When we moved from our home in Gardena, I went to all of my neighbors on my street and gave them a letter explaining what I was doing and why I was moving, after all, we had lived there for 22 years. Included with that letter was a gospel tract titled, ‘Who Is This Jesus?’ by Bill Bright. If they were home, I briefly spoke with them; if they were not home, I left the letter and tract on their door. The point here is that I left a tangible footprint of the gospel in my wake. This is what we are to do in this life, leave a tangible footprint of the gospel in our wake. Footprints only work when we walk. Our testimony of Christ must be consistent with our faith in Christ and the example we have set for others to see.
I am reminded of a brother in Christ (he’s with Jesus today) who used to frequent restaurants and demand much from the waiter or waitress while there. When he left he would leave no tip (or a very small tip) and a gospel tract. His testimony of the Christ was blown on his own humanity, the platform to speak into the life of the waiter or waitress was never established. If anything, it served in the opposite manner because the distain the waiter or waitress may have had for his bad testimony was already in question. We never know who it is that God will allow us to minister to, so we must be faithful to all those He brings into our path. Don’t blow your testimony on a bad representation of who God is and what He has done in your life. We need to be gentle and lowly, just as the Christ was, but also wise and intentional, because there is a lot at stake with every encounter we have with others.
I am reminded of young Timothy who was encouraged by the great Apostle himself,
“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 3:14,15
- A careful reading of both 1st and 2nd Timothy render a better understanding of Paul’s charge to his young padawan learner and disciple, turned man of God. So it is with us, we too must continue in the things that we have learned and been assured of, remembering who we learned them from.
We too must remember that from a young age (childhood for Timothy) we have known the Bible which has made us wise unto our salvation through our faith in Jesus. Someone had to train us when we were younger in our faith, and now we must train others who are younger in their faith. This is the way of things. I exhort you today, man of God, to be a good steward of your faith and wield the information wisely, not giving yourself over to a debased mind or distracted spirit that leads to gossip, complaining, or even slander. Instead we need to be good stewards of our faith in Christ and our testimony of Him, being a godly example for others to see. This will enhance our platform to speak into the lives of others so that they may know and be glad.
Remember, God is in control! No matter what happens in this life, and nation, we belong to the Lord, we must be faithful to Him, using the tools He has given to us and perhaps shedding a tear along the way as we use them. There are a lot of people out there who don’t like Christians because of what they perceive us to be. For many of them it would seem that they have good cause. In spite of a bad wrap that we might be labeled with, each of us must show our faith in God well to others in how we love and witness to them.
The truth be told, even the most secular person can look at what is happening in the world today and know that something big is up. It would seem that we are moving in different directions, emphasizing different things, all the while people know that in the end, whatever happens, it’s going to be global. The number one thing that we can do is to be in a right relationship with Jesus and to share our faith in Christ with others as best we can. People need to know that the Lord’s Rapture is eminently close and we all need to be ready for it.
It’s up to us as men of God to share our faith with those whom God has placed into our care. We must be good stewards of the people God has entrusted to us and represent the Master in a way that is consistent with His Word and His will for our lives. We need to get out there and share our faith each day until were gone.
The showing of our faith is the sharing of our faith. We live what we believe and preach to others. Sometimes our faith is shown in not so much what we say, but what we do, how we act, or how we interact with others physically. Our actions must speak louder than our words, especially when it comes to our faith and the many relationships that we are engaged in.
One man said it this way, ‘Share your faith with others, and if necessary, use words.’
The Apostle James said it this way,
“But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” – James 2:18
We know that we are close, we need to be at it, in word and deed, when it comes to sharing our faith in Jesus. You can do this man of God, you have what it takes, you have been trained by the best, now make your faith shine so that God will be glorified in what you say and do.
Maranatha!
Encourage Men 