Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. Titus 2:9-14
Dear heavenly father, jogging today, I came upon your Son’s name in a recently poured sidewalk. “Jesus loves you” was scribbled, either with a finger or a stick. The elder-brother in me reared his ugly head, and I wanted to find the culprit and ask, “What.. were.. you.. thinking? You defaced private property, indentified yourself as a Christian, and this is supposed to make the gospel attractive to non-believers?”
But it didn’t take me long to move from being a self-appointed prosecuting attorney to a convicted son. For I realize you have every right to ask me, “What are you thinking when you and your friends carry on conversation about me in a restaurant, then under-tip your server? And what are you thinking when you drive like a madman on the interstate, with a fish symbol on the back of your car? And what are you thinking when you overindulge food and beverage, and call it ‘Christian liberty’? And what are you thinking when you ‘cop an attitude’ when lines, traffic and service people don’t move fast enough for you?”
Father, the gospel is attractive, all by itself. You’re not calling me to “spice it up,” put a bow on it, or add anything to it… for there’s no such need. I simply must to be more careful not to hide its beauty by my foolishness and non-thinking impulsiveness. Continue to show me what it means to do all things in line with the truth of the gospel (Galatians 2:14). So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ peerless name.