Are You Ready?

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." - James 1:27

I was pleasantly surprised yesterday. We have gifted a number of Hurricane Ian survivors with a storage shed to help them as they grapple with what to do with their personal possessions until they can get back into their homes and pursue a pre-Ian life. One thing that I had noticed was that I had yet to meet a person of The Way - a Christian. That all changed yesterday. We delivered a shed to a single woman. Now, she was not a widow but she was a middle-aged single woman trying to recover for the material and financial devastation wrought by the hurricane.

I didn't delve into her personal life, but the impression I was left with was that like so many other women her age, she was what I will call a cultural widow. Once married, but no longer. The only difference between her and a widow, whose husband has died, is the manner in which the man left the relationship. In one case death and in another forsaken and abandoned. ( I realize that this issue is much more complex) Which, in my opinion, is what divorce is. The impact on the woman is essentially the same.

During the friendly banter that goes on while the shed was placed in the yard, she mentioned "Iron sharpening Iron". That is a reference to Proverbs 27:17.

"As iron sharpens iron, so a man [or woman] sharpens the countenance of his friend." - Proverbs 27:17

So I finished the verse and her eyes brightened. She smiled and seemed to relax. I told her that it was important to have Christian friends that encourage each other in the Faith. She agreed and the conversation took on a different hue. I was encouraged as well as she.  It was at that point that she began to talk about Jesus. What was important was that the guy helping me, who is not a Christian, was listening all the while. 

"... sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense (or explanation or testimony) to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear" - 1 Peter 3:15

You don't have to "get in someone's face" with the Gospel. God will give you plenty of opportunities to speak into someone's life. To encourage them in the Faith. To tell others about Jesus. Notice that verse says "with meekness and fear".

"So he [an angel] answered and said to me [Zechariah]: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts." - Zechariah 4:6

You are an ambassador and a bearer of God's Spirit to a world that desperately needs a Savior.  Be the light.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone