"Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow -so great is their wickedness! Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. - Joel 3:13-14(NIV)
Things we take for granted sometimes are meant to guide others. I had cataracts removed, with implants put in. I didn't think about it too much, but later I found out that I had led the way for someone else to have the same thing done. This person had been suffering from poor eyesight for some time, but, being diabetic, he was filled with fear and didn't want even to talk about having such an operation. Once he could see by my example how great its benefits were, he started to question and eventually gathered the courage to go for it. I thank God that all went well for him and that he now enjoys much better sight.
How often in our Christian life do we lead others by our example? I didn't even realize I was doing anything to help him overcome his fears and make a decision.
It would be exciting to know that we had helped to lead someone to make a decision for Christ, just by the way we live and by the example we have given. As God's servants, we can help to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ that will make a difference for life, even if we never know about it.
We can, by our example, show how great are the benefits of the Christian life. At the same time, we must make sure that our thoughts, our desires, our words, and our deeds are Christ-like, putting off the human frailty that whispers, "You can't do it." We can, but not alone. We all need the Spirit of God, who leads us to give an example for others that they will want to follow.
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