As we live our life before the world, we are to be salt and light, but what does our walk before the world include? Daniel had such a reputation for following God that his enemies attempted to entrap him through that relationship, and his King honored him by his relationship in Daniel 6. Proverbs 4:18 tells us that “the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” Our reputation before the world is so very important in how we live. We are also told in James 1:22 to “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” Obedience to the Word of God is another way we live our lives before the World. Obedience does not gain us salvation, it grows out of our salvation. If we love God we will be obedient to Him. Also out of our love for God, we serve Him out of our gratitude. 1 John 4:19 says “We love Him, because He first loved us.” Our service is not out of duty, but out of our love for Him. Our Testimony also, involves our stewardship of His gifts. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” We serve others through the gift given to us through the power of the Holy Spirit given to us at the moment of our conversion. As we develop those gifts, they are an outward manifestation of an inner transformation. Do you want to evaluate your relationship with the Lord, examine these four areas: Your reputation, your belief in action, your service to God, and your stewardship of His gifts.
