Approaching my 59th birthday ( or the 30th anniversary of my 29th birthday).
I really do see and have an understanding of how fleeting life is and how it truly is compared to a vapor in Scripture. If you visit a cemetery, you'll see headstones that have a persons name along with birth date and death date. There between the two dates is a hyphen. If you think about it, the hyphen represents the entire life of that individual. All the problems they faced.........How they handled the problems......decisions they made.......how they loved (or didn't love).......every facet of the person who is buried is defined there in that little mark.
Psalm 107:43 reads: Those who are wise will take all of this to heart. They will see in our history the faithful love of the LORD.
Our hyphen is suppose to reveal the history of God in our own personal life.
Prayers we offered to Him and the answers we received. God's hand upon our daily decisions and how we affected those around us. Our hyphen should reveal the ongoing history of God in our daily life. Does it? Will people remember you as someone who loved and encouraged and demonstrated Jesus in everyday life?
Does the world see a difference in you.......the way you approach your problems....that causes them to pause and ask, "Why is this person so different....what makes them not be shaken by events or situations? This is the basis or the beginning of an opportunity to "tell your story". The demonstration of a life lived under the directives of God will draw attention through the moving of the Holy Spirit on those around you. Those around you will be strangely made aware that there is something different about you. They will ask questions which will give you an opening to share what Jesus has done in your life.
Psalm 107:2 reads: Has the LORD redeemed you? Then say so....speak out.
We don't need to be secret agents for the Lord....you know.....Double O nothings!
On the other hand we also don't need to be the church police running around with religious license to bash anyone who doesn't measure up to our own standards.
There is a middle ground that God so desires us to occupy.
Try this!
In your next prayer, ask God to put one person in front of you that you can tell your story to. Ask the Spirit in you to stir them and an opening for conversation may begin.
Now don't be discouraged if you meet someone and the conversation doesn't open up right away....sometimes you may have to "bump" into them several times before it actually moves to a place where you can share your story. It will happen if you remain open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Prepare yourself.
Pray....
Study the Word....
Listen for God.....
Watch and be aware as you move through your day for that one person God leads by you.
Read Acts 8:26-39.....Notice how Phillip simply followed the leading of God and see how the encounter ended.
God on you........
mb
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