What Do They See?

Our actions truly speak louder than our words.  Brennan Manning once said that "The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle."  As believers, we're called to live above reproach.  The Lord instructs us in Ephesians 4 "to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."   Then in 1 Peter 2 we're reminded to "Keep our behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation."  My heart is grievous over the continual actions of Christians that live outside of Scripture.  While this doesn't mean we won't sin, because we will, our day to day walk should follow the humility of Christ, showing growth and change, as we become more and more like Him.

"And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."  Ephesians 5:2

I'm reminded of a story that I read about a missionary in India. This missionary was holding a bible study in her home to non believing Indians. At one point, one of the non believers got up in the middle of the study and left the room only to return later. At the end of the study, the missionary asked this woman why she left and then returned. Her reply was that as she was listening to the gospel, she was wondering if this missionary really lived as she preached. So she got up and went to speak to the maid that was employed by the missionary. A maid is the lowliest of the lowly in that country and typically the most mistreated. When the maid had nothing but praise towards the treatment she received by her employer, the missionary, the woman returned. She told the missionary that when she heard the words of the maid, she returned to the study, as she wanted to hear more about “this Jesus” that was being talked about. This woman did not just preach the Gospel, she lived her life in such a way as to be His light.

As followers of Christ, we need to ask the Lord for a teachable heart, a heart that is transparent and humble, a heart that can be transformed into the image of Christ as we continue to study the Word of God and seek to become more like Him.  But when we ask for that transformation, we need to expect that the Lord will provide opportunities for us to exercise what we've asked Him for.   I'm so thankful for the Spirit of God that abides within me, knowing that where I'm weak, He's strong, because in my own strength I'd be incapable of walking in His footsteps.

 

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."  Matthew 5:16

Walking in Obedience - Growing in Faith

Our walk with Christ is a journey.  Ultimately it's all for His glory, but we also reap what He's sowing in us - if we choose to walk in obedience to Him.  The Lord constantly gives us opportunity to respond in obedience - we always have a choice, but there are consequences for not heeding to His perfect will.  He's the One who is molding us to His image and I cannot think of another that I'd rather be more like than Him.

As we're planning for our overseas departure to take place in August - only five months away, we're also waiting for His provision in order for our plans to succeed.  It's always interesting to walk by faith and not by sight, but we've had some practice over the years as Wesley's self-employed and I stay at home to raise and school our children.  God has given us the opportunity to see His hand of provision in the most miraculous and unexpected ways as well as perfect timing.  It's not been easy, but it's been well worth the growth.

The Lord has brought to mind two examples of His provision from Scripture as a reminder to us that while we're waiting, we're also to walk in obedience to Him, trusting Him as Jehovah Jireh once again.  While the funds we need to get us to East Asia may seem like an intimidating amount, nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37). 

The first story comes from 1 Kings 17.  This story came to me twice in a matter of a few days - first from a friend who taught from this Scripture on a recent mission trip and then a couple of days later in my quiet time while reading through the Old Testament.  It tells the story of how the widow and her young son were desperate for food, as a drought had occurred in the land.  The prophet Elijah comes to her as she's gathering sticks asking her for a drink of water and a piece of bread.  All the widow has is a handful of flour and a little oil - just enough for her and her son, but not enough for them to live for very long.  Elijah tells her to go home and bake the bread, but first to bake him a small bread cake, "For thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.'"  The woman chose to believe Elijah's word from the Lord.  She responded in obedience and in faith and was rewarded for her response.

The second story came this morning during our devotion with our children.  We just began the book of Matthew.  Chapter 4 tells the story of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness.  At the end of His 40 days and nights of fasting, Jesus is weak when Satan comes to tempt Him.  Though Satan attempted to use Christ's physical weakness to his advantage, Christ stood firm in obedience to the Lord using Scripture - God's powerful word - to His defend Himself.  After the devil left, the Lord provided angels to minister to Christ.

The Lord has given us amazing peace that He's not only called us, but that He's going to provide in ways we cannot even imagine.  These two recent passages were just reminders of His faithfulness as we step out in faith and obedience.  Sometimes He provides for us in ways that go beyond our narrow definitions and expectations.  Faith is the step between promise and assurance and, sometimes, miracles seem so out of reach for our feeble faith.  But every miracle, large or small, begins with an act of obedience.  God's provision is not given in order for us to rest upon it, but in order for our faith to grow as we learn to constantly depend on Him.