Expecting Grace

Years ago a preacher was speaking at a large conference with hundreds of people in attendance. During the first session he noticed a man sleeping on the front row. At first it didn’t bother him. But when he saw this same gentleman at the second, third, and fourth sessions sleeping in the very same seat on the front row, he began to get a little frustrated. He thought, “What? Is this man trying tell me that I’m boring? Why not just tell me? Why does he have to be so rude about it?”

By the end of the conference, the preacher had become quite irritated by this elderly man- because he’d seen his kind before. Rather than privately expressing his dislike for this speaker, this older man made a public spectacle for all to see, essentially saying, “The preacher is a bore!” So when on the last day of the conference this elderly man and his wife approached this preacher, Chuck Swindol, tensed, readying himself for a battle. And yet, he didn’t get a battle. Rather, she explained: “Thank you so much for your ministry. My husband and I are great supporters of you. In fact, my husband loves you so much that even though he’s on chemotherapy, he still insisted on being here today. I hope his sleeping didn’t bother you.”

Man doesn’t see as God sees that was the lesson that Samuel learned over 3000 years ago. And this is the lesson that the people of God needed to learn during the days of Christ.