It’s Only a Quarter

Several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.

As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, “You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.” Then he thought, “Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet.”

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, “Here, you gave me too much change.”

The driver, with a smile, replied, “Aren't you the new preacher in town?”

“Yes” he replied.

“Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday.”

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, “Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter.”

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians, and will put us to the test! Always be on guard… and remember… you carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself 'Christian.'

God bless you.

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It’s an old story that my friend Heather had posted on Facebook. It is very true that people will watch what you do, if you profess to be a Christian. They WANT to catch you slipping up, so they can justify their own behavior. Some people have used the popular WWJD bracelets (What Would Jesus Do) to remind them to be PERFECT. That doesn’t work for very long; probably why the bracelets have waned in popularity.

Here it is Easter again, and I’m reminded that Jesus died for ALL our sins… not just mine. As His followers, he gives us a simple command:

Love God, and love one another.

It’s unbelievably simple! Why do we persist in embellishing what Jesus said with what WE WANT to do?

He didn’t say: “Love power.”
He said: “Love God.”

He didn’t say: “Love wealth.”
He said: “Love God.”

He didn’t say: “Judge others.”
He said: “Love one another.”

He didn’t say: “Be unforgiving.”
He said: “Love one another.”

He didn’t say: “Condemn others.”
He said: “Love one another.”

He didn’t say: “Exclude others.”
He said: “Love one another.”

He didn’t say: “Give up on others.”
He said: “Love one another.”

He didn’t say: “Ignore the pain and suffering of others.”
He said: “Love one another.”

He didn’t say: “Be like all the others.”
He said: “Love one another.”

In all the ways we are uncaring, judgmental, ignorant, and unseeing…
He said: “Love one another.”

I don’t mean to condemn you, but to have you love with the new heart that Jesus gives us, for… as the sun rises on Easter morning, we rejoice that Jesus took all our sin on Himself, died to OUR sin and death, and now stands before the empty tomb of OUR lives to offer us the Way and the Life. In our own weakness, our walk with Jesus will never be perfect. We will trip. We will stumble. But it is NOT in our strength that we walk with our Lord. It is only by the strength of God’s Holy Spirit… that we are able to offer the love, acceptance, understanding, and salvation of Christ to one another.

Happy Resurrection Day! Happy Easter!

Christ is risen! He has risen, indeed!

Your brother in Christ,


Dave