By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo
Riding Shotgun
Galatians 6:2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Very seldom do I drive my family around. However, yesterday, I decided to drive. My husband - admittedly - is not a very good "Shotgun Rider." He doesn't say much, but if he thinks I am not slowing down fast enough, he makes use of the car handles and presses his invisible passenger brakes. At one point yesterday, I looked over at him and chuckled, "How are those brakes working for you?"
Honestly (but don't tell my husband), he is a much better driver than I am, but this experience will help me illustrate a greater point...
The term "Riding Shotgun" was coined in 1919 and later used to depict a special employee (armed with a shotgun) who rode as the front passenger on a wagon containing money or precious cargo in the Old West.
Did you know that God has appointed us to spiritually "ride shotgun" in the lives of certain people - family, friends, co-workers, etc.? That doesn't mean we physically go everywhere they go, do what they do, or even accept their lifestyles. It just means that we accompany them along the journey of life - protecting them and their God-given value.
Rather, we unfortunately react as very bad passengers...hitting our "imaginary brakes," shrieking the entire ride, and telling them where they can or cannot go. At some point, these individuals will want us out of "their cars" (or their lives).
Until you are actually in the driver's seat of someone's life, you are unable to fully understand the direction, turns, and use of "brakes" in that individual's life. Does it mean their responses are always right? Certainly not, but God has put people in our lives to protect by our PRAYERS, SERVICE to that individual and LOVE. Too often, we tend to just bark orders and criticism.
I challenge you today to understand your role when "riding shotgun" in someone's life. It's been said that people don't care what you know until they know that you care. When you show someone how much you love and care for them, they will be MUCH more receptive to accepting direction from you and may even ask for it. Romans 2:4 says that it is through God's KINDNESS that people are led to repentance.
Dear Lord, I pray for those that You have placed in my life. Give me the words to say and the strides to take to reach them with Your love and salvation.
I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.
