This past weekend at our church Gary Stith gave a humble yet powerful testimony of how seeking to be the best music teacher he could be and showing a loving interest in people’s lives opened opportunities for him to share Jesus with them. It wasn’t hard. It was just doing life in the Spirit. He gave us an endearing picture of doing his daily devotional time down in his basement with his pre-school daughter waking up to join him, cuddled together under blankets. It’s not hard, it is doing life in the Spirit.
We read messages from those Gary worked with and taught. They spoke of his godliness and humility, his generosity and graciousness. They all said that his influence and the impression he made still lingers in their lives today. It’s not hard, it is doing life in the Spirit.
I can graciously say that Gary was embarrassed to have the questions asked and the attention put on him. But he was willing to go through the experience for one sole reason: giving all glory and praise to Jesus. His life has been focused on Him. His heart has been transformed by Him. Jesus’ love for people has flowed through Gary. What I appreciated was how Gary told us his own amazement about the doors opened for him, like being given a professorship at Houghton College without an earned Doctorate. Rare in our world but not in God’s world. Jesus opens doors that no one can open and shuts doors no one can shut.
If you missed the message, including Gary’s testimony, take 45 minutes this week and listen. It may help you to realize that excellence may draw, but love influences. It may also help you realize that leaving a powerful witness for Jesus is not hard, its just doing life in the Spirit.
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