Let's shine brightly for Jesus

I often hear people say, "How can I pay you back for all you've done for me?" My answer is always, "Live for Jesus." That's it. 

That's why we do everything that we do at Love In Action. We want to lead people into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. There is no amount of money or anything else that is better than seeing a life transformed. 

Sometimes we lose track of people we minister to. The reasons vary from they moved away, are in prison, a rehab, or many other things happened. What is great is when we run into them during our community outreach, and we see their lives are turning around. 

We started going to some different mobile home parks in the rural Houston County last year for our community outreach. On our first visit we knocked on a door and a young woman answered. We first met her when she was homeless, and she would come to our campus for a shower, food, clothing, and other needs. 

"I don't know what I would have done without y'all," she said. "Y'all were a lifesaver." 

This past weekend we encountered another former homeless person. Martha and I knocked on a door in a mobile home park in Cowarts. A woman answered. We knew her because she gave her life to Jesus the first time we visited there last year. 

As we said our hellos, I heard a man ask, "Is that brother Ken?" Years ago, we met him when he was homeless living next to a dumpster. Today he has a home, his own car, and a job he has worked consistently for the past year. Praise God! 

“I wouldn’t be here if not for y’all,” he said. To God be the glory! It was all Jesus, not us. That made our day. He has an interest in singing and wants to sing for Jesus, so we encouraged him in that. 

Seeing him reminded me that we don't always see the difference any of us can make in a person's life. If we will just follow Jesus and let Him love through us, He will work through us to touch lives. We don't always see it, but when we do, it does something to us. 

It makes me want to serve harder and love deeper. To see people successfully come out of homelessness is exciting. To see people surrender to Jesus and live for him is powerful. 

I've said the following over the years because it's true. The ones who truly surrender to Jesus and live for Him are the ones who successfully come off the streets. 

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:16 to, "let our light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven." 

When we let the light of Jesus shine through us, darkness flees, and people can see that Jesus loves them. When they truly see the Light, their lives are forever changed, and our Father in Heaven is glorified. 

Let's shine brightly for Jesus everywhere we go. When we do, lives are changed.