Learning to Shine

Written by Melissa B.

While sharing the gospel verbally is an extremely important part of sharing our Lord with others, I have yet to learn how to do this.  I thought that I would share what I am in the process of learning. 

"Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."  Matthew 20:25-28

Just like Jesus, we too can give our lives to serve others.  What better way of showing what God is like than to live it out practically before others?

"So after [Jesus] had washed [the disciples'] feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.  If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.  For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.  If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."  John 13:12-17

If we can learn, by the grace of God, what it means to love in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18) by serving others, it will open the door to verbal witness.  This kind of love is not natural, and so if it is lived out, it will stand out and cause others to ask us the reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15).  When Jesus said that if we followed His servant example, we would be happy in it, it was no joke.  The Christian's highest fulfillment and greatest joy is to do that for which he was created, just as it was Jesus' pleasure to do His Father’s will.  He said, ”My food is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."  John 4:34

Another aspect of sharing our Lord with others by reflecting His mind and Spirit is that of a thankful heart.  When God through Paul tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, his first practical instruction is this very thing!

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.  Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."  Philippians 2:12-15

"Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."  Ephesians 5:17-21

What greater testimony can we have than this?  When we are really and truly thankful always and for all things, we are showing everyone that we truly do believe God when He says that all things work for our good.  We are saying by our lives that God is to be trusted.

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  Matthew 5:13-16

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