The Shirt off His Back
by John Fischer
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.�
1 John 3:16
Today, someone offered me the shirt off his back. I didn't ask for it; I just complimented him on it.
I ran into him in the lobby of the Rushmore Holiday Inn in Rapid City, South Dakota. We had already met and exchanged a few words. He told me that after hearing me speak, he felt we had much in common. I don't know about that, but I know I liked him right away. I could tell he was the kind of person to tell you exactly what he thinks.
I had been a little confused about him at first. He had a kind of street smartness about him that intimidated me. But then we exchange a few words and I found out my prejudgments were totally off base.
"What a nice shirt," I said as he came in the door.
"Thank you," he said. "I'd like you to have it."
"Absolutely not," I protested. "You don't need to do that."
My protest was to no avail. He showed up later at my hotel room door and handed me the shirt. There was no way I could turn him down. He gave it to me with his card and said he wanted to be able to write me. Well of course, I said, because that's always okay with me.
Something about this has captured me. What kind of guy gives you the shirt off his own back? Someone who is more than just words. Someone who is action-oriented. Someone who wants to make a statement. Someone who seizes the moment. I doubt that giving me his shirt had even crossed his mind until I complimented him on it.
I can't help but think about the early Christians who shared everything in common. I feel just a little like those guys -- at least on the receiving side. I know they'd give you the shirt off their own backs if they could.
I may be making too much of this, but I can't wait to find out what's behind it. Let me know what you think.
You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2009/11/04/jf_shirt/
Tags: encourage, God's love, grace, love, mercy, serve, trust, truth
November 4th, 2009 at 5:38 am
I really like your blog and i respect your work. I'll be a frequent visitor.
November 4th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Love is behind it.....and love is before it....and love is all around..and sharing is loving.God bless+
November 4th, 2009 at 9:11 am
Your story was humbling for me. I hope to attain that level of unselfishness myself. This story may help me to take that next step towards such a goal.
November 4th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
Love, joy and sacrificial comes behind it. What I receive is a blessing, so why not keep blessing for God's glory and not ba selfish. Your story encourages me to keep on doing it because when it goes the better one is waiting to be released
November 4th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
CAN WE ALWAYS DEMONSTRATE THIS KIND OF LOVE- THAT WHICH ENABLES US TO SHARE LIKE THE EARLY XTIANS. MY PRAYER IS THAT THE LORD ASSITS US ALL TO SEE & UNDERSTAND TO SHOWTHIS LOVE AT ALL TIMES, FOR IT IS ONLY IN LOVING THAT MEN WILL BEAR WITNESS OF OUR DEVOTION TO HIM & BE DRAWN TO THE LORD. MAY WE SHOW LOVE TO ALL WE INTERACT WITH TODAY TO THE GLORY OF THE LORD.HAVE A GOOD DAY
November 5th, 2009 at 10:03 am
It's nothing but his trust in you that your compliment was really true and He had the mind of sharing the thing that his neighbour liked.
His action of parting with the shirt was demontrating true Christian love.
Thank you, God bless you.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
This sort of thing happens to me all the time both in receiving and in giving since I was a toddler and I am now mid fifties. At first I remember being embarrassed by it but I always wanted to reciprocate. I love reading these Devotionals first thing in the a.m.; that's just what I need to start my day on the narrow path God rolled out for me. I find it a bit tough still not the show annoyance in my face and demeanor when people are rude to one another or uncouth or downright unpleasant for...