Every adult who attended church as a kid, has memories of those first days of attending church. Mine revolved around attending church with Jesus.
My earliest memory of “going to church” was when I was about 5 years old. There was an older gentleman who often led parts of the worship. Nearly every Sunday, he sat in a chair on the stage. He had white hair and a white beard. I thought he was Jesus. Later we attended another congregation and that man wasn’t there. I thought it was sad that that church didn’t have Jesus worshipping with them.
I know this was the story of a young kid, but there is still a part of that story that is relevant to each of us. We are called to live our lives in such a way that when people see us, they think of Jesus.
This is the meaning of Matthew 5:14-16.
“You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Look at those last words again, “Even so, let you light shine before men, that they may see you good works and glorify your Father.”
We are identified not by a white beard and setting on the stage at a church, but by the way we live our lives. When the world sees how a Christian lives, they will give glory to God.
When we live that way, little kids will be seeing Jesus at church.
Lonnie Davis