In college, I remember I loved listening to the great Irish preacher Jim McGuiggan teach.* Once, he told a group of us college students about a wicked and God-hating private in the British Army.
One evening, a Christian in this private’s platoon returned to the barracks from sentry duty. He was wet and wiped out, yet before hitting the sack, he got down on his knees to pray.
The private responded to this act of piety harshly. He took one boot and threw it as hard as he could at the Christian’s head.
Bull’s eye!
The Christian groaned and prayed, groaned and prayed. So the private grabbed his other boot, threw it as hard as he could at the Christian’s head, and nailed his target again.
The Christian moaned, groaned, rubbed his head—and he prayed. He sighed and prayed, moaned and prayed.
As the Christian continued moaning and praying, his antagonist fell asleep. The following morning, the private awoke and found that the Christian had polished his boots; they stood in perfect formation beside his bed.
This act of humility broke the private’s heart. This loving work of service propelled the private on the road to conversion.
The Christian servant reminds me of Paul’s portrayal of Jesus in Philippians 2. Jesus models for us what it means to put others’ needs above our own, including those needs of our enemies. Perhaps with such loving humility, we can persuade more to turn to Jesus.
*A version of this post appeared in a previous blog of mine in 2010.