Did You Tell Someone About Jesus?

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. -Romans 1:16

Time is swiftly passing

  And I ask myself and you...what have we done for the Lord? 

Have you ever thought about when we are gone, how will we be remembered? I've been thinking about that a lot lately. It is fresh on my mind as two nights ago, a house in our town caught on fire...and very sadly...the elderly man who lived there passed away before anyone could rescue him. He had no time of warning. Just a day after that - we learned the shocking news that the cook at our nearest small-town restaurant - a friendly, jovial man who often found the time to come out of the kitchen and greet his customers...passed away suddenly a few days ago from a brain aneurism. I feel sadness at these thoughts...but what a solemn reminder that none of us are promised tomorrow. Am I...are you...really living with eternity in view? 

These thoughts turned my mind back to people from my past who left an impression on me, even though they are now gone on to be with the Lord. 

I will share a story of a man who made an impact on me as a young child. He was nobody well-known, good-looking, tall, or prominent. Instead, he was a lowly man whose body was twisted and deformed by the ravages of polio in his youth. "Brother David", he was called in the church. He suffered daily with breathing issues from fluid in his lungs. I was a young girl of the age of 8 when my family and I first met him, and it was only a number of years later that he passed away.  What is it, then that I remember so well about him? This - the joy of the Lord that radiated from his face. His genuine, unpretentious, Christ-like love for others was evident as he took notice of all those around him - including young children like myself. It was nothing grand or showy - just a genuine, loving smile from a beaming face, firm shake of the hand, and time taken to talk. That's all. Nothing more. But truly, nothing less. The fruit of the Holy Spirit was so clear in his countenance and actions. It was nothing fake or forced. It was natural, easy, and genuine. Truly he had the fruit of long-suffering in his bodily afflictions. As a young, unsaved girl, this made an impact on me. I don't even remember any of his words. But I admired what I seen of that real joy in him - and it made me desire to have that same joy and peace from the Lord too. 

Now, all that remains to his memory is a lowly stone covering his grave. But, to me, and others who knew him - "He being dead, yet speaketh." I wanted you all to know about him, too. He has been gone for many years now, but lives on in Heaven with His precious Lord and Saviour, and his bodily infirmities are all gone. I'm sure his radiant joy has only increased, and I look forward to one day seeing Brother David's smile of joy again! 

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; 

and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, 

and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

 - Matthew 5:14-16

I've thought a lot today about this while wondering...am I being this kind of light to others, that Brother David was to me? Do others see the love, joy, and peace in me that would make someone else want to be a Christian? What an example to follow. And what a comfort to remember that, though I have failed, yet the same Source of these fruits of righteousness - our loving God, is still available to me. May God by His grace work these things in me!

Did you help someone today?

Did You Help Someone Today? 

Have you brought a smile 

To someone's face - 

Have you shown to them

Our God's good grace? 

Have you given a drink 

To some thirsty soul - 

From the Living Waters 

In Christ our Lord? 

Have you helped to lift 

The heavy load - 

By pointing them 

To the Narrow Road? 

Have you warned the sinner 

That his erring path - 

Will lead to the place 

Of eternal wrath? 

But most of all

Have you shown them Christ - 

By your manner of speaking

And actions of life? 

Have you told of His Blood

That was shed on the cross - 

To save our souls 

From infinite loss? 

Or was your day 

All lived for yourself - 

In needless pleasures 

And squandered wealth? 

Take time to ponder

The course of your path - 

For it's only what's done

For Christ will last.