Finding A Car Park
Just when you think you’ve found one you realise it’s just a small car and the space is already taken!
Reference: v.46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. (TNIV Bible)
Explore: My husband and I went to a local shopping centre last Saturday. It was really busy and, as we were leaving, I noticed that some cars were circling the car park looking for a vacant car space.
We’ve all done it before. You crawl along looking for that empty space (hopefully close to the shopping centre entrance!) and just when you think you’ve found one, you realise it’s just a small car and the space is already taken!
Every pedestrian is a potential driver who could move any of the nearby cars to create a space for you to park. So you drive slow enough in the hope that the driver will reach their car just as you crawl past their car space.
There’s nothing more disappointing than stalking a pedestrian only to discover that they’re just dropping some shopping off in their car and not actually leaving!
As we headed to our car on this particular Saturday I noticed a car crawling along looking for a parking spot. I thought I would do a nice deed and I raised my hand to get the driver’s attention and point to our car to let them know where we were leaving from.
Although it was hard to see through their windscreen I noticed that they had seen me and had put their car into reverse so they could access our park. It was then that their passenger wound down their window and said, ‘Hey Linda, thanks so much.’
It just happened to be one of the pastors of our church and his family! I had already felt pretty good about helping someone out, but who better to show a good example to than one of our pastors – hehe!
Application: Integrity is such an important Christian characteristic, but I think it’s one of the hardest. It’s easy to be nice and friendly to those we know and like, or when we are being noticed, but our real character comes out when we think no one is looking.
Jesus was a great example of integrity and He gave us many parables to show the importance of being faithful to God at all times.
It’s great to show our faith to encourage our fellow believer friends, but our real impact is made when we show our Godly integrity to those who are yet to believe in Christ.
Prayer: Lord, may we always be switched on to being faithful to You. Every day is an opportunity to love You more and be an example for You. Amen.
When do you find it hardest to live with integrity? What can you do to change this situation?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.