A few Sundays back, I was supposed to work in the toddler nursery, so I wore my church t-shirt.  After church, I went to the grocery store...I won’t say I was over the top friendly and polite, and maybe I was the way I always act in the store, but I know the thought of representing Jesus was on my radar. Later that afternoon, the convicting thought came.  Did I really need to be wearing a church t-shirt to be so aware of representing Jesus? 

By Cindy Allen

I have a confession to make…I LOVE TO READ…Recently, I reread The Calling of Emily Evans by Oke.  It is about a young girl living in the early 1900s in Canada who feels called to do mission work.  She is sent to a small community to plant a church.  Needless to say, some of the people are not welcoming of her religious ideas…I got to thinking after reading the book about the subtle ways she influenced these people’s lives…She didn’t do anything that we cannot do.  She loved people. 

“The pastor mentioned an outreach program, but who’s he talking to? We don’t even have any other preachers in this church that I know of. Seriously, he ought to change his subject if he wants the members to pay attention. Jesus was talking to the apostles in Matthew 28:18-20. That wouldn’t include the ordinary church member, just pastors. Right?”

Have thoughts like this run through your mind before?

“You may be the only Bible someone reads.” “Actions speak louder than words.” Sometimes we hear these things and take them a little too literally. At least, I know I do. For years, I knew I was saved, and I tried to live as best as I could, so I thought my example was enough to show the world that they all need Jesus. Then several years ago, someone said, “If you never explain that you are only able to live that way because of Jesus and what He did for you, then the world just thinks you’re a goody two shoes and can’t see Jesus in you.” That was like having ice water thrown in my face. It woke me up; however, I still forget sometimes. So, what does that mean we should do?