NICE AND CLASSY

I got a new belt the other day.  I don't get to wear it too often because most of the time I'm in my uniform and they require a specific belt.  But I wore it all day today.  It's a nice, thick, leather belt.  It was very comfortable.  But let's just say it wasn't very stealthy.

Because it was new leather, it was "squeaking" every time I moved.  I didn't want to move.  I didn't want to greet people at church.  I didn't want to disturb anyone's prayer time.  I didn't want people to be looking at me.  It's not that I was embarrassed by my new belt--it's pretty nice and classy.  I simply didn't want to offend anyone with my "squeaking".


And that got me thinking...are we embarrassed about knowing Jesus?  Do we "keep our distance" in conversation so that we don't offend someone by sharing Jesus?  I think all too often we are embarrassed of our relationship with Jesus--and if we're not, we certainly act like we are.  Or we don't want to offend someone so we don't talk about Him.  Or worse, we don't even act like Him.


It's not that I didn't want people to know that I had a new belt, I didn't want people to be annoyed.  And yet, the "squeaking" would only have caused someone to ask and I could have shown my new belt.  And the same holds true for Jesus.  Don't change who you are depending on who you're around.  Walk like Jesus everywhere; people will SEE you "squeaking" because you are different from the world.  And then you can show them Someone--Someone who is nice and classy.


"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."  -James 1:22-25 (ESV)-

ADVERTISING

Time for a confession...I'm an office supply junkie.  I have an addiction.  I cannot keep from walking through the aisles of an office supply store if we are in close proximity to one.  My real weakness is pens.  I'm not necessarily a fan of the REALLY expensive ones, but I always enjoy trying new pens and having different ones around.  Rarely will you ever find me without a pen of some kind on me...if not 15 (I'm just kidding; I'm not that bad).  And in actuality, I'm getting much better with my "need" for new ink sticks.


When we get the Sunday paper, Heidi always pulls MY ads for the office supply places along with Menards and Gander Mountain.  Other than the Bible, there isn't much better than this reading material.  But I'm getting better at just looking at the office supplies and not desiring what the ads contain--Menards and Gander are a different story.


I also get email notifications from Office Depot to keep me up-to-date on the deals.  I received one of those notifications today.  But the subject line intrigued me: "Psst! Private Sale - Remarkable Prices on Ink & Toner".  Wow!  I'm special!  Only certain people will know about this!


And that got me thinking...is that how we treat our relationship with the Lord?  Do we feel like we're in a special club that only certain people can know about?  I'm not sure that we necessarily feel that way, but it sure seems like it in the way we evangelize.  This is a broad generalization, but for the most part, we don't share Jesus.  We don't advertise our relationship with the Lord; we don't announce how special this deal is.  And what a deal it is...free.  The manufacturer is taking the hit on this deal--Jesus gave up everything for us to have this product.


There isn't a limited supply; you don't need to worry about Him selling out.  So why not advertise for the Lord and help Him sell the best product ever.


"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."   
-Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)-