In the midst of the weekend I had, I thought it would be a great idea to install a new “builder” to my Ridgeview News website. In the process of that, I wrecked my website to the point that it was impossible to find my stories, and wrecked my mind trying to figure it out. I wrote the company, very grouchily told them to get their act together and uninstalled their product. I didn’t cuss, but if someone else would have cussed about it I may have said, “Yea, what they said!” Not really, but I was pretty upset on the inside and my email, which always auto signs, “Have a Christ focused Day!” Didn’t sound very Christ focused.

It caused me to ponder the witness I portrayed for Christ and how very easy it is to wreck your witness.

Matthew 5:16 KJV
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

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Most every child who attended Sunday School classes has sung “This Little Light of Mine.” It’s still one of my favorites to play on the guitar. It’s an easy song to play and sing but not quite as easy to live out on a bad day. I don’t think it’s a question as to whether or not the most of us lose our cool once in a while, and behave in a less than godly manner. The question is, what happens after our explosion? Do we apologize or justify?

What if we were not the one doing the exploding? What if it were a family member or friend, who didn’t know Jesus? Is there a justification for a lost person?

When I was a kid, in the ancient days of the 1960’s, it was a rarity that people had anger issues outside their homes. Foul language was seldom, if ever, spoken in my presence, so it still somewhat shocks my senses. Even though I hear it daily. But the extreme and acceptance of it in society now is unbelievable. There is no where that it’s off limits: not homes, schools, businesses, not even the church! Yes, I’ve heard it there too. So what brought us to the acceptance of this behavior in the Christian realm.

Someone in our community, likely unsaved, recently cussed a blue streak at a school sporting event. To the point they were ejected from the game. Nobody was shocked, it wasn’t their first time exhibiting that behavior. But the behavior that shocked me was the justification by some Christian people later. They defended the person who screamed obscenities. Seriously… there is no justification of that behavior in the eyes of God. And before someone accuses me of being a “Holier than thou Christian,” I am truthfully not. But I am someone who believes there is unacceptable behavior by the saved or unsaved in a gathering of people where young ears and people who don’t cuss hang out. Watching someone lose their sanity has become a spectators sport and an enjoyable event in society. Why? Why do we as Christians tolerate this behavior as normal?

It’s not that Christians don’t cuss, even the Apostle Peter cussed. But when he did, he “wept bitterly.” And I doubt the other disciples justified it or told him, “It’s okay Peter, those people had it coming.”

Matthew 26:73-75
And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. [74] Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. [75] And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

The words that caught my attention in Matthew 26 this morning was that Peter’s speech “bewrayeth” him, which means it exposed him as a Christian. Prior to his attempting to sound like the world by cussing, the way he talked exposed him as a child of God. What kind of speech exposes you as a Christian? I certainly hope mine does!

Peter no doubt spoke about Christ, he would have encouraged people, answered their questions about the things that Christ taught him. Wouldn’t it be great if our conversation pointed people to Christ in such a manner that they told us and other people that we were a Christian before they even asked the question?

Apostle Paul laid that charge to the Ephesians in Chapter 5.

Ephesians 5:1-10 KJV
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; [2] And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. [3] But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; [4] Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. [5] For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. [6] Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. [7] Be not ye therefore partakers with them. [8] For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: [9] (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) [10] Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

There are plenty of unacceptable behaviors that we could speak about today. Plenty of ways that each one of us fail God. But let’s focus on the light of Christ Jesus. Paul said we “were” in darkness but now we are in the light creating fruit!

Last night my 89 year old Mother fell. Not hard, she just kind of slid to the floor. She was so frustrated with herself. Angry over something that was not in her control. For the record, she didn’t cuss. She simply sat back in her chair, and allowed the frustration to work its way out of her mind. That’s what I’m trying to do this morning… work my way out of frustration. I want to focus on being a light for Jesus Christ. He is so worthy!

What keeps you from shining? Much like my Mother, my frustration over something that I can’t control (the behavior of others) can cause my light to dim.

• We live in a dark world, full of lies, hate and confusion. But God’s Word tells us in Romans 13:12 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” While others are chasing after physical pleasures and selfish gain, we’re commanded to live a different way.
• Jesus said, “Let our light so shine before men” (Matthew 5:16a). You and I are called to be a light to the people around us and that’s only possible if we’re taking time to interact with people and cultivate loving relationships.
• Always pointing back to the light source. When Jesus said, “Let your light shine,” that wasn’t the whole sentence. He went on to give the reason why it’s important to shine: “that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16b). While the world may think it’s okay to cuss and sworp, that’s not what we should want them to remember. I pray that am pointing those I meet to Christ.

What keeps you from shining?

Jesus’ words also remind me that my focus shouldn’t be on others at all. Matthew 7:3
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?”

Excuse me while I go get that log out of my eye..