“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
BLUE AND WHITE, LIGHT AND DARK COLORS, specialty collar and no collar—I step back and view my freshly organized shirts with satisfaction. My yearly foray into “the closet” has proven a grim task. Armed only with ruthless determination, I purged pants, sacked threadbare socks, trashed ratty t-shirts, and ditched everything dingy.
Reveling in my clothing conquest, I turn my attention to shoes. Thrusting my arms reluctantly past the daily footwear, I shoulder aside coats to reach the hidden (and somewhat foreboding) recesses of my clothing cave. To my surprise, wandering fingers find the sharp angles of a box rather than the soft, worn leather I expected. Curious, I pull my prize into the light for a closer look. My face reddens. My jaw drops. A colorful box of Christmas gifts glares up accusingly.
Hidden.
Forgotten.
Useless.
After all, what good is a Christmas gift on January 22?
Clutching the box as though it contains live grenades, I stumble from the closet and wander into the living room with a sheepish look on my face. “Honey, you will never believe what I found!” (Because the gifts were for my wife and for the sake of my ego, I will omit the remainder of that conversation.)
The truth is, my humorous admission illustrates a sobering truth. Far too many believers have found a hiding place for their faith. Rather than sharing God’s greatest gift, they tuck their testimony away in a comfortable corner of their lives, pulling it out only when questioned. They cloak their witness in busy schedules, embarrassment, or fear of rejection. Tragically, the gospel becomes, the “hidden” gift.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus described His followers as salt and light, a city set on a hill. What do these characteristics have in common? They are all ingredients of daily life, to be used, enjoyed, and admired—not hidden.
As you browse this issue of ONE Magazine, I hope you will be inspired to pull out your testimony, dust it off if necessary, and share it with those who need to hear the miraculous story of how God can change a life—a story to be used, enjoyed, and admired…not hidden.
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