We Must Shine!

Saturday's Devotion (2-26-05)

"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." Daniel 12:2-3 (KJV)

We as God's children, need to turn many to righteousness. That should be one of our goals in life, one of our goals in serving the Lord. When we truly serve the Lord, and we truly love the Lord and others, then this is something that we consider our duty. Not only do we consider it our duty, but we take great joy in doing it. It is wise to turn people to righteousness, because when we do, we receive a reward in Heaven. If you're a musician, you might've been told, "Write more music, because when you're older you will receive your income from those written songs." In other words, produce and you will receive. If you're a musician and you don't take heed to that advice, then you might find yourself twenty-thirty years later, with nothing! You can't pick the apple tree for apples, if you never planted the tree! It's the same way with following the Lord. If you're not helping to save souls, then you don't feel complete... you're not complete and you're not receiving the full joy.

Now the question arises, "How do I save souls?" The mistake many people make these days is, they don't even associate with sinners. They'll say, "That horrible sinner, I wouldn't be caught dead even talking to them!" If you can squeeze water out of a dry rock, then maybe you can turn people to righteousness by acting that way. Look at what Christ did to save souls. He didn't judge people on earth, he gave them love and compassion. The woman who was going to be stoned for prostitution, he told the people, "Let the man without sin cast the first stone." None could cast the stone and he sent the woman home. He was a light for her! She was grateful. He said, "Go your way and sin no more." The problem with people today, and I guess throughout all time... is that they're still throwing stones, when they have no right to. We need to be a light for others, if we are to turn them to righteousness!

Let's end this on this note: Rev. Johnson Matthews, sent me an e-mail the other day with this quote from F.B. Meyers, "True Christian excellence is as unconscious of its beauty as Moses was; whenever it becomes self-conscious it loses it charm. Beware of the man who talks about his graces. There is such a thing as being proud of humility, and making capital out of nothingness. The man who boasts of a shining face is a counterfeit and a cheat. The possessor of the genuine article never talks about it, never thinks about it; and would almost be overwhelmed to hear of any such thing ascribed to him." Moses was the most humble man on earth in his time, he led many out of trouble... if we're to do the same, we must be humble! We must not think of ourselves as better than others, and we must shine.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this message and for all things. Please forgive us of all our sins and we forgive all those who've wronged us. Please help us to shine and to be humble and to be the way we need to be. Bring us closer to you, make us more like you and less like the world. In Jesus name. A-men!

God bless!

Hope you enjoyed. Please post your thoughts on this topic, on the message board or in our Guestbook.