viewoutsidethepew

I’ve always been a rule-keeper and analyser with a touch of intellectualism. So keeping God’s laws has never seemed a burden; it is just the way things should be done in my mind.

Now, grace has not been difficult either as I experience God’s generous compassion toward the undeserving and heavenly peace that goes beyond logical, reasonable and comprehensible.

That said, the past few years I keep getting pushed to a more radical view on this, for the grace of God is where God works and blesses without prerequisite.

All this I write because I just heard a song that seemed a powerful motivator, until I observed in Paraclete that it makes being a witness a duty, a job and a source of guilt if not done the way humans expect!

If I remain silent will someone go to hell because of it? Human need for influence would scream, “Absolutely”. Grace simply offers a deep sigh – again.

“Today you will be with me in Paradise…”

True, if I keep my mouth shut it makes it difficult for God to speak through me! But come on, I hear Paraclete saying from deep within me, “God loved the world enough to give Jesus to die to take on all penalty for our sin” (see John 3:16). And, “The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act” (2 Peter 3:9 God’s Word).

God saves. That is not a new idea. Sometimes God lets us be there when Paraclete leads someone to open up to the Saviour. But we don’t save (or win) anybody.

So we don’t witness out of terror, duty, legalistic demand. Godly witnessing comes from joy of our own salvation, love for friends and enemies (yes, enemies). Grace finds a home in the middle of a cloud of love, not in a crowd of laws.

The best thing we can do for those who still shut God out rises in the thrill of our life in faith. The best homing signal for those who slid back into ways of this world from faith comes in that non-judgmental look of love, just like Jesus gave Peter (Luke 22:60-62). Paraclete convicts, not us (see John 16:7b-11).

When we are the light to the world we only glow with the Light of the World! “Jesus spoke to the Pharisees again. He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have a life filled with light and will never live in the dark’ “ (John 8:12 God’s Word).

Shine, Jesus, shine!