Let It Shine

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

The following is an excerpt from Moody's Anecdotes, a must read.

"A young man enlisted, and was sent to his regiment. The first night he was in the barracks with about fifteen other young men, who passed the time playing cards and gambling. Before retiring, he fell on his knees and prayed, and they began to curse him and jeer at him and throw boots at him. So it went on the next night and the next, and finally the young man went and told the chaplain what had taken place, and asked what he should do. 'Well,' said the chaplain, 'you are not at home now, and the other men have just as much right to the barracks as you have. It makes them mad to hear you pray, and the Lord will hear you just as well if you say your prayers in bed and don't provoke them.'

For weeks after the chaplain did not see the young man again, but one day he met him, and asked – 'By the way, did you take my advice?' 'I did, for two or three nights,' [the soldier answered.] 'How did it work?' 'Well,' said the young man, 'I felt like a whipped hound and the third night I got out of bed, knelt down and prayed.' 'Well,' asked the chaplain, 'How did that work?' The young soldier answered: 'We have a prayer meeting there now every night, three have been converted, and we are praying for the rest.'

When we see people praying over their meal in public, it warms my heart and boost my faith. I know there are those that don’t feel comfortable praying over a meal in a restaurant, or quietly bow their head. We hold hands and my Honey says a brief prayer. We do not want to make others feel uncomfortable about it nor do we want to bow down to pressure not to give thanks together just because they might. Jesus publicly prayed over food before thousands. But I'm not just talking about blessing our meals, I'm talking about the life we live out-loud.

Our children are taught a little song in Sunday School classes that we need remember to apply to out adult lives…This Little Light of Mine! Here are, as a reminder, the nuggets of the song.

This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine…Let it shine, all the time, let it shine

All around the neighborhood, I'm going to let it shine…Let it shine, all the time, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel? No! I'm going to let it shine…Let it shine, all the time, let it shine.

Don't let Satan [blow] it out! I'm going to let it shine…Let it shine, all the time, let it shine

Our public witness is not something to take lightly. Our actions and words speak for us. And shouldn’t they? I am a Christian proud to call Jesus my Lord and of the Jewish foundation of my faith 24/7. People, let us be out and out for Christ; let us give no uncertain speech or action. If the world wants to call us fools, let them do it! It is only a little while; the crowning day is coming. Thank God for the privilege we have of confessing Christ.

If the Apostle Paul can sit in chains proclaiming his faith and Christ Lord from the depths of the dungeon and his actions and words get people saved, being a public witness for Christ in my neighborhood, schools, grocery store, etc is a cakewalk comparatively speaking. Need I say more?

Let's ask the Lord to touch our lives with power today. That we may be released from our stresses, our problems, our own desires, and certainly our inhibitions — that we may become focused on being available for the task of sharing Jesus all the time. Let it shine, People, let it shine!