How to Live Out Your
Faith in Front of Others
In the same way, let
your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify
your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:16
To curtail petty
theft, Soviet authorities put up guards around the factories to search the
workers when they left. At one timber works in Leningrad, the guard knew the
workers in the factory very well. The first evening, out came Pyotr Petrovich
with a wheelbarrow and, in the wheelbarrow, a great bulky sack with a suspicious-looking
object inside.
“Tip it out,” the
guard said. So he did, and out came nothing but
sawdust and shavings. He was allowed to put it all back again and go home. When
the same thing happened every night of the week the guard became frustrated.
Finally, his curiosity overcame his frustration.
“Petrovich,” he said,
“I know you. Tell me what you’re smuggling out of here and I’ll let you go.”
“Wheelbarrows, my
friend.”
Sometimes what’s most
obvious in life takes time to realize, doesn’t it? The very same is true as you
honour God with your life so that others will know Him. You can do good works
faithfully for days, weeks, and even years before people say, “Tell me what you
have because I want it!”
It’s then that these
people are perfectly primed to hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ—that He
died for them, and they can have eternal life through faith. But it first takes
Christians who will live faithfully, show Christ’s example, and admit when they
fall short. So live each day to show God’s love
through your good works and watch for opportunities to share His truth!
Prayer Challenge:
Ask God to give you
opportunities to share your faith after living it out through good works. Pray
that He would remind you that you may be the only example of Jesus others see!