Think about when Jesus was on the earth. He didn't spend all of his time in the temples, the synagogues, and the churches, in the safe places. He didn't only associate with people that believed in him, people that celebrated who he was. He went to the people that were not on the right track: the tax collectors, who were known for being dishonest; he went to the fishermen, who were rough and used bad language; he went to the people that had failed morally. He showed them mercy, was kind to them. He was called a friend of sinners. The religious people didn't like it; they criticized Jesus because they thought that he was associating with what they considered to be the wrong kind of people. They didn't understand this principle: that light is the most effective in dark places. Because Jesus let his light shine, many of those sinners became believers.
Sometimes, we think, "God, keep me away from anyone that's struggling with a bad habit, an addiction, an anger issue. God, don't make me have to deal with that person that's dishonest, not faithful in a relationship. Keep me away from the darkness." But Jesus showed just the opposite. He said it's the sick who need a doctor, not the healthy. God will bring people across your path that need your light. Don't have a holier-than-thou attitude, thinking, "I can't be contaminated. He uses bad language; she's kind of loose; he doesn't have integrity. I've got to keep my distance." Now, you've got the light. God's counting on you to make a difference. You don't have to become best friends with them. I'm not saying to spend all your time with them, but you can be kind. You can show them that you care. You can be a positive influence in their life.
That's what a minister friend of mine did. This young lady that cut his hair, she was a good person, but she had some issues. She was struggling with addictions and she'd been in and out of a bunch of relationships, and now she was living with another boyfriend. When he came in to get his hair cut, she was very uncomfortable because she knew there were some things in her life that were not right. Him being a minister, she was certain that he was going to judge her, give her a sermon, tell her everything that she was doing wrong. But he didn't do that. He was just kind, friendly, likable. When he left that first day, she was so relieved.
I found most people already know what they're doing wrong. You don't have to tell them, "You need to break this addiction. You need to get out of that toxic relationship. You need to start being more honest." You don't have to convict people of their sin. That's not your job. That's what the Holy Spirit does. Our job is to love people, to let our light shine, to be kind, to be friendly, to be good.
Today, my friend noticed that this young lady, the hairdresser, liked a certain kind of coffee. Before he'd come get his haircut, he'd always stop by and bring her that cup of coffee, just being kind. She had a son, a little boy. Every time around his birthday, Christmas, special holidays, he would pick up gift certificates to a toy store and give that to his mother. He was always encouraging this young lady, letting her know that he believed in her.
It was about two years later she asked where his church was located, the first sign that he was having any kind of effect. That next Sunday, she and her boyfriend showed up at church. She hadn't been to church since she was a little girl. That day, she felt a love like she had never felt. Their hearts were touched. Both she and her boyfriend gave their life to Christ. After the service, they said to the minister, "We've been living together for a long time. We need to set a better example for our son. We'd like to get married." Several months later, this minister performed their wedding ceremony. Today, that was years ago, they're still married, still happy, still in church.
Here's how Jesus put it: "Let your light shine before men, so they may see your good works." It doesn't say let your light shine before people that deserve it, people that have it all together, people that don't have any issues. No, let it shine before all people. How do you do it? By letting them see your good works. Can the people God's put in your life, not the ones that have it all together but the ones that are struggling, the ones that you could easily judge and write off and think, "Man, you need to get it together. You need to straighten up," can they see your good works?
Maybe the reason they don't have it together just yet is because they're waiting for your light, your love, your kindness, your mercy. When they see your good works, they'll begin to change. If my friend would have gone in there and preached to her, "You need to straighten up. God is not pleased. You need to make some changes," she wouldn't have received it. She would have become defensive, would have pushed her away, she would have found somebody else to cut his hair.
I've heard it said, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." When you take time to shine light in their life, give a smile, bring them a cup of coffee, give their child a gift, be kind, be helpful, they feel your love. That's what opens the door to their heart. Look around at who's in your life. Where is there some light that you can shine? Will you be a friend to sinners? Will you take off judgmental glasses and help love people back onto the right track? Will you be willing to overlook some flaws, not focus on what they're doing wrong, and instead show a little mercy, be a light in their life, a positive influence, a difference maker?
After all, if it had not been for the grace of God, that could be you and me. Somebody shone some light in your life. Somebody helped you get to where you are. Somebody overlooked some flaws. Somebody showed mercy. Why don't you pass on that same light that's been given to you? Now, I was in my 20s, I used to play basketball at this gym, and there were a lot of guys there that were very rough. They would curse and argue, and a lot of times fights would break out. It was very competitive and very intense. I didn't go in there and start telling everybody what they were doing wrong, plus they were a lot bigger than me. I didn't try to straighten everybody out. I just went in there being me, just living my life consistently happy, in a good mood, always kind to others. Over time, they started noticing that there was something different about me. I wouldn't argue, I didn't get upset, I was kind to everyone. It got to the point that if there was ever a questionable call, even if I wasn't in the game, if I was on the sidelines waiting to play next, just watching, they would always say, "Ask Joel, we know he won't lie." I never told them that my father was the pastor of a big church in town. I worked at a ministry. I just let my actions do the talking.
There was a young man there that had some addictions and some real anger issues. He was very explosive. He would lose his temper and get into fights. I had not talked to him that much over the years, just nothing more than "hello" and "how's it going." But one day, he came over in the locker room and asked if I would help him. I thought he wanted me to help him find a basketball or help him pull out the bleacher so we could sit down, but he looked at me and said, "Joel, I got all these angers. It's messing up my marriage, it's causing me problems at home, and you always seem to be so calm, so friendly, so good-natured. I thought maybe you could give me some advice." I was like 20 years old. I didn't know how to solve his anger problems, but I ended up inviting him to come to church. He came to Lakewood. Long story short, he gave his life to Christ. He got into some of the classes, overcame those addictions. Today, he's like a different person: calm, happy, respectful. I still see him here all the time.
Here's my point: I could have prayed, "God, get all these sinners out of the gym. God, they're arguing, they're fighting, they got addictions. God, deliver me from these people." I could have tried to pray away the darkness. But instead, I said, "God, this is where you have me right now. I know my steps are ordered by the Lord. You brought these people into my life. So, God, my prayer is that my light will shine with greater intensity. God, let me be a greater influence. Let them see something in me that they want." Year after year, I just kept being a witness, being kind, being respectful, being honest, being a person of excellence. One by one, those young men would come up, "Joel, would you pray for me? Can you give me some advice? Can I bring my family to your church?" Now, many of them are here.
When you become a friend of sinners, when you take time to shine light into the darkness, that's what has the greatest impact. The truth is, we all have a ministry. We all have a pulpit. It may not look like this one, but your life is sending out a message. Me, just living a life of kindness, respect, integrity, that spoke more to those young men than anything I could have ever said. I could have told them, "Straighten up, man. Break these addictions. Quit fighting." That would have had very little impact. Talk is cheap. People are watching how you live. What kind of example are you setting? Second Corinthians 5 says we are God's personal representatives on the earth. We have to realize, people can't see God; they see us. The question is, are we making God look good? Are we representing Him the right way? Do people want what we have, or are we pushing them away?
A few years ago, I was driving in my car with six small children with me, two of my own, plus nieces and nephews. They all wanted to go to McDonald's to get something to eat, so I pulled into the drive-through, and I was about to place my order at the little speaker. My nephew Christopher was about four years old, and he likes his hamburger with nothing on it, completely dry. So I told the lady, the young girl through the speaker there, that I wanted two kids' hamburgers with nothing but the bun and a piece of meat. She said, "Would you like pickles with that?" I said, "No, ma'am, I don't want anything on it." She said, "Okay, would you like mayonnaise?" I said, "No, I want it completely dry." She said, "Alright, would you like mustard?" I thought she was kidding. I kind of laughed. I said, "Ma'am, I just want the bun and a piece of meat." She said, "Okay, so you don't want the lettuce, do you?" This was my first order. I had five more to go. I had to remind myself, I am God's personal representative here on this earth. What would God do? How would He act? Would He get upset? Would He lose His cool, give her a piece of His mind? I was tempted to, but I stayed calm and ended up placing my order and finally pulled up there to the window to pay. The first thing the young girl said was, "Pastor Joel."
My first thought was, "Thank you, Jesus." You never know who's watching. Now, you say, "Joel, you know, you're on TV. I don't have to worry about that." No, don't kid yourself. Your children are watching, your neighbors, your coworkers. Every time you interact with someone, you're preaching a sermon. They may not remember what you say, but they'll remember how you made them feel. Did they feel loved? Do they feel respected? Be careful what kind of example you're setting. You're representing Almighty God.
Now, I was a little boy. My father took me and my brothers and sisters to see the Astros play baseball at the Astrodome. There were these two guys behind us that were very loud and obnoxious. They'd had too much to drink. When the Astros would do something wrong, they would stand up and curse the players, "You blankety-blank player, can't you hit the ball?" This went on for about an hour. Every time they did that, I would squirm in my seat because I knew eventually my father was going to say something. Daddy was very bold, very strong. Sure enough, the Astros made another mistake, and they stood up and cursed and cursed. My father turned around. I remember it like it was yesterday, with this big smile on his face, as friendly as can be. He said, "Listen, fellas, the name of the Lord is to be praised, not to be cursed." They looked at him kind of strange, shook their hand. A few minutes later, one of the Astros hit a home run. They both stood up, and by this time, they had way too much to drink. They lifted both hands in the air and shouted, "Hallelujah!" They slapped my dad on the back and said, "How's that, preacher?" The rest of the game, all we heard from them was "Praise the Lord," "Hallelujah," "Thank you, Jesus."
My point is, to represent God, you don't have to be mean. You don't have to jump down people's throats. My father used to say, "Don't be a firehose and try to knock people down. Just be a sprinkler. Just let your light shine. Be kind. Keep a smile on your face. Let people see your good works." Remember, your actions speak louder than your words. Your life is your message. When you're in those dark places, don't complain. Have a new perspective. That's an opportunity for your light to shine brightly. When you go out each day, represent God in a great way. Be a witness. Be a positive influence in people's lives. If you'll put this simple principle into action, shining brightly, you'll not only make a difference in other people's lives, but it'll make a difference in your own life. You'll have more favor, people will be drawn to you. I believe and declare you will fulfill your destiny and become everything God's created you to be. In Jesus' name, if you receive it, can you say amen today?
We never like to close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, "Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior."
If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in a good Bible-based church. Keep God first place. He's going to take you places that you've never dreamed of. Joel and Victoria would like to send you a copy of Joel's new series, "Ask, Believe, and Receive," as a thank you for your support of our ministry this month. In this inspiring three-message series, Joel encourages you to ask big, even when you're praying for something that seems impossible. You can trust God completely and dare to ask boldly. We're all believing for greater things, but it's easy to settle where you are. It's so important to ask God to fulfill your dreams, ask Him to meet your goals, ask Him to turn things around. When you ask big, it shows God that you believe He can do anything. I call it praying God-sized prayers. That's when you'll see the greatness of God's power. Request this resource. I know it will be a great help to you.
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