Day Thirty One
Honored By The Public
Proverbs 31:31...Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]...
While waiting to get a hair cut one day, I overheard a beautician and her customer discussing someone. They were talking about another woman who comes into the shop to get her hair done. The beautician was saying, "You know, I always have a good day when ___ comes in. She is a Christian, and while I have a different faith than hers, she is such a refreshing start to my day. She has a good attitude and is so friendly. When she leaves, my day is just brighter by being around her. I know that when she comes in, my day is going to get better." Can you imagine leaving that kind of an impact on a person by simply getting your hair done? The witness of the Christian woman to the beautician and others is the fullness of God in her. Does the fullness of God dwell in us? Are we a walking expression of the light and love of Jesus?
You know, many times we believe that we must be syrupy sweet or say only positive things or smile all the time to be a witness for Christ. We sometimes have this mental picture of a happy, bubbly person who walks around saying, "Jesus loves you." Let's get real for a moment. Life can be hard at times. When you have children crying at your feet in the grocery store and you are tired and have lost your patience, do you feel like being syrupy sweet? When you are facing some very difficult challenges in your life, do you plaster a fake smile on your face and try to 'buck up' under the pressure so that people will think you are a happy Christian? That sounds like being a phony, doesn't it? I think the world has seen enough phony, don't you? Especially in the realm of the Christian community - people whose lives do not reflect what they believe, nor does it reflect the Son. The world is full of hurting people, with very difficult problems, and they are searching for answers.
We are called to be a light to those who do not know Jesus...in the middle of good times and bad. Our call is to be so full of the Spirit of God, that what comes out of our mouths, what we walk and talk, is a witness and a reflection of God's hand in our lives. The focus is His strength in the situation that looks hopeless; the focus is His strength when our patience is gone; the focus is His strength under pressure. When people look at our lives, through the good times and the hard times, and they see God being the answer, and it gives other hope for their own lives, then we have truly honored the Father. They may say, "You know, ___ is going through something difficult, but look how God is helping them through this and answering prayers"...or..."___is a really friendly person. There is something different about her/him". And those comments are truly honoring. But when the focus of the honor is God's Spirit in us and it leads others to Him, we have truly been a light.
Matthew 5:16...Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.
A hearts' cry...Father, if I am to be honored, may the focus be Your Son...Who died for our sins...that we might be saved...
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