Memory Verse June 11-17, 2012

“Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head” (Romans 12:20).

Grace and peace, Saints.  

Many of us who are on the front lines of this spiritual war know that our enemies come in all shapes, sizes, races, and economic levels.  In my case, even the homeless have been used.  

Once I invited a homeless man home for dinner. Homelessness and poverty are a huge problem in America right now, as many people who used to have high-paying jobs and fine homes have found themselves for the first time on the street and hungry.  I had met this man only a few hours earlier at a St. Louis Bread Company location.  He was dressed relatively well, and he seated himself down in a chair next to me in the reading section.  He struck up a conversation with me, and as we talked, he gave me a sketchy story about his fall from opulence to indigence.  I thought I recognized him from my high school days.  Since I had only been back in St. Louis about a year and a half at this point and was desirous to know of some good spots to read and have a cup of coffee, he offered to show me a couple of his favorite spots.  I noticed that at each spot he wanted me to look at the menu.  I realized that he hoped that I would get hungry and order something and that I would probably invite him to dine with me.  This man was hungry.

Though I was hungry too, I’m not much into eating out, plus the food at each of these places was prohibitively expensive (for me).  So I decided that I would invite the man home to dinner, even though I didn’t trust him.  Now I’m no fool, but I have been hungry, and I know what it is like to hit a rough spot in life.  I have noticed that many of the people Satan uses are people who are down and out, such as homeless people and substance abusers.  Most of these people have been morally compromised and are psychologically feeble, and are thus, easy pickings for Satan.  But at the end of the day, they are still human beings and need help.  So I decided that, although I could not help everyone, I could afford to feed this man this one night.  Besides, I sized him up and felt confident that if things started to go south, I could avoid a terminal situation.

We ate and he asked if he could spend the night.  I consented, and made him a bed, making very sure he saw me take my weapon to bed with me.  The next day, we ate breakfast, and I dropped him off.  I didn’t see him again until about two years later, again at the same coffee house.  He sat down in a chair next to mine (pretending not to recognize me) and read a newspaper.  I recognized him immediately.  About a half hour later, he looks at me and says, “Hey don’t I know you?”  And we began to talk.  It was during this conversation that I learned of his religious beliefs, which were New Age all the way.  I understood that God had orchestrated both meetings, because He wanted me to not only understand how the enemy operates, but what his beliefs are.  Again, what the enemy meant for evil, God used for good.  

I would never suggest that anyone do what I did, especially given the increasing animosity of the public to the ministers of the Gospel.  This was totally out of character for me.  But on this occasion, the Spirit lead me to feed my enemy, and, in so doing, I heaped coals of fire upon his head.

Be encouraged and look up, for your redemption draweth nigh.

The Still Man

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