What About the Don'ts?

“But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.  And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Galatians 2:11-14 ESV)

What will you not do in Jesus' name today? Will you not pray over your food because someone you do not know is there? Will you not ask God for mercy after losing your patience with that person on the phone? What about that waitress who looks like something is wrong? Will you not ask her if there is something you can pray for in her name? Will you not speak of the Gospel to the person on the train who asks about the Christian book you are reading? Better yet, will you not read that book because you are on the train with other people? Will you not comfort the co-worker who has been helping their significant other who has cancer, even if you are unsure if they are a believer? Will you not weep with them? Will you say nothing when someone tells an off-colored joke which, as a Christian, you find disturbing? Will you walk by that homeless person asking for food, or will you buy them lunch? Will you not say anything when God is blasphemed in your presence? Will you stuff your Christianity away until you are in your “quiet” place?

We talk a lot about what we do for Jesus. Have you ever really thought about what you do not do and why? Be a mirror; reflect Christ to the world. Suffer for Him, speak for Him, and spread the Gospel in His name. You could be the person God uses to change one person’s life, and God would know it.

Let your heart explode with the gospel, your mouth, let it run like a river overflowing with scripture, and your hands, let them be the hands God uses on earth. You will not regret it, I promise.

What will you not do?