The Thief

Years ago, I was a Area Sales Manager at a big name retail department store. One of my departments, had a lot of theft. The girl working that area, we stealing from the very hands that paid her wages. I had caught her, and she knew it, so she threw the race card at me, in our disiplinary meeting with another Area Sales Manager as witness. She went back the her station on the floor. Shortly afterwards, she packaged a bag of merchandise, and left her station. I recieved a call, from other workers on the floor, and called our security team. They met her at the employee entrance door. She had over $1000 in merchandise, stuffed in a shopping bag. She went to jail, and the merchandise was recovered. Later on, we did a storewide inventory. I was awarded with the least amount of missing and stolen merchandise. It was the first time in 10 years, for the department, she had worked in, to have such a good report! Weeding out bad eggs, seems to be one of my hidden talents. I could spot a theif, and get them caught by our security. The store considered me an asset. This memory pops us from time to time. And it did this morning as I was waking up. I think about this young lady, and pray that she will be saved. What a horrible way to live life. The world view, we are seeing in the news, is also along the same lines. Blaming something on someone's race, has become the norm. But the real problem, is much deeper than skin. It is a sin problem. I learned a long time ago, not to judge someone, by their outward appearance. But to judge them according to their character and actions.

John 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

This woman, did not understand, that her happiness, would not be found in wordly goods. Our happiness, is only found in JESUS.

Luke 12:33-34 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

She also missed the Thou shalt not steal, verse in the BIBLE. May I ask, what people come to you in memories and thoughts? Do you stop and pray for them. I may never see this young woman again. But she left an indelible mark on me. She is just one, of hundreds of thousands, in this world, who are lost. We must remember to pray for those that hurt us, who do wrong, who are lost and dying without JESUS.