09 05 08 LIVE OUR FAITH OUT LOUD

“You are the salt of the earth. But suppose the salt loses its saltiness. How can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything. It will be thrown out. People will walk all over it. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill can't be hidden. Also, people do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand. Then it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine in front of others. Then they will see the good things you do. And they will praise your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16 NIrV)

We are not instructed to repent, receive the forgiveness of Christ, receive the Holy Spirit and wait. We are told to occupy our time…go and make disciples, teach others about all that we have learned through Christ and others. We are not told to wait for hard times to come and then be holy. We are told to be holy because God is holy. We are not told to let others discover the Good News all by themselves. We are instructed to be a light to their dark path, salt in their bland and predictable world, and friction into an otherwise tolerant lifestyle.

At times, we believers are caught waiting for opportunities instead of looking for them, even creating them. God is at work right where we are every day. It’s a matter of joining in the process. We don’t have to search too far or long to find a stranger in need of a warm conversation, a frustrated gentleman at the side of his disabled vehicle, or a child in need of a few cents to make up the purchase price of a candy bar or ice cream cone. Nearly every day someone at the job could use a word of encouragement. The delivery person would appreciate a gift card for the local fast food restaurant. Even closer to home, our spouse and children need our time…our sincere hugs and kisses… our commitment to them and to Christ. We need to LIVE OUR FAITH OUT LOUD in this world!

There is no time to tolerate lies and bigotry concerning the Gospel. There is no time to put up with the slander of our DADDY’s name and character. There is no time to continue allowing our friends and family to slip away without hearing and seeing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no time to continue to see the news and hear the stories of suffering people, even our own neighbors, and not sacrifice to help. It’s time to begin to LIVE OUR FAITH OUT LOUD!

Jesus had a direct and planned out 3-year plan. Nothing happened by chance. His life was calculated and directed by the Holy Spirit and according to the will of God the Father. There was no time to waste. Time is now for us to do the same. There is plenty of work to be done and we as believers are qualified to do something! We have been forgiven. We have received the Holy Spirit. We have been given our marching orders to go into the world and teach what we have been shown and taught. We are to LIVE OUR FAITH OUT LOUD to the glory and praise of our Father.

Turn up the volume…let’s go…beginning right now!