Trade Off

What I tell you in the darkness, that speak ye in the light; and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops (Matthew 10:27)

Well now, this is rather... uncomfortable, isn't it? God isn't asking, he is telling us to take action, to speak. In this two-part verse, we learn that God is speaking to us in the darkness and that He whispers in our ear. Has he spoken to you? Have you heard his whisper? If so, are you speaking in the daylight, are you proclaiming from the housetops?

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10)

This verse comes from Paul, who is making it plain to his listeners that he speaks what God has asked him to speak. It would have been much easier for him to continue in his humanly glorified position of official Christian Hunter/Killer, than it was for him to proclaim Christ as Saviour. He had it good, dear reader, before he became an apostle, at least, by mans standards. Tradition has it that he was killed for preaching the gospel, by hanging upside down on a cross or a beheading. Paul was compelled, not crazy. He was in the dark when God whispered in his ear: in obedience, Paul became a Proclaimer in broad daylight. 

The competing voice, it shames us into silence 
The competing voice is the one that says, you don't have to repeat what you hear; you don't have to share what you know. Stay off that housetop and keep your "religion" to yourself. You don't want to be seen as a crazy big mouth, do you? pushing your Christian crack on people! What are you anyway, some kind of nut job? Leave people alone, let them believe what is right for them, after all, who made you the smart one? What makes you think you are right and they are wrong: that is arrogant!

Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God (John 12:42-43)

A matter of conscience

Glorifying God Gives Off Light

 

Proclaiming Christ is not about bravery, it is about conscience. I could not deny Him, not for the life of me, and I mean this in the most literal sense. He laid down his life for me and my question has been: would I do the same for others, for Him? Would I do what Paul famously did: pouring out his life in pure love and devotion for the glory of God, in the name of his Saviour?

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you (John 15:13-14)

Love and loyalty go hand in hand, don't they dear one? When was the last time someone stuck up for you? When was the last time you spoke and acted on behalf of another, selflessly, without the promise of praise or reward? Is Jesus your friend and at this point in the writing, are you a friend to Him?

And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2)

You might lose some friends when you declare Him your number one. You might be considered crazy and weird, one of those Jesus freaks. Shrug, I think the trade off is worth it, don't you? 

Now picture me grinning dear one... The trade off is worth it!