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  16^th May 2025

FridayReflection

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'Kevin Carson considers'

 'pastors Sonrise Baptist in Ozark, MO'

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"That they may see..."

      'Matthew 5 v 16'

Yesterday, while sitting and eating with my family, two verses came to mind about how we are to live as followers of Jesus Christ.

Our words are incredibly important.
We must equally reflect on the sense
"that they may see.." too.

16  Let your light so shine before men,
    that they may see your good works and
    glorify your Father in heaven.

.....Matthew 5:16

11  I appeal to you, my friends, as strangers and
   refugees in this world!
   Do not give in to bodily passions, which are
   always at war against the soul.
12  Your conduct among the heathen should be
   so good that when they accuse you of being
   evildoers, they will have to recognize
   your good deeds and so praise God on the
   Day of his coming.

.....1 Peter 2:11-12

We must consider how those who do not follow Jesus can see us.

In everything we do, we should do them in a way that they will see 'a good example'.
We do good when we live in a god-honouring way. As we reach out to others, show kindness, speak truth in love, listen well.

How do you respond to poor customer service?
to an unkind neighbour?
How about when things do not go your way?
when you don't get what you want? or
when someone else does something you do not agree with, or appreciate?

As we live a life that honours God, those around us are influenced toward Jesus.

Now, we understand that the only way someone will be saved is through hearing the Word of God.
Faith only comes by hearing the Word of God.
In some instances, we will be the one who shares it.

We cannot afford to be silent while we simply live good lives. Yet, we cannot maximize speaking over living either.

But, in doing both, people will see much more than they hear.

Therefore, we must live a Holy Spirit empowered life while taking opportunities to speak whenever we can.

Let me suggest three places where I have heard about Christians doing a poor job along the way.

I have heard many food industry folks say how much they hate to work on Sundays because of the "church" crowd.
They've talked about poor tips, maybe a Gospel tract with little or no tip at all, rude behaviour, and impatience.

Although, on other days, unbelievers may do the same things, it should not be so for those of us who follow Jesus.

I have heard unbelievers respond very poorly to what Christians post on social media.
To be honest, over the years, I have not always 'been at my best'.

However, I am doing my best to bring all my social media use, in all its formats, under the constant awareness of these principles.

I have also heard those who do not follow Jesus say, "If that is the way Christians act, I do not want to have any part of it."

Why?

How do you respond when you do not get good customer service?
Do you respond in such a way that is consistent or inconsistent with these verses? Are people drawn to Jesus?

I have heard those, who we want to glorify God in the future day of judgment, say something bad about Jesus or the Gospel after having interacted with someone who claims loyalty to Jesus.

How can you apply this?

May God help us all as we seek to live in ways that 'they may see...'

   ><(((°>

This is an edited version.
The full article, and Bible references, is avaiable on request
Scroll down for the continuation of this discussion.

'Kevin Carson'
pastors Sonrise Baptist in Ozark, MO (www.sonrisebaptist.com) and is the Department Chair of Biblical Counseling at Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary in Springfield, MO (www.gobbc.edu).
You can follow him on Twitter at @kevincarson.

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