1.
The SECRET CHRISTIAN.

John
19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of
Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that
he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He
came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

These
secret disciples try to live right but don’t want people to know
why. After all they might be ridiculed. They often maintain the
facade for years until some traumatic event forces them, as it did
Joseph, to make their faith known.

Is
it possible that these are really saved? Perhaps. But even if they
have believed to the saving of the soul, they will stand empty handed
before the Lord in judgment. Mat 25:24 Then he
which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee
that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and
gathering where thou hast not strowed:

Mat
25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth:
lo, there thou hast that is thine.

Mat
25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful
servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where
I have not strowed:

Mat
25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the
exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own
with usury.

Mat
25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which
hath ten talents.

Mat
25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have
abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that
which he hath.

Mat
25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness:
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

2.
The VERBAL CHRISTIAN.

These
folks are everywhere. Like the Pharisees of old we hear them as they
let it be known that they are sanctified and holy. Their
exclamations of “Praise the Lord” or hallelujahs abound.
The missionary might be starved off the field but they are happy in
the Lord and they make sure everyone knows it. Others might labor for
the Lord but they are too busy praising to help in the work.

Much
more could be said of these folks but let us proceed to the ones who
make things go and help the Church to grow.

3.
The WORKING CHRISTIAN.

This
person believes and practices BOTH part of the text; Heb 13:15 By
him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God
continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his
name.

Heb
13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such
sacrifices God is well pleased.

He
will be found singing praises on Sunday in the midst of God’s
people and will praise Him on Monday in the midst of the everyday
world. He will bow his head without shame as he asks God’s
blessing upon his food whether it be in a restaurant or a brown bag
in the midst of his coworkers.

You
will hear him humming‘Amazing Grace’ while others sing the
latest rock or rap lyrics. When others moan of the deteriorating
world situation he rejoices in the promises that are his through
Christ.

But
his service to the Lord doesn’t end with the verbal sacrifice of
praise. He really believes in the admonition, But to
do good and to communicate forget not. He knows that the term
‘communicate’ doesn’t refer to conversation but rather
to the sharing of all things.

Whatever
the need is, this Christian is eager to step in and provide for that
need to the best of his ability.

It
is hard for a hungry man to really believe that the Verbal Christian
really loves him if he leaves him with gnawing hunger pains still in
his belly. On the other hand the Working Christian will share his
material things even as he shares the message of the Gospel of
Christ.

Whether
the need is in the working of his church or in the wants of his
fellow man, this Christian is there to communicate, share, with all
in need.

If I give to those in need from my open hand

I allow God to bless me yet again.

For my hand is not clenched tightly

On what I received yesterday

But is open to God’s filling Grace today.

[Faye Thompson. All rights reserved.]