WITNESSES

Just as the Lord called out specific prophets in the Old Testament to live out examples of His truth, showing by their actions His heart, so has He called His people today to do the same.

Isaiah at one point was called by the Lord to live naked and barefoot for three years, as a sign to Egypt and Ethiopia.  (Isaiah 20: 1-6)

THREE YEARS.

ONE MAN.

NAKED.

BAREFOOT.

We read that like it was nothing.  Stop.  Think.  Meditate.  Consider.  Ponder.

For three years - or one thousand and ninety five days (1095) Isaiah lived his daily life NAKED.  Buttocks out for all to see.  Genitalia exposed to any who choose to look.  Do you think he was so different from you or I that he didn't experience embarrassment?

One thousand and ninety five days BAREFOOT.  Every where he went.  No sandals.  In the heat, in the cold, on the rocks - nothing to protect the tender bottom of his feet from harm.

And when asked, and I'll bet lots of people asked, his answer was "God told me to."

How many of us would do such a thing?  Faithfully, day in and day out, for three years?  We would convince ourselves that God doesn't want us to be "uncomfortable".

I know, because there have been plenty of times I've convinced myself of that very thought.  Surely God doesn't me to be so uncomfortable!  I can only thank God I was willing to submit to the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit convicted my heart of my selfishness.

But we are called to be witnesses of Christ Jesus to this world.  To be His witness is to live as He lived. (Oh that we were actually capable of living as He lived!  Sin free.  Obedient without compromise.  Gracious at every turn.  Generous without question.  Kind without exception.)

Jesus never lived in a mansion, behind locked gates, with servants at His beck and call tending to every unspoken need, because He was a Servant of God and therefore somehow deserving of such luxury.  Instead, He lived among those He was serving and ministering to.  He lived by example, letting people see how He trusted God to meet His every need from big things to small things.

Jesus was a great example of being a real part of the community He was teaching Gods word to.  No setting Himself above or apart from folks.  He lived with them, always ready to stop whatever He was doing to meet a need, pray with someone, share a truth they needed to hear.

When Jesus was teaching His disciples He made it abundantly clear  that the greatest among them would be the SERVANT to all of them.

A true servant of the Lord won't be found "lording" it over others.  They won't be found hiding from  those with great need behind locked gates or in the back of fancy cars driven by others.  They won't be found doing "momentary ministry" only when the camera's are rolling.

Like Mother Teresa, they will be found in the "trenches" with those in need giving encouragement, praying with others, feeding those who are hungry and sharing with them the glorious Gospel that will set them free!  They'll be living their lives, not in momentary ministry, but in ministry mode at all times, keeping their hearts open to others and always looking for the return of Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

We may fail on many occasions.  We may fail on a regular basis.  We may fail daily.

BUT WE MUST NEVER STOP TRYING.  We must never stop asking God to cleanse our hearts of unrighteousness and set our feet on a path of obedience before Him to do His will.

This is practical application of Biblical truth.  Read it (follow along on our reading schedule!)  Think about how it applies to your life.  Then do it.  Love your neighbor.  Feed the hungry.  Visit the sick and those in prison.  As you have opportunity, take it, and watch how God will transform your life and fill it with such JOY as you've never known previously.

We pray for you.  Please remember to pray for us as we, too, attempt to obey and please the Lord our God.

Of Fools and Wise Witnesses

In our Daily Bible Reading this week, we came across Psalm 53 which opens with as clear a line of truth as any statement made anywhere by anyone at anytime.

The fool has said in his heart “There is no God”.

There are times when the command Jesus gave His disciples to “go into all the world” hits square up against the reality of those who choose NOT to believe.

Should we shake our heads and walk away?

Should we argue with them, point by point?

Should we regale them with stories of miracles until we have no breath left?

Should we tell them they are foolish?

YES!

and NO!

Speaking the truth in love comes in very handy right at this time. 

After making every mistake in this area, here’s what I’ve learned, and I hope it helps you when you run across a fool.

We are to LOVE as Jesus loves.  He wouldn’t argue.  He wouldn’t declare them a fool and walk away.  He wouldn’t waste his breath or time sharing truth endlessly, either.

He would TRUST that the TRUTH, spoken in LOVE and infused with the POWER of the Holy Spirit would work in the heart of the most hardened fool who says in his heart there is no God.

Share truth.  Share it lovingly, as an offering given in grace.  Share it as the Holy Spirit leads you to, with gentleness and all meekness.  Leave them with a blessing of some kind.  A smile, a kind word, a caring reminder that “it’s all food for thought, isn’t it?”

Then walk on, but not “away”.  Not away, because YOU know that the truth is if they don’t receive Christ as Savior, they will spend Eternity in Hell. 

So you pray for them.  Pray for their salvation.  Pray for their deliverance.  Pray for Gods goodness to draw them close to Him, to open their eyes to His love and mercy, to open their hearts to His salvation gift.

In this way, you are at peace, they are at peace and the Holy Spirit is free to move.  He is very good at His job – convicting hearts and leading souls to salvation.

With a little practice, we can get very good at our jobs – speaking the Truth in Love!

Pour a little LOVE on the next fool you meet, and then  let us know, so we can join with you in prayer for their salvation. 

Bear in mind the words of our Savior:

Matthew 18:19  “Again I say to you if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask it will be done for them by my Father in Heaven.” ~ Jesus