Series: Sharing Your Faith
Part Two: Through Actions
By: Kristen L. McNulty
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Last week on our impact devotional, we talked about sharing our faith through talking the talk, this week in the second part of our three part series, we're going to talk about walking the walk.
Many people go on mission trips, wanting to make a difference for God, and I think that's great. But we can't forget that our main mission starts at home. God has placed us all in different environments and social circles for a reason. I may not be able to be a shining light to your family, but you can. You may not be able to influence the people I work with, but I can. Our main mission is with those whom God has put us into contact with, and one of the best ways I know to do this is through actions.
As it says in 1 Peter 3:1, "...Your Godly lives will speak to them [non-believers] better than any words." Let me share a short story with you:
A couple took their young son with them on a trip to Europe where they visited many of the cathedrals on the tourist trek. When they returned home the little boy's Sunday school teacher asked him, "Did you learn what a saint is?" He remembered the many stained glass windows which depicted the Christian saints so beautifully, and he said, "A saint is a man who the light shines through." I wonder if that is not the best definition I've ever heard, and a good testimony to what we are trying to do ourselves here on earth.
You see, as Christians if we want to share our faith, we've got to let the light shine through. Just as the moon reflects the suns light to provide light in the darkness, we should reflect the Son (s o n) to bring Hope and Light to a very dark world. If someone can't look at your life and notice that anything is different, then it's time to examine what kind of witness you are.
So how do we shine the light? By walking the walk. And how do we walk the walk? By living out our faith. You can talk about God till you're blue in the face, but unless you're living a life that reflects the change it's pointless. The word Christian means "little Christ" and that's what we should be- little Christ's. No, we're never going to be perfect, but we can strive to be like Jesus.
Even in your own family you can be a witness, whether your family members are Christians or not. The way you obey or don't obey your parents, the way you get along with your siblings, and the kind of life you live is going to be noticed.
In closing, I'd like to read a quote. In The Fight, author John White pointed out:
A good witness isn't like a salesman, emphasis is on a person rather than a product. A good witness is like a signpost. It doesn't matter whether it is old, young, pretty, ugly; it has to point the right direction and be able to be understood. We are witnesses to Christ, we point to him.
This devotional was aired as a part of the Making A Difference Christian Radio Show.