Be a Walking Sermon

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have in Jesus. But do this with gentleness and respect.” -1 Peter 3:15

I have heard ministers and others remind us to be a walking sermon. That was a great reminder that people were paying attention to my behavior. Perhaps you have heard some say, you may be the only Bible people will read or look at. That can be a little scary but is also an awesome responsibility. Let it be a strong reminder for us to examine our lives and be mindful of how we portray ourselves to others. I am not saying to portray something we aren’t, but to be genuine and ask God to help us to be the kind of person that can live our life to glorify Him.

If you grumble and complain at work or at school, and people know you consider yourself a Christian, do you think they will get to know Jesus any better by being around you? They probably won’t because you aren’t showing them a life that is desirable. On the other hand, if you are a person who is learning to see the glass as half full, to show genuine concern for others, and to avoid judging them, people may want to figure out what you and God are all about. Your living example can speak volumes. Be genuine and caring. Be infectious with your peace. Be trustworthy.

I am not a person that will knock on doors or walk up to strangers and start to witness, but in our everyday lives we talk to friends and people we may be around that we can portray Jesus to. It is comforting to be able to have scripture like 1 Peter 3:15 that relate to the circumstances we are talking about. What is one respectful way you can display your faith today? We don’t need to point out someone’s faults, but rather show concern and genuinely try to uplift them.

God, may my hope in You guide my decisions today. Help me to be gentle and respectful in all my relationships so others will be drawn to you. Help me to have a stronger burden for those in need of your touch. Amen.

A Tough Mind & A Tender Heart

When Jesus speaks, we ought to listen, especially when He is commending or correcting specific things in the lives of His followers. The Book of Revelation gives us some special insight into what Jesus really values in a church. In Revelation chapters 2-3 Jesus has messages for 7 specific churches. In these messages Jesus corrects and commends the churches. If we will pay careful attention, it shows us as His followers what Jesus values. Let’s take a closer look at the message given to the church in Ephesus from Revelation 2:1-7.

Jesus commends the Church in Ephesus for having a tough mind. They were the kind of church that had some grit to them. They had endured hardship, and not been swayed by false teaching. They had a handle on the truth and were willing to see it through to the end. Jesus told them,

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. -Revelation 2:2, ESV

Jesus also had a word of correction for the Church in Ephesus. Their hearts had become hard. Through the toil and trouble, the tenderness of their walk with Jesus had been lost. They needed to repent and renew the love that they once had. Jesus told them,

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. -Revelation 2:4, ESV

There is indeed a balance in our Christian walk. We need to be both tough-minded and tender-hearted. Are you struggling with one of those today? Has your mind become weak? Is it hard to persevere? Have you lost sight of the truth? Or perhaps has your heart become hard? Have you become apathetic or lost a love you once had? As His follower, Jesus wants both your mind and heart to be in the right place. He wants you to hold to the truth without wavering while freely dispensing grace. He wants you to think critically and love unconditionally. He wants you to have a tough mind and a tender heart.

15 Years

A few weeks ago I celebrated 15 years of being a butcher. In that timespan I have worked in three different shops. Starting out just wrapping meat to now doing everything start to finish. I owe all of that to Richard Rumsey. He took a 17-year-old kid and put a knife in his hand and said, “Meat can’t cut itself!” We would talk every day after I left Kroger, from the most ridiculous of things to music, which was mainly what we talked about, and also the things that matter! He quickly became my other dad, which earned him the name “Pop.”

Then one day last year I got a phone call from his ex-wife during church that he had passed away. I lost it outside the church. A wave of emotions fell over me! I thought, “I wish could have just talked to him one more time or something!” Once I gathered myself, I got in the truck and turned on the radio and Jim Croce was playing. The song was “Tomorrows Gonna Be a Brighter Day.”

I guess that’s true for all of us even in the darkest of times where it may seem like we can’t go on. Tomorrow is always gonna be a brighter day if we have Christ at the forefront of our lives! I know that Rumsey was a believer in Christ and one day I’ll see him again and it will be just like old times, but until that time I’ll just keep waiting and carrying on the tradition and art of being a butcher. After all “meat can’t cut itself!”

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. -Proverbs 27:9, NIV

Brokenhearted

For every happy occasion where we gather in groups, there is someone among us who just can’t feel the joy. They may smile to cover their pain and sorrow, but it’s still with them. We all need to be more aware of our friends and family’s heart condition.

Are those who are hurting in need of a kind word or a quiet listening ear? It’s easier to avoid other people’s feelings and just look at the smile on the surface. However, God wants us to comfort those around us, to share His love to those in need. Psalm 147:3 reminds us,

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Other people’s feelings can be messy and complicated. Sometimes we don’t know what to say or what to do. That’s where trust comes in. Trust the Lord to give you the words to comfort, the wisdom to help, and the courage to reach out! Psalm 34:18 reminds us,

The Lord is near the brokenhearted, He saves those crushed in spirit.

I challenge you (and myself), the next time we gather in a group, to seek out someone who needs a little extra. Look for the person who is hanging back and engage them in conversation. Share the love and comfort God so freely gives.

Fear not for I am with you. Be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. -Isaiah 41:10