“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
When I lived in Georgia, I had a friend at my church whom I had grown to admire. His love for Christ was deep and his passion to witness for the Lord was unmatched. In short, he was on fire for Jesus.
Unfortunately, his born-again attitude made him the brunt of a lot of jokes where he worked. He asked me to pray for him, and several weeks later I had the opportunity before one of our Sunday services to catch up with him about how things had been going at work.
“Mike,” he told me, “you wouldn’t believe it. I tell you the Spirit of God just goes right on in before me when I get around the guys I work with. Heck, some of them don’t even cuss around me anymore and the ones who do have started apologizing to me when they realize I’m around.”
My friend’s story reminded me of something that longtime Southern Baptist scholar Herschel Hobbs once observed. “We have noted that in Christ we have all that is necessary to live a full, rich life. But we are not to hoard it up within ourselves; we are to share it with others. We should endeavor to bring the difference Christ made in our lives into the social order in which we live.”
Jesus agreed with that observation and went into some detail to explain just how we should witness to others. You might be surprised by his suggestions.
When our Lord gave his Sermon on the Mount, which is recorded in Matthew 5, he was speaking to believers. He began his sermon by pronouncing a series of eight blessings, which we call Beatitudes, and then immediately turned to the importance of sharing our faith with others by using two common ingredients to make his point.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” (Matthew 5:13)
Jesus’ point with regards to salt is that it cannot have any effect unless it comes in contact with something. The message to Christians everywhere is that we can lose our usefulness to God when we ignore the opportunities that come our way. Rather than pointing the way to Jesus, we can become part of the pathway that the world uses as it rushes on to corruption, despair and loss.
Jesus also compared Christian influence to light. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” (Matthew 5:14-15)
Jesus made two often ignored observations about Christian witnessing. Obviously, when we are surrounded by darkness, there is nothing to see but light. In other words, the darker the world seems, the greater the opportunity to make a difference.
Secondly, God’s light is not meant to draw the attention to us. Instead it shows unbelievers that something else is going on. That’s exactly what Jesus meant when he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
My friend learned that Christian witnessing does not have to be bold to be effective. While changed people should want to change the world around them, there is nothing wrong if a Christian chooses to be a quiet, effective witness for Christ. In fact, the more we allow others to see the change in us, rather than talk about it, the more likely they are to ask us what’s going on. Believe me, the story is a lot easier to tell when the audience wants to hear it.
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This word has been an absolute blessing.
OK. First of all, I looked up Matthew 5:16 in THE BIBLE (KJV obviously) and guess what I found???
Your Version: In the same way,let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
The Right Version: ” Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
ARE YOU KIDDING? Putting the NIV on a (well, I thought it was) website!! I’m positive that GOD isn’t to happy with you right now. I’m not either.
Thanks Mike,
Much appreciated!
AH
PS. It is a pity that God can’t read Modern English; HE must be really stumped when it comes to French, Swahili or Karin;)
Thanks Again!
Feel free to edit this out – I don’t really want to start a war with a 10 year old ?!?
Changed from Glory to Glory for Gods’ Glory
Theoretically we are subject to change, essentially excluding GOD. Several of our viewpoint influence by dint of personal background, and with people we used to be with. Every so often transformation from bitter to better character is tricky. For we steadily stand on “Extant you, are truly yours”. Yours truly was find trickiness about transforming character, for I am emotionally vulnerable. But GODs word often edifies me to execute what is right, and guide my conduct before him. In 2 timothy 3:16 “All scripture is GOD-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”
I myself am fascinated about my Psychology subject enable to grasp, to take in, to figure out, and to comprehend humankind behavior. Well we have known that education is vital for living, especially how to socialize people despite of differences. But human Education is essentially worthless out from GODs direction and intervention. Prior my existence my parents are both fulltime minister of the Gospel. Therefore they used to trained me and my siblings in the way of the LORD, and leave no question within because they are consistent about explaining why. I love to be a Pastors kid, but never dreamed to be one. Mainly when partially am aware of tension in and out the church, even my parents are tacit about it. I am wholly well-founded about not following my parents’ track, for am doubted to stick it out.
Nevertheless GODs power is indeed profound and overpowering, for this reason I studied Theology, but I knew within am sharp about sighting way out. After my four years of studying Theology, last March 2009 I was assigned by my father to be a host Pastor of our mother church at Puntalinao Banay banay Davao Oriental. I followed suit with one condition, to pursue nursing school while pastoring. That’s why I enrolled BSN at University of Mindanao Tagum City. In good conscience the guilt within disturbed me, and it push me to accept the given responsibility to be the academic dean and a subject teacher of Faith School of Theology at Apokon, Tagum City even am inexperienced. Am doing three obligation at my 21 years of age at idem time without sensibly considering some facts to conceal guiltiness within. I thought to study nursing and to pursue medicine after is the best way to swerve my parents track. With all candors I’ll promise GOD to support the ministry financially apart being engaged in the field of ministry. Maybe I understand GODs ministry with my thought, but never been enlightened with my heart.
By means of my very best am devoted to go through with all the responsibility bestowed. Certainly I ask GOD for signs of pardon for me to pursue my inner aspiration, and he pay attention to my appeal. Going back and forth almost one hour of travel from the assigned church going to University of Mindanao to Faith school of theology seems unbearable. Nevertheless out of my mind to give up, but every time I saw the bearable lives of others I felt pity on mine. I can’t fully chip in every church activity; I can’t attend every pastor conference. I was troubled and begun to question why I felt discontentment about life if am still on the right track. As the days, weeks, months goes by with demanding schedule, with undesirable and intolerable experience that even in dreams I don’t want to backtrack. I’ll come to adverse decisions which I thought a way out from undesirable and intolerable situation I’m in, to stop Nursing and even teaching. My adverse decisions cause me so much frustration, sleepless nights, and depression. Everything seems unendurable and GOD knows how I’d tried so hard to endure. Those terrible times of my life I can be interpreted as a sponge that mobbing. Because am tongue-tied, nobody get the picture of my agony and the torture within.
With all frustration I end up packed all things and go my way home to Alabel Sarangani Province where my family and leave the church members uninformed. I received optimistic reactions from my parents, but I sense that they made it for the sake of comforting me, and for me to feel that I’m not alone. But I knew within them they are very dismayed. That’s why I remain uncomforted and struggled specifically when my parents treated me like all is well, that’s why I must be well. But if my parents remain optimist, my siblings are contrary to that, and it helps lessen my guilt. Because I deserved to be condemn and neglected. But the essence of being a family unhindered in spite of. Instead of being optimist about my families comforting reaction, I reacted opposite. All I want is to be alone, in prison to my own room, and tongue tied to everyone. I totally lost my self-esteem and almost lost my trust and confidence to everyone excluding my parents. Everyday my parents uplift me, inspire me, and hearten but it worth me nothing. My Papang (father) always reminded whatever frustration I’d felt I must blame no one most of all GOD. My Mamang (mother) cheers, reassure, and raise my spirit to go through in life and never lose hope. Visibly within I never blame anyone except myself about what happened, and it drives me to hate myself. Am miss of hearing all inspiring words because it’s all spuriousness to me which worth nothing. Committing suicide is the best choice I’ve ever had, but my knowledge about GOD detached me from such foolishness. The words unhappiness, despair, sadness, downheartedness, misery, hopelessness, melancholy, dejection, gloominess is not enough to describe how miserable I was.
Almost two years before I fully recover. As what my parents revealed that’s the most tragic encounter they ever had. But praise GOD for he strengthens my family to be victorious against heartaches and sorrows. Although I’d never seen any visible reaction of hopelessness to my parents for they hold on to GOD, I knew how they struggled too. Jeremiah 33:3 is one of the best passages can comprehend why I survived those terrible battles I was. Truly if we call the name of the LORD he is able to answer us, and show us the great things which thou knowers’ not. I become conscious about lies and deception of Satan that transformed me from better to too bitter. I was awakened and realized that I have nothing to cast down, for what happened to me is festination. Festination is involuntary tottering walk, a style of tottering walk that is characteristic of people with Parkinson’s disease. A Parkinson’s disease is incurable nervous disorder.
The incurable nervous disorder is essentially curable with GOD. About bump into festination are the saddest and the happiest moment in my life. The saddest, because am clueless about way-out from depression. The happiest, because I witness how GOD change me from too bitter to bona fide best. Maybe am not perfect, but it’s a prayer to see my life experiencing a personal relationship with GOD, to be Christlikeness, and to be sensitive in every spiritual issues of life. I’ve learned so much about the will of GOD in the facets of life. In this reason I aimed a worth living life. But it’s not easy as I think, but the word of GOD uplift me in Zechariah 4:6 “not by might nor by power, but by my spirit”, says the LORD almighty. For this, following the will of GOD is must to me, but I make sure am with my heart, and thought. About loving GOD is the most factual love in respond I’ve ever had. About loving GOD, he taught me to gain wisdom about life, and about sharing this to others. It gives me an aspiration to be a missionary which contrary to what I aspired before. Before the ascension of JESUS he said, “Go into the entire world and preach the good news to all creation, whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons: they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well”, Mark 16: 15-18.
The true quality of knowing GOD is very essential, even though he is unfathomable but yet my mere knowledge about him inspired me and ascribes his commandments. I decided to be trained to be competent missionary for the glory of the LORD. Being trained, aware me that GOD is not yet finish on changing me from glory to glory for his glory. Living for Gods’ glory is living life to the fullest. Satisfaction, gratification, contentment, serenity, tranquility is establish. Word is not enough to utter thankfulness for the LORD, but I believe that GOD is fully satisfied of our very best expression of thanksgiving. About knowing GOD aid me to appreciate life, and how blessed I am to have my family and true friends. To GOD is the glory for my Papang (father) who never cease about reminding me the word of GOD. To my Mamang (mother) who visibly express her tender loving care in spite of unbearable ambiance. To my siblings who tried hard enabling to understand what I’d been through. To my true friends who’ve shown their sincerity even though I was pathetic. To everyone who prayed for my fast recovery even though they are ill-informed about what really happened to me. Thank GOD for having then as GODs instrument why I survive. Praise for giving me wisdom to be victorious against Satan’s trap.
Praise GOD as always for my “popoy” and “momoy”, our beloved Bishop Agustine Tito and Rev. Flora Tito of Faith Tabernacle Inc. Who look after my parents and fortified their spiritual life, for them to be revived in the service of our king in spite of. The wisdom bestowed by GOD to them prevalent for the coming generation by Gods’ grace for the glory of GOD.
Indeed change from glory to glory for Gods’ Glory is a must that requires persistence, determination, grit, insistence, resolution, doggedness, diligence, resolve, drive, purpose, dedication, obstinacy, devotion, tirelessness, endurance, and steadfastness in the midst of ups and down we’ve been through. For GOD has made everything beautiful in its time, Ecclesiastes 3:11. To GOD is all the glory! Amen.
this testimony is really a blessing for me..it encourages me more to keep growing for God’s glory!