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2024
Day 14 / 14.07.24 / Lucas Chow, Steward, Local Church Executive Committee of Wesley Methodist Church

Day 14: The courage to be salt and light

Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14) 

For many years I did not consider Matthew 5:13-16 relevant to me. How can someone like me be “the light of the world” and shine before others so people may glorify our Father in heaven?  

Although I considered myself an “okay Christian” who went to church every week, read the Bible daily, tithed and gave offerings as I should and facilitated Bible study classes every week, I hesitated to share my faith publicly. 

The excuse of not being knowledgeable enough about the Bible, coupled with the fear of embarrassment and rejection, had kept me from openly sharing my testimony all these years. 

This changed in January 2015, when I was invited to share my experience and challenges as a Christian in the marketplace at a meeting for pastors and church leaders. I was nervous and very reluctant to do it. But with much prayer and encouragement from everyone, I stood on stage and told my story to a large audience.

It is not about me but about God.

What happened after that surprised me. First, I felt a burden fall off my shoulders. Secondly, I was subsequently invited to tell my story in many churches and gatherings. And finally, I was even asked to share my stories through video on social media.

You may ask: What changed me from apprehension to boldness in sharing God’s faithfulness? The breakthrough came when I learned that I did not need to be a theologian to share Jesus with others. I just needed to be willing to be His instrument, be truthful in telling others about the God that I know and share what He has done in my life. 

I also learned not to rely on my own ability and understanding, but to trust God to lead me. After all, it is not about me but about God.

As someone told me once – we are like the moon and God is like the sun. The moon does not give off its own light but reflects the light from the Sun as it shines over the earth when it is dark.

As Mark 13:32 says: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” 

Since the coming of the End Times is unknown, the time for us to share our faith is now! 

Let us pray:

Father, please help us to overcome our fear and give us courage to share our faith with others, especially those who have yet to know you. 

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

/ Reflect
  • Are you struggling to share your testimony? Consider what is keeping you from sharing your testimony. How might you overcome your concerns? 
  • “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8) What are the ways you have tasted and seen God’s goodness in your life? How would you tell these stories of God’s goodness to someone?
  • Do you have a written testimony that is ever ready to be shared? Would you start writing one today?
/ Pray
  • Pray for the boldness and courage to share the Gospel with others. Ask for the fear of rejection or embarrassment to be replaced with confidence in God’s truth and love.
  • Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you in your evangelistic efforts. Ask God for the right words, wisdom and understanding to effectively communicate the Good News to those who come into your life.
  • Pray for a burden for the lost, especially those who are resolutely rejecting the Gospel. Ask God to work in their hearts, helping them discern the truth of the Gospel amidst the distractions of the world. Pray for God to stir up a genuine interest in them to know more about Christ and His love.