"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they see your good deeds and praise your Father is heaven" (Matt. 5:16, NW).
"For it is Cod who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Phil. 2:13, NIV).
When my oldest daughter started school, there were no Adventist schools in our vicinity so she went to the nearby public school. Though other Adventists attended the school, all her class mates were non-Adventists.
She soon made many friends and they often visited our home. I got to know marry of my daughter's friends' parents. Many were not Christian and were curious about our beliefs. One mother asked me why we prayed before each meal. It was a wonderful opportunity to tell her about Jesus.
The school's first festival fell on a Sabbath. We decided to go, visit some friends, and return home. We knew there would be games to play, food to purchase, and activities to enjoy, but we did not want to participate in such things because it was Sabbath.
I was very shocked to see other Adventists at the festival buying food, purchasing tickets for the games, and participating in non-Sabbath activities. I wondered how I could explain to my new friends what Adventism was all about when so many Adventists were acting like everyone else.
I got the opportunity the next week. My daughter was invited to a school mate's party. While there, the mother offered me a glass of wine. When I refused, she said, "Well, we know that some Adventists eat shrimp, eel and other things, so we thought perhaps you might like some wine to drink." Because of the actions of some of the other Adventists, it was very difficult for me to explain how important most Adventists think it is to keep their bodies clean because they are "the temple of the Holy Spirit."
Still, I used that time to witness to those people. Though they may have been confused because of the conflicting messages sent from different Adventists, I wanted to let them know about my personal relationship with my Savior.
This experience encouraged me to always be aware that people are looking at my life, they are watching my behavior, they are listening to my words. I can be a channel through which God can speak or I can be stumbling block to my neighbors.
My prayer is that I can be like Jesus and sow the good seed. *
