While a disciple can’t turn off his or her light, he or she can hide it. If Christ’s character isn’t obvious, maybe your heart needs an x-ray and a new wardrobe.įollowers of Jesus instantly become beacons of light on His behalf (cf. And, because God revived the Gospel in Tommy’s heart, the character of Christ started shining through his life in new ways. Starting that day, he received more prayer, more words of encouragement, and more ongoing support than he had in years. He shared appropriately with his group of boys and shared even deeper with the other volunteers on his team. However, because one child mustered the courage to ask a heart question, Tommy opened up. The good news of Christ was being held back in Tommy because he was trying to hold his life together. While Stephen wasn’t the only one who noticed something was up, he was the first person bold enough to speak up. He thought he was doing a pretty good job leaving these issues in his car on the way in to serve. Tommy was riding an emotional rollercoaster, but he found ways to hide it so as not to be a bother.
His impatience and frustration levels were on the rise. It was affecting Tommy’s focus, his ability to connect with people, his excitement level for life, and more.
He had been carrying this burden around for weeks. What Stephen didn’t know was that Tommy’s job was on the line and so was his mother’s health. It’s like he had x-ray vision but didn’t know what he was looking for or at. It was a bit unusual for Stephen to raise his hand, but what he said was even more surprising. This certainly didn’t stop the Holy Spirit from bringing Tommy face to face with a character challenge. Nothing extraordinary was on the schedule that week. It happened during a typical time of Bible study, small group discussion, and personal sharing. This past fall, God used Stephen to shake up Tommy as a leader and a follower of Jesus. Good luck hiding your heart – kids see right through you! He got a character exam from a kid with x-ray vision. While Tommy has impacted the lives of dozens of kids over the years, something is significantly different this year from last. It’s the highlight of his weekend and the middle of his week too. He’s faithfully led in children’s ministries for years. Tommy showed up at church just in time to lead his group of 4 th grade boys.
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