I have occasion to brag on God, and I cannot pass it up. I have a missionary friend who said to me once, “Shame on you for not sharing with me what God is doing in your life.” So here it is!
I was recently convicted about being too general in my missional living, perhaps being a light, but not naming the light “Jesus” in my day to day activities, not giving Him the glory He deserves. So I decided I would equip myself to share more of a Gospel message while I try to live as brightly as Christ allows. To that end, I purchased a bunch of very portable copies of the Gospel of John. I forfeited a small amount of my storage space in my scrubs pocket to carry a few of these around with me in the Emergency Department where I serve as a night shift nurse. Two nights ago, while I was diligently serving my patients in a manner I hope glorifies God, one of my patients said, “Something is different about you. Do you believe in the Bible?” When I affirmed that I did, she told me she had always been interested in the Bible, but was too overwhelmed by the size of it, and said she never knew where to start.” I quickly whipped out one of my Gospel of John booklets and presented it to her as a gift from me. She was ever so grateful and asked me to keep the light on in her room so she could begin reading it. Odd isn’t it, or is it God, that I should just happen to have an abridged version of the Gospel in a nutshell when a seeker was presented to me to whom the whole leather-bound Word would be overwhelming? That’s not odd, that’s God!
The night before that, I had occasion to pray with a patient who was dreadful at the prospect of surgery for her problem. Prior to surgery, a less invasive nursing intervention was prescribed, which I had the honor of administering. We prayed together that the nursing intervention would work out the problem and the need for surgery would be averted. Not ten minutes after the intervention, the problem was alleviated completely, and we shared a hallelujah rejoicing moment. Later, when it was time to confirm her progress with a scoping procedure, my patient became visibly anxious. Again, I was presented with an opportunity to stop and pray with her, thanking God for abundant life and positive outcomes. There was a countenance of peace that washed over this woman, and I believed in that moment I was where God had placed me, doing what He would have me do for His children.
That same night, I had occasion to serve other children of God, one of whom needed more than just her feet washed, and repeatedly. Eleven times I changed her adult brief, and each time, I tried to picture Jesus with a towel around His waist. In another room, my patience was tested, when an unruly patient threatened me and the entire staff, disrupted the whole Emergency Department, and ultimately stormed out against medical advice. What amazed me was that, in the aftermath of his departure, I had gained credibility and respect among my coworkers and patients for the manner with which I dealt with this unhappy person. God used even this stormy interaction to enlarge my sphere of influence, and I pray He will continue to use me to glorify Himself.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (Matthew 5:14-15, NIV)
Today in Bible study, we came across Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount where He talked about being a light to the world and not hiding that light but putting it on a stand. I recognize that, for His glory, sometimes God shines a little brighter through us and sometimes He elevates the lamp stand by increasing our influence. May He continue to do both in you and me as we strive to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to Him and to those around us. May your sphere of influence be widened, and your light be ever brighter as we are gradually transformed into His glory, through Christ Jesus our Lord, amen!
10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! (1 Chronicles 4:10, NIV)
Every day I pray that God will make me an extension of His healing, encouraging grace, that those I touch and treat will be miraculously healed, those I speak with will be encouraged, and that my every thought, word, and action will glorify God. Often I see His hand at work, and sometimes I miss it in the hurry of things, but He's always moving in, around, and through me. I'm sorry I don't share it more often, but He does glorify Himself, and it is up to us, His servants, to magnify His glory by sharing it with one another. I hope you will be encouraged to lift your light, expand your territory, and tell of the wonderful goodness of our God, who saved us through Christ Jesus.