Listening to the Holy Spirit:
You will proclaim today. With the tongue the heart speaks. Will you proclaim My Name, or will you remain still? Fear is proclaimed in silence. You are life to them, as to them you bring the light of My Word. You have My life. They hear you; speak life. With the tongue there is hope; in silence they remain in darkness. Speak. It will not draw blood from you. You shall not be harmed. There are those who speak surrounded by threat. What do you fear? Pray, that you would hear My Word in its time to give. Love first, that you might be heard. Why do you wait for another? Be ready to speak when they raise their head to the light, that their eyes would be opened. Find remorse in their darkness, and you will have joy in the speaking. The seed is not an oak, but never will it be – without the planting. The harvest of the grove is lost for silence.
Psalm 34:4 (ESV) – I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
1Pet 3:15 (ESV) – …always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…
Proverbs 18:21 (ESV) – Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Romans 10:17 (ESV) – So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Taking It to Work:
Before FCCI, I remember I had a desire to talk about my faith at work, as I felt bad for the good men and women I worked with that were living life without any thought of God; but I was fearful, not only of rejection, but I really didn’t know how far I could go until I got in some sort of trouble; and because I didn’t know, I erred on the safe side, with keeping mostly quiet, keeping most of my relationships “professional”. I’m betting there are many out there right now with some of the same concerns.
Speaking to others about our faith is easy with those who already share it, but talking about faith with a possibly unbelieving coworker, customer, or vendor is quite another story. It can be awkward, and if they are already friends or acquaintances, we can be afraid of hurting the relationship.
Our care for others has to go beyond the fear of our own rejection or getting our hand slapped. We are called in Scripture to always be ready to give a reason for our hope.
I had recently heard a great talk from a lawyer named Kelly Shackelford of the 1st Liberty Institute. It was a great, uplifting talk given at an FCCI conference that reminded me that showing my faith at work is constitutionally protected, and although there are many that would try to make us feel differently, the law is very much on our side when it comes to the personal expression of our faith.
Paul teaches us in Romans, that the faith of others is initiated from hearing us. Be ready, be brave, and be alert. We don’t have to fear. When the Lord gives you the right opportunity to plant His seed; do it. When you plant it with love, who knows what harvest it may bring, as His Word work through you, today.
