caring for others. life’s riches

Fresh Manna
by Pastor Tim Burt

Last year, Renee and I had been out of town on a vacation. While we were gone, it seemed like it snowed at home every day we were gone. Coming home to that much snow is a shock, but it’s what you sign up for when you live in Minnesota! Snow is a part of life here; if you want to live here, you have to get used to it and be prepared for long winters!

Sometimes, different seasons of our life can feel like a long winter. Periods of economic hardship, sickness or disease, relational issues, or even political seasons can make you feel crazy. They can wear you out if you let them. But we just can’t let that happen. God wants us to stay focused on why He brought us into this world.

We have a purpose in this earth and a very finite amount of time to walk it out. What is that purpose? It’s to be an influence for Jesus Christ in any and all the ways we can be. Our lives are to be a written epistle that mankind can read. The Apostle Paul said it like this: “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ…written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God…” 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 (NKJV)

Our lives can make a difference, impacting and influencing others. If we do it right, opportunities to share the love of Jesus Christ with others will come! At the least, we have the opportunity to touch someone’s life with the love of and kindness of God. And don’t ever think for one moment that God doesn’t use that. He does in ways you’ll never know or realize! Jesus has instructed us to “let our light shine before men.” Is that the focus and centralized intent of your day? For many, and maybe most, I’d say it’s not! And yet God wants it to be!

Days pass so quickly, and each day presents so many opportunities to get distracted and discouraged. We can’t afford to! We have to move on because lives are at stake. We might not be in some foreign country fighting a war, but we are in this world fighting a war for souls. Even your simple smile, kind words, and gentle actions can allow someone to see Jesus in you and leave them wanting more. That is God’s intent for our daily purpose. Let His love and light shine so strongly that it leaves others wanting more!
Last week, an acquaintance called me. He wanted to know If I would meet him for coffee. I didn’t know what it was about, but I said yes. I was motivated to meet with him because he had been a great blessing to me in a particular area of ministry, and I wanted to know him better. When we sat down, I asked a couple of questions and just let him talk. He proceeded to share some of the kindest words I’d ever had anyone speak to me. He said he had watched me closely for a long time. He made it his goal to try to emulate what he saw in me. He said it transformed his life. Wow! I was humbled and blown away. I immediately told him how imperfect and flawed I was and that it was Jesus in me he was seeing. He knew that but wanted to thank me for being the best example I could be.

He’d been watching me. He told me that! What a thought! That blows my mind. But it wasn’t the first time someone had told me that. One time, I received an unexpected call from a man who was suicidal. He was going to kill himself when suddenly he said he thought of me. He searched for a way to find my phone number and then called me. He asked if we could talk, and I said Yes. His first words were, I’ve been watching you… I invited him to our home, and Renee and I sat and talked with him for three hours. I invited him to receive Jesus as His Lord and Savior, and he did immediately! We invited him to church, and he never stopped coming. Now, he lives wholeheartedly for the Lord. He became a great leader and has impacted many lives. This has been an experience I’ve had over and over in my life. All because I purposed to be a light and an influence.

Life is too short to get discouraged, distracted, and depressed. I learned the hard way that all those things are a product of focusing on me, myself, and I. God, in His goodness and grace, has allowed each of us to have influence in the lives of others—even possibly leading them to eternal life through Jesus. What an honor and a privilege. Stuff, toys, and things do not make my life rich. Money, power, carnal fun, and entertainment do not make my life rich. Being used of God and seeing lives saved, transformed, and filled with purpose make my life extremely rich. Having godly loving relationships makes my life rich. It feels like that long, never-ending winter when I am focused on myself. When I am focused on being a light before others, my life becomes energized and directed by Almighty God Himself.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

When letting your light shine before men is what drives your life, your entire life will be better. You’ll become a better person because your character will be transformed by God. Your relationships will improve because you’ve moved from selfishness to selflessness! And the icing on the cake is this: you’ll sense and feel more of God’s presence, His love, and His help in your life. Even hard times become good times, and every season becomes better. Even winter!

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”

In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt

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