Before we start, I thought you might like this Photo bomb by P.Gain
When God calls us, he says we are given a light, and that we shouldn’t hide the things we have been given but to scream them on the rooftops. He says that we become the light. Matthew 5:14-16 talks specifically to a group of people who have heard about the Christ since they were little and have likely heard about the baptism of Jesus.
This is one of the first things he tells them – that “[they] are the light of the world. A city on set on a hill cannot be hidden.” jumping into almost instantly what not to do: “Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.”
Jesus moves quickly and relates this analogy to the followers (at this time, there were only a small amount of disciples of Jesus) saying “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven.” in that time – He set a standard for living in this life (the Beatitudes Matt 5:2-12) this was for those who were going to follow those things.
Jesus shared his light with me!
After my life being fully committed to Jesus, I started to become more like him and he started to show me his heart. More specifically, his heart for the nations. It was because of discipleship, my leaders led me to see God’s heart deeper and more accurately.
I saw the personal testimony of change with Jesus breaking the chains of sin, I felt it personally in my own life. One evening I looked around in my class room, after being introduced to Romans 10:14-15, taking a moment to think about what it actually means. “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? and how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent?…”
This assumes that not everyone knows about Jesus, I thought. But! Jesus told us to share the gospel over two thousand years ago, the gospel must have been reached to every people? A study by Joshua project says states global progress of people just hearing the gospel. That is when I was told that 42% of the worlds population is considered “unreached.”
I don’t think it really hit me what that means initially. Because how could I really understand this? 3.2 billion people, who statistically – will live and die not knowing the same savior that I know so intimately. I don’t think I understood it accurately until I saw them. When, I asked that little girl if she knew who Jesus was and she told me about a historical character she read about in her history class.
This is why I share my light.
The message Jesus gave his followers, was strong and gave them a focus for how they are supposed to live their entire lives as a light. Saying that you cannot even think a thought of anger toward your brother or call him a fool, if you do you are going to hell. This made me realize the cost he speaks of, that is hard.
group we got to minister to and play soccer with!
Each kid is living in the Felix Family Home and they are supported by Thais who have become Christian to light up Surat Thani
That’s why I share. I realized as a follower of Jesus I have a responsibility to do the things he has called his followers to. He tells them to repent from their wrong living, believe, and then follow him. The last thing he told them, was to wait for the Holy Spirit and than go and be witnesses to the ends of the earth.
I also determined it by seeing the faces of the people I walked with.
These are all commands from Jesus. What I am trying to learn is this: how do we finish this great commandment and what is my part?
God has shown me the unreached, spiritual and physical poverty, I have seen people who have needs: in America, and in Thailand, and finally I have felt the change of his gospel in my own life. This is my conclusion: The point of our light is to shine bright and bring glory to the father in heaven.
“Die to ourselves”
Jesus later commands his followers to die to themselves, to take up their cross every day and follow him whole heartedly. To love him first, than love others as yourself.
Here is the thing, I don’t naturally like to die or love others as myself. I would say I actually fight back and try to survive as long as I can or just ignore people. Do things on my own; fix things without the help of God or the help of man – because he gave me strength to do it!
That is normally about the time he gives me something I cannot do with my own strength. This last big thing I needed help with was finances for my trip to Thailand. I needed over $7000 for the training and outreach. I got close to God, and relied on him for every piece. God didn’t want me to work a job, and instead to rely on donations.
It was a miracle; God gave the money needed the last few days before it was needed.
As far as the light leads me!
Just like my own salvation, I need to be relying on Jesus for every single step. I am moving to do it, I am not doing it on my own strength. But, there are things I can do, then things that God can, here are a few things God wants me focused on.
The first thing God has given me to focus on is this, to bring the churches focus back on Jesus. After this, is to train Men and Women into wholistic discipleship. After that, I feel called to move my local body to evangelize in the area of CDA.
The big goal, I think God wants me to pray for in my lifetime is this: Have Thailand reached with the Gospel through the collaboration of the churches in Coeur d’Alene, by sending missionaries to every single Unreached People group in Thailand.
But, the goal of my life is to focus on relationship with Him, no matter what outlet that is. Spending time reading about him, learning about how to honor him and his sacred nature. The more I learn about him, the more I need to rely on God to help me do it!
You have a part to do too!
This thing will be hard, it will require a lifetime of dedication to God. God has made us all for that purpose, each one of us is needed to fulfil our role as the church.
I gave my life over to this, I would love if you, reading this would consider joining. You don’t have to partner with me in ministry, just focus on what it is God wants you to do for his global purpose, and for his names sake.
Alexis, P.Noi, Ajaan Yuuk, Ajaan Stone, Lii May in Surat Thani they Share their light as a Christian Constantly!
These people live a simple life dedicated directly to Jesus. Every step they made was focused on Jesus. If you want to read more about them, and their lives let me know, I would love to share about it.
Here it is again, the end of a post. Thank you for reading this entry, I really appreciate it. If you think about it, leave a comment and let me know what you think about the content. 🙂
If you are interested in the last update and want to read more by me, there is a link right here.
Sincerely,
Elijah B. Davis
