23 November 2008
This Little Light of Mine... (Part III)
November/24/2008 10:36 AM
Walkin’ What We’re Talkin’
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.
This is the third and final part of our light series. However, this doesn’t mean we have covered all the ways that we can be an ambassador of light in this world. The goal is to spark us to shine brighter than ever in our sphere of influence. Within your sphere of influence, you will inspire people in a way that I never will and vice versa. Whether we realize it or not, we all have an influence of either good or bad. That impact is either a good reflection or a not so good reflection of our Father to all we come in contact with, unless we’re a hermit living in a cave somewhere! We may not live in a cave, but if we don’t let our light shine, it might as well be in a cave because it does nothing good for the kingdom. Jesus called us the light of the world and a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.
What people see on the outside should reflect what’s really on the inside of us. What we say and what we do speaks volumes. Imagine being hungry and spotting a big, red, shiny apple. It looks so delicious and juicy so you decide to take a big bite. It’s pretty disappointing when it looks like a luscious piece of fruit on the outside but on the inside it is brown and mushy. I have also noticed that some “fake” fruit is deceiving in its realistic outward appearance. What is on the outside is not a true indication of what is on the inside.
We need to taste good through and through, not just look good on the outside. We can talk the talk, but talk can be cheap. If we are going to be a light we’ve got to be walkin’ what we’re talkin’!
People want to see the real; real people, real life, real move of the Spirit, real God. They have a hunger for the real, not the fake. People don’t need to see a “super spiritual” Christian who mystically floats into a room instead of walking into it! I believe folks want to see a supernatural God working through the life of a person just like them. They don’t need someone to act “holier than thou.” They are not as likely to listen to someone who only acts like they live in some unattainable spiritual place.
This reminds me of the account of Paul and Barnabas in the city of Lystra in Acts 14:8-13. Paul and Barnabas were ministering and a crippled man was instantly healed. Because of this amazing healing, the crowds thought that Paul and Barnabas were gods, so they were going to worship the men. Notice what the apostle Paul said in response to the crowd at Lystra:
“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.”
It encourages me when I read in James 5:17: “Elijah was a man, just like us (subject to like passions as we are). He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced crops.”
When people see us as everyday people, with the evidence of the power of God in our lives, I believe it gives them hope. They not only gain hope that God will receive them, but they get a hunger for God as well!
We said earlier that talk is cheap when we don’t back it up with actions. That is true, but it’s also important that we are known as people of our word. We are people of integrity if we do what we say.
In 2 Corinthians 1:18-20, the apostle Paul spoke of how God is faithful. God is faithful and consistent with keeping His word. In other words, He doesn’t speak out of both sides of His mouth. His promises are not “Yes” and “No.” The word says that no matter how many promises God has made, they are always “Yes” in Christ Jesus.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:37, “Simply let your ‘Yes be ‘Yes’, and your ‘No, ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
Isn’t that interesting that if we speak out of both sides of our mouth we are not a good witness for Christ? We can’t merely excuse ourselves by saying that we are only human. We have a higher standard now.
It’s important to know what we believe, speak in line with that belief, and then act accordingly. If mixed messages are sent then we might be seen as undependable or untrustworthy. Those things are not attributes of the God we serve. On the contrary, He is always faithful and trustworthy! God always watches over His word and performs it!
If God said it, then it’s the truth. It’s the truth that sets us free! The Bible says that God cannot lie. It’s impossible for any untruth or even a half truth to ever come from Him. When we give our word, we must follow through, even to our own hurt. That’s part of reflecting who God is on the inside of us.
Remember that we glorify God when men see our good works. Matthew 5:38-42 puts it in a nutshell for us: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Every situation is an opportunity to reflect His light or to ‘walk the talk.’ It’s easy to act just like the world, but let’s go the extra mile. We may say we are a Christian on the outside, but the world really sees what we are made of by what’s on the inside. Our words and our actions are speaking loudly. Let’s keep walkin’ what we’re talkin’!
Ephesians 5:16: “Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity; because the days are evil.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,
this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,
this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, way beyond the blue……
kimconnor@whwc.org
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16.
This is the third and final part of our light series. However, this doesn’t mean we have covered all the ways that we can be an ambassador of light in this world. The goal is to spark us to shine brighter than ever in our sphere of influence. Within your sphere of influence, you will inspire people in a way that I never will and vice versa. Whether we realize it or not, we all have an influence of either good or bad. That impact is either a good reflection or a not so good reflection of our Father to all we come in contact with, unless we’re a hermit living in a cave somewhere! We may not live in a cave, but if we don’t let our light shine, it might as well be in a cave because it does nothing good for the kingdom. Jesus called us the light of the world and a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.
What people see on the outside should reflect what’s really on the inside of us. What we say and what we do speaks volumes. Imagine being hungry and spotting a big, red, shiny apple. It looks so delicious and juicy so you decide to take a big bite. It’s pretty disappointing when it looks like a luscious piece of fruit on the outside but on the inside it is brown and mushy. I have also noticed that some “fake” fruit is deceiving in its realistic outward appearance. What is on the outside is not a true indication of what is on the inside.
We need to taste good through and through, not just look good on the outside. We can talk the talk, but talk can be cheap. If we are going to be a light we’ve got to be walkin’ what we’re talkin’!
People want to see the real; real people, real life, real move of the Spirit, real God. They have a hunger for the real, not the fake. People don’t need to see a “super spiritual” Christian who mystically floats into a room instead of walking into it! I believe folks want to see a supernatural God working through the life of a person just like them. They don’t need someone to act “holier than thou.” They are not as likely to listen to someone who only acts like they live in some unattainable spiritual place.
This reminds me of the account of Paul and Barnabas in the city of Lystra in Acts 14:8-13. Paul and Barnabas were ministering and a crippled man was instantly healed. Because of this amazing healing, the crowds thought that Paul and Barnabas were gods, so they were going to worship the men. Notice what the apostle Paul said in response to the crowd at Lystra:
“Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.”
It encourages me when I read in James 5:17: “Elijah was a man, just like us (subject to like passions as we are). He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced crops.”
When people see us as everyday people, with the evidence of the power of God in our lives, I believe it gives them hope. They not only gain hope that God will receive them, but they get a hunger for God as well!
We said earlier that talk is cheap when we don’t back it up with actions. That is true, but it’s also important that we are known as people of our word. We are people of integrity if we do what we say.
In 2 Corinthians 1:18-20, the apostle Paul spoke of how God is faithful. God is faithful and consistent with keeping His word. In other words, He doesn’t speak out of both sides of His mouth. His promises are not “Yes” and “No.” The word says that no matter how many promises God has made, they are always “Yes” in Christ Jesus.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:37, “Simply let your ‘Yes be ‘Yes’, and your ‘No, ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”
Isn’t that interesting that if we speak out of both sides of our mouth we are not a good witness for Christ? We can’t merely excuse ourselves by saying that we are only human. We have a higher standard now.
It’s important to know what we believe, speak in line with that belief, and then act accordingly. If mixed messages are sent then we might be seen as undependable or untrustworthy. Those things are not attributes of the God we serve. On the contrary, He is always faithful and trustworthy! God always watches over His word and performs it!
If God said it, then it’s the truth. It’s the truth that sets us free! The Bible says that God cannot lie. It’s impossible for any untruth or even a half truth to ever come from Him. When we give our word, we must follow through, even to our own hurt. That’s part of reflecting who God is on the inside of us.
Remember that we glorify God when men see our good works. Matthew 5:38-42 puts it in a nutshell for us: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Every situation is an opportunity to reflect His light or to ‘walk the talk.’ It’s easy to act just like the world, but let’s go the extra mile. We may say we are a Christian on the outside, but the world really sees what we are made of by what’s on the inside. Our words and our actions are speaking loudly. Let’s keep walkin’ what we’re talkin’!
Ephesians 5:16: “Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity; because the days are evil.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,
this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,
this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine, way beyond the blue……
kimconnor@whwc.org
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