A woman is approaching me as I walk down the street. I do not know her name. I do not know age. I do not know if she is married or has
children. I do not know her
education or her profession. I cannot see if she is smiling. But I
do know the very beliefs that dictate her every action. The garment on her head tells the world
her beliefs, and the extent in which the garment covers reveals the beliefs of
the man who is the head of the household she resides in. She is Muslim.
Last Sunday I was given the opportunity to share a Word with
the congregation of the church we are working with in Tanzania. The message was regarding the Fruit of
the Spirit found in Galatians. I
challenged each one of them to be living in love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. If we truly walk in the Spirit as we
are called and clothe ourselves with Christ while being the sweet aroma of
Christ, then we will not need a head garment to make the motivations of our
actions to be known. Instead, our
actions will reflect something that is impossible by human standards, therefore
revealing the existence of a supernatural power in our life, the Holy
Spirit. And so I challenge you as
I have challenged the Tanzanians, clothe yourself with Christ and reflect the
Truth. Allow for the Fruit of the Spirit to reflect the motives of your heart as well as the name of Christ.
Next week my team will be traveling to a country where the
name of Christ cannot be spoken. I
cannot go up to someone and share the Gospel without the possibility of
bringing danger to myself, team, or the organization we are working with. I will have to be the aroma of Christ with
action and without Christean-ese (fancy Christian talking). I challenge you to join me this month
and do the same. Be the light of
Christ. Put on His armor and my
prayer is that as you walk down the street, the world will know who you are by
your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness,
and self-control. Allow your actions to speak louder than verbally claiming Christ.
(As I type this the afternoon Islamic call to prayer is playing in
the background, join me in praying that the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
be known to all people of all nations…and for the speakers will stop working)
