Preaching Everywhere

13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things; immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

1 Tim 4:13-16 (ESV)

Paul is giving Timothy instruction on how he is best to conduct himself as he serves God. These same instructions can be applied to each of us in our daily walk you may not stand behind a pulpit or a lectern teaching the word to groups of people; yet your interactions with others as you meet them on your job or in the grocery store or market shows your relationship and understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done for you. I know you may think that no one is watching you and that what you do has very little effect on those you meet but you will be surprised. Something I have learned is that Christianity and a walk with Jesus is not really something you can teach. It has to be something that is caught; it is best described as a fire. You can strike a match and you hold one flame as you move that flame near other stuff it catches and the flame spreads that is a simple visual of how your Christian walk should effect those you meet the bigger your flame for Jesus the more people will come to know Jesus through your actions more than through your words.

Don’t miss understand me; you must feed your flame through prayer and bible study. It is important that you personally know God’s word and apply it to your life and that is so when others come to you; you will be able to share it and give them direction on how to have a saving relationship with Jesus. Francis Assisi’s motto in life was, “There is no need to go and preach; if you do not preach everywhere you go.”  I have to say I love that philosophy and it is one we should all desire to have. He was a man who believed in service to God and his fellowman. Through that service he was able to change the hearts and minds of those he met bringing Jesus to them and allowing the Holy Spirit to do its work amongst them. I want to help you understand the Holy Spirit is the one who brings salvation. You just have the privilege to be a vessel for Him and to God’s glory. I pray you are blessed and highly favored as you walk in the light of God’s Word today and every day.