Friends Listen

July 10, 2023

There was something about the UPS truck that got my dog’s attention.

Alfie’s no longer with us. He lived a long and good life, but he’s been gone for several years now. Anyway, he could hear that particular truck coming a mile away and he would start barking. It let me know a package was coming to our neighborhood, maybe even to our own house. I began to anticipate the delivery, hoping the truck was bringing that special item we ordered.

As you can imagine, often the UPS truck was heading to someone else’s house. I understood that, but I still hoped he would stop at our house. Receiving something we’d purposely ordered was expected, but it still kind of felt like a gift.

A couple times I received something I didn’t expect. Alfie would bark, the truck would stop at our very own house, and I would retrieve the package. We weren’t expecting anything, but the package had my name on it. A gift! I didn’t recognize the sender. I was suspicious.

Both times this happened, it was a book from someone trying to persuade me to think differently about something important. I have become a bit leery of gifts that I don’t expect. Maybe everybody is! When a package comes that I don’t expect, I may not be receptive unless the address says it’s from a friend or relative. If so, I can gladly receive it.

What I’m trying to say is, when you talk to people about Jesus and the gift of salvation, you need to build a friendship first. Otherwise, why should they trust you? There’s an old adage about that, remember? “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3 NIV