A Gallon Of Milk

A Gallon of Milk
A young man had been to Tuesday night Bible Study. The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord. The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people?" After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message. Several of the people talked about how God had led them in different ways.

It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, "God...If you still speak to people, speak to me. I will listen, and I will do my best to obey."

As he drove down the main street of his town, he had a strange thought -- stop and buy a gallon of milk. He shook his head and said out loud, "God is that you?" He didn't get a reply and started on toward home. But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk.

The young man thought of Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli. "Okay, God, in case that's you, I will buy the milk." It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. Besides, he could always use the milk.

He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home. As he drove passed Seventh street, he felt a strange urge -- "Turn down that street." This is crazy he thought, and drove on by the intersection. Again, he felt that he should turn down seventh street. At the next intersection, he turned around and headed down Seventh street. Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will."

He drove several blocks, then suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in semi-commercial area of town. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark, like the people were already in bed.

Again, he sensed something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street." The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were gone or already asleep. He started to open the car door and then sat back in the car seat. "Lord, this is crazy. Those people are probably asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I'll just look stupid."

Again, he felt he should take the milk to the house. Finally, he opened the car door. "Okay God, if this is your will, I'll take the milk to the house, even if I end of looking like a stupid fool. I want to be obedient. But if they don't answer right away, I am out of here."

He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?" Then the door opened before the nervous young man could run away. The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He had a strange look on his face and didn't seem happy to have a stranger at his door.

"What is it?" The young man handed him the milk. The man took the milk and rushed down a hall way speaking loudly in Spanish. Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk, headed towards the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face. While half crying, the man said: "We were just praying -- my wife has no milk, and we had some big bills this month, so we ran out of money to buy milk for the baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk." His wife in the kitchen yelled out, "I ask Him to send an Angel with some... milk. Are you an Angel?"

The young man reached for his wallet, and gave the man a few dollars -- all he had. As the young man turned and walked back toward his car, tears were streaming down his face. God still answers prayers! Yes, and God talks to us too. Are you listening?

Are we listening for the voice of God to direct us every day? Are we ready and willing to do what He wants us to do? Be open, listening and willing at anytime. You never know when He wants to use you for something! Obedience is better than sacrafice!