I responded a little less cheerfully, ” Then I will be here at 8 o’clock in the morning.” I mumbled to myself as I shared with my wife how we would need to change our schedule yet again to get my car repaired.
At 8 o’clock the next morning, I walked into the mechanic’s place of business and saw Ben, now an adult with a family, whom I had baptized when he was nine years old. “Brother Ron!” Ben said enthusiastically. We embraced and began catching up with each other. Then he turned somber and asked, “Will you go see my Grandmother? She is real low. She is not eating anymore. Just down to liquids and bedridden.” I assured him that I would visit her. He gave me his mother’s phone number, and I called as I left the mechanic’s garage. Elizabeth, Ben’s mother answered. After she greeted me joyfully, she said, “You will not believe this! We had a family meeting last night about Mother, and Irwin said, “We need to call Brother Ron. Does anyone have his number? None of us did, and we were asking around how to get in touch with you. And hereyou call the very next day!” And I responded, “God is much more active in lives than we know.” Elizabeth responded with enthusiasm, “He sure is!” We set a time to meet with the family that night. Since then, my wife and I have laughed several times recalling this incident at how God orchestrated this meeting with Ben.
God is, indeed, an amazing God, ever looking for ways to bless us and to guide us if we will just cooperate!
Trying to cooperate more,
Ron McCaskill