I needed a haircut, but learned that my schedule barber recently graduated from the College of Hair Design in Lincoln, NE. I walked to my chair and sat down. Sam (not his real name) said, “My hero died in a helicopter crash!”
“Did a friend of yours die?” I asked.
“No, it was Kobe Bryant. I’m a Los Angeles Laker fan.” Sam said. We talked sports for a bit and I mentioned that my favorite professional team is the Chicago Bears.
“Sam, there’s something more important than sports. Let me share something that happened to me while in college.
“During a meeting of Christians, I experienced God’s unconditional love through the students I observed. I wanted what they had. The speaker mentioned that we must believe in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection for eternal life. That evening in my dorm room, I placed my faith in Christ’s work for the forgiveness of sin. My life completely changed. For example, I used to get very nervous taking Finals. I claimed God’s promise about casting all my care upon Him.” (1 Peter 5:7).
Sam said, “My girlfriend is trying to get me to trust Christ, but I’m resisting.”
“Why is that?” I asked.
“I had such a terrible family growing up. Besides, churches only care about your money.”
“I’m so sorry to hear about your family. Tell me about it.” Sam related how his siblings pursued evil activities, but his grandmother rescued him to live with her when he was in the 4th grade.
“Sam, God models the perfect family in three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit who love each other,” I said. “They want you to join them at the table and enter into that love and intimate relationship.
Toward the end of my haircut, Sam asked, “Where should I start reading in the Bible?”
“The gospel of John,” I said. “Read one chapter a day and ask God to reveal Himself to you. It takes three weeks since there are 21 chapters in John. Do you have a Bible?”
“I do!” Sam said. As I was getting out of my barber chair, I said, “Don’t forget to read John!”
I often refer people to the gospel of John because it’s the only book in the Bible with an overt evangelistic purpose: “these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30-31).
God arranged a divine appointment by lining up a new barber who needed to know Christ. It removed my disappointment of not seeing my original barber who wants to use his job as a way to share the gospel with clients.
Paul said his circumstances turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, even while chained in a Roman prison (Philippians 1:12). He closed his letter saying “the brethren who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household (Philippians 4:21-22).
Pray that you share the gospel boldly when God opens the door in unexpected ways like Paul (Acts 16:19-34; Colossians 4:2-6).
