Ivan was a brilliant engineer, highly respected by his co-workers. But sometimes they called him “Deacon” or “Parson” because he had a deep religious faith and he didn’t hide it. Every day at lunch, for example, Ivan would bow his head over a little brown bag and thank God for his food.
Jean Zeiler, who worked with Ivan, was intrigued by his consistent testimony. She wanted to find out what made him so different. She found her answer in a book Ivan told her about—the Bible. After buying one and reading it three times, she came to know Jesus in a personal way.
Ivan told Jean, “I used to wonder if I would ever lead anyone to Christ.” But his quiet witness was not only the key to Jean’s salvation, it also challenges thousands as she travels throughout the world and gives her testimony.
Sometimes I wish I could do something really big with my life. I mean something that really matters for all eternity. As a stay at home mom all these years homeschooling has been my career for over 2 decades now. I am about to change careers and I have been seeking wisdom from God to know what to do with my life now. I know many of you know what I am talking about. Do you ever wonder if you have made an impact on anything beside a dirty house and hungry mouths to feed?
This little story touched my heart this morning because an ordinary man did have an impact on the lives on many through his daily walk of just serving God in ordinary ways.
The Apostle Paul reminded the persecuted Thessalonian believers that their "faith toward God" was touching the lives of people in far off places. In fact it is still touching my life this very morning. I can do this~ I can wear my faith on my sleeve! I can be a brown bag witness.
Last night in church the guest Preacher told us of a couple of people that had recently joined his church. Sin had wrecked their lives but at the end of themselves they came back to the little church he just took over as a Fill In Pastor. They were step-siblings that had not spoken to each other in ten years. Neither the brother or sister knew the other had decided to go to that very church. You see their Grandmother had taken them to that church as little children. When sin had taken its toll on them both they only knew one place to run back to~ surely the grandmother who was so loving and loved them so had known the answers about God. They went back to Grandma's church. They both received Christ as their Saviour and God is restoring all that the locust have eaten in their lives. Grandma has gone on to her home in Heaven but her ordinary ~daily ~everyday~ mundane ~ but faithful walk has paid off big dividends in her life.
Now I can do that~ I can be faithful in my ordinary~daily~everyday~mundane walk!
1 Thessalonians 1:8 (KJV)
8For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
May we never underestimate the impact we can have in our homes, workplace and neighborhoods when we live out our quiet message every day. I am praying that we all send forth a quiet message that will be heard today!
Keeping in step with the Savior,
Living a life that is true,
Clearly let's sound out a witness,
Proving what God's grace can do. —HGB
Living a life that is true,
Clearly let's sound out a witness,
Proving what God's grace can do. —HGB
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