Paul's Concern for the Romans

What are people saying about you?

I don't particularly enjoy the limelight nor do I care to be the focus of attention. I like to stay out of sight. (Occasionally I even have twinges of envy for the hermits and recluses.) In a sense, though, such hidden-ness and unobtrusiveness is wrong. Listen . . . .

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

The light we have been given and the light we have become must be allowed to shine forth! We must not stay out of sight. We must allow our lives and good works to be seen so that the Father may receive glory.

Not only that, we must shine and our shining must be seen because "if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost" (2 Corinthians 4:3). But in our shining and in our standing out, let's make certain we attract people to Jesus, "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord" (2 Corinthians 4:5).

Now, to the question: What are people saying about you?

God had Paul write something very amazing about the early church in Rome: "Your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world" (Romans 1:8). Which makes me wonder if my faith is worth talking about, even just in my own small circle. And what is there to be said about you and your faith?

Called!

I spoke briefly with the deacon's wife last night. I had been called to be a singer at a funeral. Other things (obligations, you know) made it easy to excuse myself from the call. But what if it had been the governor's funeral?

My friend, Jesus has called you, and He has called you to be one of the saints! "Ye also the called of Jesus Christ . . . called to be saints" (Romans 1:6,7). Allow nothing to distract you from that call. No excuse or reason exists that will cover those who don't consider His call important enough to obey.

To what has Jesus called us by calling us to be saints?

"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). God wants you all to Himself . . . and He wants you clean and pure.

"Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). God wants to use your body in His service. Just don't forget that service means serving others, so keep your eyes open for those opportunities!

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12). God wants you as one of the free samples He gives the unbeliever. In other words, when He needs to show someone what believers are like, He wants to be able to use you as a model!

Unashamed