I sat today in the lounge at work. Take into account that I work in a factory. This means that the jokes are crude, the gossip common, and usually there is more then enough attitude to go around.
I noticed that all the guys sit together and all the girls sit at their own table. I'm not sure why but that is how it is. From one table to the next flew crude jokes that I would grow flush in the face to even repeat. However, it wasn't so many years ago that I myself would have joined in the jest. I too would have demeaned someone with my sarcastic remarks. I too would have put on a show.
Nevertheless, through some whole year of refinement, learning bible terminology, dressing nice for church on Sundays, being careful to control my thoughts and actions, professing Christ as my savior, I have understandably changed. I now look on a group of people that are very much like I was, from the view point of who I now am.
I realized this huge gap in between us. Closer to God and farther from man.
What was I to do? Stand on my chair at that moment professing the love of Christ to all who would listen? Perhaps I should have interrupted the crude jesting and offered a story. Took one of Jesus' parables and spoke to them of that. Maybe it was good just to keep quiet.
The jokes slowly broke through my book reading and I could barely concentrate. I became actually annoyed at these people. But what would I do about it? I shoved my face deeper in my book. I tried to think of what Jesus would do. However, I could only imagine that when Jesus entered a room no one told such jokes. Just to note, I'm sure they did in Jesus' time too.
I left that lunch room in awareness of the lost at my place of work. A room so empty of life that even the jokes were shallow.
I knew God wanted me to grow relationships. The relationships I already had there crossed my mind. Most of them because I stepped forward and cared about another person. I asked how their family was. Remember what they told me the day before. Some I even prayed for at night after work.
Perhaps it wasn't up on a table professing the love of Christ to all would listen. But perhaps it was still professing the love of Christ through example to all who would accept it.
