I had an awful dream. Actually, it was more like a nightmare. I was sitting around with a group of my male friends and we were bragging and lying. We bragged and lied about our lives before marriage. How much fun we had and how beautiful our girlfriends were. I was worst of all. I went on to explain how much I admired and appreciated the things I had seen others acquire during their lifetimes. The rich, famous and powerful people who lived in luxury have slim and near perfect bodies and beautiful smiles.
All of a sudden, I noticed they were all looking at me with faces filled with shock and pity. They know I have a beautiful wife and a wonderful loving family. Why had I degenerated to comparing my past romances and present lifestyle to those who were of no real consequence to me? Why had I dared to become so enamored with people and brag about things they had done, when God had blessed me with so much by His great grace and mercy. I felt ashamed. Fortunately, I awakened. It was just a bad dream, or as I said, a nightmare.
Then it came to me. How often do I do the same thing every day in casual conversation. No, I don’t mean this is about my failure to mention my wife, but about my failure to mention my relationship with my God. I imagine it must grieve the Holy Spirit greatly that I am so enamored with movie stars, good books, great restaurants, vacation spots and a host of other favorite things. I fail to acknowledge His presence in my life. Am I embarrassed? Do I feel that Christ does not deserve a mention? Is my salvation not worth discussing?
This is no longer a nightmare. This is a present-day reality. I don’t have to mention Jesus every other sentence, every paragraph or even in every social setting. But when I fail to acknowledge Him as a matter of habit, He becomes a distant memory. He no longer plays a pre-imminent role in my life. Jesus becomes just an ‘also-mentioned’, someone in the long line of characters or supporting roles in a movie or play.
Wake up Michael. The Bible says I must meditate on Him, even when I don’t mention Him. In other words, He should be at the forefront of my mind, even when His name is not on the tip of my tongue. That way, the Holy Spirit will guide where my thoughts go, what and how long my eyes gaze and what my mouth speaks.
Meditate on who Christ is. Ask the Holy Ghost to make Him the central focus of your thought life. When it is time, He will tell you to testify of Him and when He does, don’t fail to witness about what He has done and is doing in your life.
Be proud of your Christ. He will be proud of you.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16 KJV
For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.
Luke 9:26 KJV
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 KJV