Matthew 5:16,
"... let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father!!!"
"... let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father!!!"
I write today about two examples on how to bring Christ into people's lives.
This past week, while the world was consumed by the passing of singer Whitney Houston, there was another celebrity who was called home last week. Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter, who played 19 seasons, mainly with the Montreal Expos and New York Mets, lost his 8 month battle with brain cancer. He was only 57 years old.
I sat in front of the TV Thursday night watching clips of Gary playing baseball, the fond memories of how he led the Mets to their second world championship in 1986. Every clip showed his smiling and enjoying life. In every interview of former teammates of Gary's, each one mentioned his rock solid faith in Jesus Christ. If you know the history of the Mets' ball club in the '80's, they weren't exactly clean living. A lot of them struggled with demons- drugs, alcohol, and more. Yet Gary showed them love despite their faults. He let God shine through him on and off the field. He loved on them as Christ loves on us each and every day, even with our demons and faults. Some of those players eventually came around and cleaned up their acts, even gave their lives to Christ. Gary received a lot of that credit, but I'm sure he would have said it was all God.
I saw that very example of loving on those that are struggling this Saturday, when I decided to volunteer with the Atlanta Dream Center for their weekly Adopt A Block mission. Each Saturday, the group goes out to the Old Fourth Ward area of Northeast Atlanta and knocked on doors of those that are struggling- either financially, or with drugs. I can't begin to describe the conditions these people were living in. The smell of crack permeated throughout the apartment complex. Dimes bags on the ground. Yet, Pastor Paul Palmer, the head of the Dream Center, loved on each one of them. Each person we encountered, including drug dealers, showed such love and respect for Pastor Paul and the volunteers that day. They were grateful for our visit. We prayed with families. We met little kids that came running to us and hugged us. We loved on them as much as we could. Pastor Paul encouraged young boys who are on the cusp of heading in the wrong direction to get on track, be leaders in their family and set an example of living with Christ in their hearts.
These are just two examples of what it means to bring Christ to all the world. One was in the spotlight, the other isn't. But both men shine the light of Christ to a world in need. I pray that I, too, can let Christ shine through me in a world in need.
