Breakfast For Your Soul

Thursday, January 7, 2010

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

 
Let It Shine!

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. 2 Corinthians 3:3 says, “Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.  It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.”(New Living Translation)  In King James vernacular a “living epistle”.  We are the only Bible some people will ever ‘read’.  That can be a scary thought.  We never want to be a stumbling block in someones path to God.  An bad example of a child of God.  For all of the bible study tools, and classes, packed out Churches, as well as all of the vast info all over the web, many believe that we are living in a one of the most biblically illiterate generations of our American history.  There was a time when it was unusual to find a family without a sanctified ”Big Mama”, preacher or deacon.  Somebody that knew the Word of God and was a light in their family.  These days, it is not unusual to find a family that has no one.  Big Mamas have passed on and their children are “too busy” for the things of God.  Too busy to teach their children, and so the knowledge of God has ‘faded’ from their family.  I believe that there has been a shift in the atmosphere.  A ‘shaking of the fence’ and those who have had their feet firmly planted on the fence are landing on one side of the other.  Lines are clearly being drawn indicating those on the Lord’s side.  It is not a cause to fear, but to be excited.  God in His mercy has given us time to get our lives in order, because He loves us and wants the best for us…Himself.  As children of God we represent God.  We are heavenly ambassadors residing on earth.  It is a high calling… not to be taken lightly.  However, I have witnessed people who have taken their position to the extreme to a place of being ‘untouchable’.  Now, I’m not really talking about people who have been given a measure of success, and thousands of people want to have access to them.  That would be unreasonable.  No human body would be able to handle giving that many people personal attention.  My experience was this, I had occasion to be in the presence of a few radio announcers years ago.  Many artists frequently visit my hometown, and when they do the radio personalities either MC the program or have a table set up in the lobby.  At one event, out of town, I noticed the personalities from my city.  No one visited their table, so I decided to stop by and say hi.  It was an unwelcoming experience, to say the least.  I left that table with a bad taste in my mouth, but I thought, “oh well, maybe they’re just having a bad day” and I brushed it off.  That was the first time.  There were a few other occasions after that.  Different events… years apart… same reaction.  Then I concluded, “OK, that’s just how they are”.  Fast forward to March 2007 aboard the “One Love Gospel Cruise” (it’s coming up again in April… if you have an opportunity to go I highly recommend it!).  Gospel artists/ ministers Fred Hammond, Dottie Peoples, Canton Jones, Dietrick and Damita Hadden, Rizen, Zie’l, Antwaun Stanley as well as comedians John Gray, Akintunde, and Griff were all aboard.  After my experience with the announcers, I expected the same attitudes… I was pleasantly surprised.  These were some of the most humble, down to earth, and genuine people I have ever met.  They were Christian ministers of the Gospel and they carried themselves well.  I’ve never been an autograph seeker, but I observed how they conducted themselves around those who were.  I saw excited children and adults alike stopping Fred at the buffet table and giving their song requests and taking pictures.  I’ve always appreciated these anointed and talented individuals, but now I see them with different eyes.  I saw the Christ in their conduct… and I loved it!  That wonderful experience was a gentle reminder that we Christians are all children of the same Father, different assignments, but the same God.  It was refreshing to see that these artists knew that.  People are watching us to see if what we say, lines up with what we do.  We had the opportunity on that boat to appreciate and love on each other and to celebrate our Heavenly Father together… sort of a glimpse of what heaven will be…