“By this everyone will know that you are my
disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:35
We
rounded the corner of the road that led to our church. As it came into view, I
let our 5-year old granddaughter know we were almost there. “Does your church
talk about God?” What an odd question for
her to ask. “Yes,” I replied. Of
course it does! Then she added, “We can’t talk about God at my school. We
can only talk about God at church and at home.”
Hearing
those words pierced my heart. I wanted to cry. I wanted to scream, “That’s so
wrong, it’s not fair!” The world had already made an ugly imprint on my
granddaughter’s impressionable soul. How can we, as lovers of Jesus, share the
good news with the world if we’re not allowed to talk about Him?
It is written: “’As surely as I live,’
says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge
God.’” (Romans 14:11) Someday all
will confess Jesus as Lord. Until that time comes how shall we live?
As
I’ve grappled with a heavy heart over this, I’m convinced that we as Christ-followers have other ways to
share the gospel of Jesus.
First,
we can be known by our genuine love for others. All people will know that we
trust Jesus by the way we demonstrate our sacrificial love to each other
through our actions and words.
Second,
we as believers in Jesus, have Jesus residing in us, and He is the Light of the
World (John 8:12). Others observe Jesus radiating through us (Matthew 5:14).
And
we will be known by the fruit we bear. Likewise,
every good tree bears good fruit (Matthew 7:17). Since the Holy Spirit
indwells every genuine believer, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) will
be evident to all.
Lord, even when we’re not allowed to
speak of You, may it be clear to all people that we belong to You.
Karen Sims
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