...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Needed in these days are men and women of good report, whose lives speak GOD, even when no word is uttered. In many ways the Cause of Jesus has suffered so much because Christians who are supposed to shine as light have no good report in their localities and environments. It is still possible to live lives that stand out above the standards of this world and all its weaknesses. To say this is impossible is to make ridicule of the reason for which Jesus came to earth. Daniel was such a man, nothing evil or bad could be found against him save a matter concerning his God (Dan 6:4-5). 1 Peter 4:15-16 tells us that no man should suffer as an evil doer except as a Christian, because concerning this many people will want to find offense. What Peter is saying is that, if you are going to be guilty of anything at all, let it be because of God and related to your faith.
We live in a time that calls for so much attention to the way we conduct ourselves and the kind of image we portray to others. Many a times, it’s those of us inside the church that hinder others from coming into the church - because of the way we conduct our lives. This is not a call to hypocrisy or to try to be men-pleasers, but it’s a call to live like biblical Christians, because if you are a Christian in God’s way, you will have a good report among men.
Jesus was also a man of good report – the bible says He went about doing good (Acts 10:38). It was the weight of His words that men couldn’t contain. They knew He was true but were not ready to accept His Words which were strange to their ears. Nicodemus revealed the heart of the leaders at that time when he said in John 3:2 – “For we know that you are a teacher sent from God and that no man can do the things that you do except God be with him” – so they knew. Others would come to him and call him – good Master.
When the time came for the table men to be chosen in Acts 6, the Apostles asked the general church assembly to look among themselves for seven men of honest report. This qualification even came before that of the in-filling of the Holy Ghost. God wants a people whose lives emit sweet aroma to the world. It is not the end of the road if you have had it bad and your reputation in your world is nothing to write home about. It used to be like that for Saul until Jesus turned the table around for him, and the same Jesus can still do the turning around for you so that men will ask – Is Saul also among the prophets?
Prayer: Loving Father, thank you for your word inviting me to be courageous in living like Christ. I receive the power of your word with obedience. Make my life a radiant reflection of your Holy Spirit. In place of my weaknesses please reveal your strength, and make my strengths instruments of your praise, I pray in Jesus name
One-Year Daily Bible Reading Plan - Aug. 27 2010 - Ezekiel 4-5 (OT), 1 Thessalonians 5 (NT).
Pray for someone today - Pray for marriages; that there will be peace between husbands and wives and that every tension sowed by the enemy to steal the joy of their homes will be displaced.
God's love and mine...
