Love to hear from and know who is listening
Recently I have been attending a bible study entitled, “The Preachers Institute.” Our pastor started the class for the men who felt led to possibly follow the Holy Spirits calling to preach. I will be the first to tell you that I do not feel the calling to be a minister, but I thought it could be an opportunity for me to learn some new skills that I could use when writing my devotionals. Some of the others in our group may go on someday to become a minister, some may just be a lay ministers and others of us just want to learn how to get the most our of the scriptures. You may not realize it but everyone is a minister of sorts. Just the fact that your car is parked in front of the Church on Sunday morning is preaching a sermon to everyone that knows you.
Philippians 2: 14-15 ESV Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
You may be looking at a calendar full of school, work and other commitments, ball games, and doctors appointments, work and business meetings and be wondering, “How am I going to add sharing my faith to this?” The answer to that question is to be intentional about keeping God in focus no matter what you are doing. Any situation where you are already committing your time and energy can offer opportunities to tell others about God. You have probably heard the quote, “Your life may be the only Bible someone will ever read.” That can be an intimidating thought. Whether you are aware of it or not, you’re witnessing about Jesus everywhere you go and every time you open your mouth. So what sermon is your life preaching to those who know you? On our own we tend to be terrible representatives of Christ. But when we trust the Holy Spirit to led us moment by moment, repenting when we mess up, confessing to our friends when we say something less than loving, then asking for their forgiveness, we are witnessing to them. When we repent and return to what God would have us do, these things will bring glory to God, our lives can be a powerful witness.
Luke 10:27 ESV ...“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
Your actions, your choices, your lifestyle matters. Even if you never go knock on a door with your bible in hand and ask if you can share what God means to you, the fact that your attend church on Sunday, Wednesday and other opportunities is a witness! Your lifestyle, your conduct is likely a bolder witness than your words. Your actions truly speak louder than your words. Does the way your treat your neighbors and co-workers align the scriptures and bring glory to God? Do you witness with your life? When we practice Godly behavior around others, He uses our behavior, our lives as a testimony to all those we encounter. Even if they speak badly of us, deep down inside, they know differently. And God may use that conflict in their life to convict them. When you keep your calm and don't lash out as them like expect you to, when difficult situations arise, they may want to know why or how you can remain so calm, even when everyone else is betraying you. This may be your opportunity to led them to Christ. Unfortunately for some it may be the final judgment day when they are confronted by all the choices they have made. Either way, God will use your good deeds for his glory in his time. So what Sermon is your life preaching?
1 Peter 2:12 ESV Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your goo
