It was a Sunday afternoon after our regular Sunday morning service, we gathered around in the back fellowshipping with one another and a member jumped into the conversation mentioning of the retirement. Excited this person was as she mentioned of her own decision something like this: “Working a normal job, I had to spend 40 or 50 hours a week doing what my employer wanted. Now that I am retired, I am able to fully devote myself to ministry as ministry had to come second! I am going to NOW devote all my time to God and to ministry.”
I understood this member’s point of view. However though, as we were in church and people nodding along as we spoke I knew something was not right. I mean after all, it sounds so spiritual doesn’t it?
We somehow live in a false dichotomy of secular and the sacred life. Compartmentalized Christianity that divorces our church life from the entire world.
Our Everyday lives ought reflect the gospel as Jesus model for us. Every day life of our life now is a platform of witnessing and bridging in order to have a gospel conversation.
Maintaining good conduct among the Gentiles is an admonition to live in such a way that those of the world will not have evil to say of us. This is a difficult task but with the Lords guidance, it can be done. Paul told Timothy to be “an example of the believers, in word, in manner of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (I Timothy 4:12). This example should extend to everyone we come in contact with. Our speech should be “always with grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). The behavior of our life should be “honest” (I Peter 2:11). A Christian should express love in his dealings with his fellow man – “Honor all men” (I Peter 2:17). The spirit, faith and purity of the follower of Christ should be evident to all (I Corinthians 11:1).
As George Whitfield an English Anglican cleric who was one of the founders of Methodism and the evangelical movement once said, “Conduct yourself among the gentiles. Be honest and earliest at the job and least complainer. They will then observe your good conduct and praise your God in heaven”
In fact, this was the very identify and indicative of the Protestant Reformation. John Calvin and Martin Luther spoke on vocation as much as they preached on the importance of sola scripture. It doesn’t matter what type of secular job we have, we all are royal priest and we can can become that! We must begin to live as saints in the communion of saints to those around us.
Martin Luther said, “The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.”
Why? So that we get to share the gospel and see lives be forever changed by the good news of the gospel of Jesus! Everything comes back to the gospel ultimately. This no longer becomes a “mandatory duty”. We don’t have to talk about Jesus, we get to talk about Jesus!
People over complicate boldness. Boldness simply is just going one step beyond your comfort zone.
What to Do?
Ask the Lord to do three things in your life.
God give me this day
- Opportunity: an opportunity to share to Christ
- Wisdom: The wisdom to see it
- Courage: The courage to take it
As a result People begin to see the differences…..
People will then begin to notice few things in our lives as a result
Three things people can tell
- If you care about them.
- If you believe what you are talking about.
- If the hand of God is on your life.
Where are you at? These diagnostic questions will allow us to step just beyond ordinary to the, “extra-ordinary” but the little “extras” we focus in our everyday mundane ordinary lives.