Go tell it on the mountain

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Mathew 5:16)

During this advent season I have been convicted about sharing more of Jesus with those that are in my life as well as complete strangers.  It's never an easy task nor the most comfortable conversation to have.  So I've been thinking about why that is the case.  As I prayed for wisdom from the Holy Spirit and anticipated His voice in my life, I found these GODincidences where Scripture and devotionals I read all had a common theme.  He confirmed this week's message through song (which I share with you below), Scripture (you will read throughout this post) and an advent devotional (John Piper's - Good News of Great Joy, Daily Readings for Advent).  I get so excited when this happens.  The stars align in total perfection - only His great work can accomplish this!

So let's go back to my initial question, why is it so hard to share Jesus with others?  I believe that in some cases, definitely in mine, I want to evangelize the way God asks me to while steering clear of proselytizing.  I don't ever want to proselytize (shriek)!  But in my search this week, I did have moments where I wondered how to make the distinction.  So I asked myself, what does Jesus ask of us?  When you search The Scriptures for an answer, you always get one!  It is crystal clear that God does want us to share about Jesus with others.  We are to speak the Gospel to those around us.  What we are not supposed to do is to try to convert them to strict rules, traditions or practices - or try to convert them to believe and live their lives the way we do.  "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." (Psalm 19:7)  Only He is perfect, not our ways nor our law.  We are to point people to Jesus by demonstrating Him in our lives through our actions, our words, our interests, our restraint in certain circumstances, our viewpoints, our perspective on life and our overall praise of Him in ALL things - the good and the bad.  

So in order to reach others for Christ this means we have to be out there.  We are called to be the light.  "You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden." (Mathew 5:14)  So first of all, let's not hide!  Come out of the bushes.  Be intentional about socializing and reaching out to those you feel God is placing in your heart.  How else are we going to reach this world for Jesus?  It's so easy to create a bubble around us and our family and stick to what's comfortable and safe.  Let your friends, co-workers, neighbors and strangers see that there is something different about the way you approach and live life - totally dedicated to Jesus.  Don't ever make life about you, make it about Him!  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Mathew 5:16)

John Piper so simply put it this way "At the beginning of Matthew we still have a “come-see” pattern. But at the end the pattern is “go-tell.” The magi came and saw. We are to go and tell."

So let's "go tell it on the mountain" this Christmas season.  Don't stay in your comfort zone - in the confines of your home where you relish your decor and fresh scent of hot chocolate.  Do enjoy it, but get out there and be brave.  "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7).  

Bless someone's life by sharing the birth of Jesus and what that has meant for your life.  Be intentional about allowing your day to be interrupted by helping a family in need at the hospital by buying them lunch while they wait in the waiting room, by visiting a community in need and organizing a toy or canned food drive, by giving gifts to children at the local shelter, by buying an online gift or sending a donation to a charity that touches your heart.  Pray that God will put situations in your life where you can be a servant for His Kingdom.  

Let this Christmas be different.  Make it a radical Christmas!  Enjoy your family, gifts and food BUT add one more component this season, the most important one through GIVING and SHARING JESUS!

What is not different is that the purpose of God is the
ingathering of the nations to worship his Son. The magnifying
of Christ in the white-hot worship of all nations is
the reason the world exists.
- John Piper

In Him,
Damaris Avila

Purchase the single: Go Tell it on the Mountain