Senior Living - February 17, 2017

How your actions can move others to Christ

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. - >Matthew 5:16

On Christmas Eve 1875, Ira Sankey was traveling on a steamboat down the Delaware River when he was recognized by some passengers. Sankey, who was the song leader for the famous evangelist D.L. Moody, was asked by the passengers to sing a hymn on the main deck so everyone could hear.

After he was finished, a man stepped from the shadows and asked, “Sir, did you serve in the Union Army?”

“Yes,” Sankey replied.

“Can you remember if you were doing picket duty on a bright moonlit night in 1862?” the man continued.

“Yes, I remember that,” Sankey replied with a surprised look on his face.

“I was doing picket duty that same night, but I was in the Confederate Army. I saw you standing at your post, and I raised my musket and took aim. Just then, I heard you start singing a hymn to yourself. And my arm dropped to my side of its own accord. I just couldn’t shoot.”

It’s impossible to know the extent to which your life may inspire others. Simply by singing a song, being kind to others, or reading your Bible, you can influence others toward Jesus Christ.

What you do matters. So pursue Christ in your actions every day and let God use you to bring others to Him!

Prayer Challenge

Ask God to show you how to pursue Him daily, and pray your actions would inspire others to follow Christ as well.

Questions for Thought

If someone was to follow you around for a day, what would he learn about your God?

How can you be more intentional about sharing Christ with others through your daily actions?

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