An Extraordinary ‘Ordinary’ Life

Let me tell you how God brings people into his house, how he speaks to them and how he saves them. The Lord builds his church through the testimonies of light shining forth from those who love him. He’s able to do this not because these servants use the right methods but because they live the right life.

Christ’s life produces light in homes, neighborhoods, cities and workplaces. How is this life obtained? It comes down to every saint living right, beyond reproach, as examples of God’s mercy. Such servants deal with others honestly and selflessly, with no dark part in them. They lead lives wholly devoted to Jesus and are ready to serve others at all times.

This is the kind of life that Paul exhorted the Ephesian church to have. “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2, ESV). He says a little later, “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).

Let me give you an example of such light. Once, the CEO of a company in New York called our church. Pastor Neil took the call. The CEO told Pastor Neil about two women from our church who worked for him. He said they weren’t like the others in his office. These two women were always courteous, helpful to others and never complained or gossiped. “There’s something different about them,” he said. “I would like to meet with you to find out what the difference is.”

That CEO was Jewish. Do you think he would have responded to an invitation to a revival meeting? Would he have read a packet of materials produced by a church? No, he would have tossed it all into “File 13” and never looked at it again. This man responded to a light born of lives hid in Christ and being worked out daily by two humble women.

We are only able to bring light to our communities when we are full of Christ’s life ourselves. We have to live out the message we bring if we want to preach it with any power. God help us to remember that the light shines through in the little things of life.