Don't Be a Closet Dweller - Martin Wiles

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:16 NLT

She’d been in the closet for five years, but now she was coming out. No longer would she be a closet dweller. 

Collecting old picture frames with photos of unknown dead people was once one of my hobbies that my wife didn’t particularly appreciate. She does love the old frames with the ornate handiwork and will gladly replace the dead person with a modern piece of art. But I never wanted to change the picture.

One particular closet dweller hung on my office wall for three years, eyes following everyone who looked at her, regardless of where they stood. Then we moved, and my wife said, “No dead people hanging on our walls—except in your office.” But my dead girl with the roving eyes wasn’t even allowed there. I convinced my wife not to sell her. Instead, she stuck her in a closet.

One day, when I came home from work, I found my girl leaning against a bookshelf. My wife had cleaned out the closet in my study.

“Why is my dead girl’s picture out of the closet?” I asked.

“I have a place on the wall you can hang her.”

And she did. As I walked into my office each morning, I was greeted by her wandering eyes. I was glad she came out of the closet.

Jesus doesn’t like closet dwellers either. He wants our lights—our good deeds—to shine brightly before others. Putting a light under a cover or shielding it only dims the light or extinguishes it altogether.

The light we have as believers is our testimony of what Christ has done in our lives and how we act out the difference he makes daily. We don’t have to preach a sermon to tell others what he has done. Because of the snippet-world technology has created, we need to shorten our testimonies to the bare essentials to share them in a minute or two.

But what we say isn’t nearly as important as what others see. Words mean little without actions to back them. God gives us numerous opportunities to act out our faith in practical ways. And we’ll see them if we ask him to provide us with a gentle nudge when he sends them our way.

Don’t hide your faith or be a closet dweller. Come out of the closet.

Father, give me the courage to live my faith before others so they will be pointed to you.

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What’s in the Closet - Martin Wiles

And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. Matthew 6:28-30 NLT

Small. Dark. No light. Uninviting. Only about half enough space for the clothes I owned. No shoe rack. Doorways shorter than I was. And I was supposed to be satisfied?

I’ve lived in a few older homes where the closets weren’t as large as I would have liked. According to the research I’ve done, people were once shorter, so that piece of knowledge explained the lower door frame.

But what about the size? The average person only owned a few pairs of work clothes, a couple of Sunday clothes, and a couple pairs of shoes. They didn’t need closets larger than the ones I’d inherited. 

Occasionally, I watch house-shopping shows on television and marvel at the reasons a couple turns a house down. One, in particular, is the closet. Most want a large walk-in closet. Some closets I’ve seen are half as large as my patio townhouse. Racks upon racks for shoes. Rod after rod for clothes. More cubbies for pocketbooks and other essentials. But a small closet? No sale. Let’s move on to the next house.

Jesus had something to say about our closets—though He didn’t use the word itself. Homes in His time may not have even had them. He said not to worry about my clothing—which in turn means I need to look at how important a closet is to me. That probably means if I have enough to fill a large walk-in closet and have some more stored in totes under the bed, in the attic, or in a storage shed that I have too many.

Maybe the size of a closet is important after all. Large closets may indicate my focus has shifted from what’s more significant to what’s least essential. Jesus promises to clothe me—but His outfits and the number of them might not match my choice—or the amount I’d select. What I see as a need doesn’t always match what He classifies as one. My job is to trust Him to supply my clothing while I busy myself advancing His kingdom—which I don’t need a lot of clothing to do.

Closets tell a story. Not so much about my taste in clothing, but about my focus and if it’s where it should be. God promises to supply your needs. Let Him turn your focus to His plans for you so the size of your closet won’t matter.

Tweetable: What does your closet say about you?

Prayer: Father, when our closets become too small to satisfy us, prompt us to check our priorities. 

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Come Out of the Closet - Martin Wiles

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:16 NLT

She’d been in the closet for five years. Now she was coming out.

Collecting old picture frames with photos of unknown dead people is a hobby my wife doesn’t particularly appreciate. She does love the old frames with the ornate handiwork and will gladly replace the dead person with a modern piece of art.

This particular closet dweller hung on my office wall for three years, eyes following everyone who looked at her regardless of where they stood. Then we moved to our current residence, and my wife said, “No dead people hanging on our walls—except in your office.” 

But my dead girl with the roving eyes wasn’t even allowed there. I convinced my wife not to sell her. Instead, she stuck her in a closet. 

One day when I came home from work, I found my girl leaning against a bookshelf. My wife had cleaned the closet in my study. 

“Why is my dead girl picture out of the closet?” I asked.

“I have a place on the wall you can hang her.” And she did. Now as I walk in every morning, her wandering eyes greet me. I’m glad she got to come out of the closet.

Jesus doesn’t like closet dwellers either. He wants our lights—our good deeds, to shine brightly before others. Putting a light under a cover or shielding it only dims the light or extinguishes it altogether. 

The light I have as a believer is my testimony of what Christ has done in my life as well as how I act out daily the difference He has made.

I don’t have to preach a sermon to tell others what He has done. Because of the snippet-world technology has created, I need to shorten my testimony to the bare essentials so I can share it in a minute or two.

But what I say isn’t nearly as important as what others see.

Words mean little without actions to back them. God gives me numerous opportunities to act out my faith in practical ways. And I’ll see them if I ask Him to give me a gentle nudge when He sends them my way. 

Don’t hide your faith. Come out of the closet.

Prayer: Father, give us the courage to live our faith before others so they will be pointed to You.

Looking for a wide selection of genres in Christian books at discount prices? Use coupon MWiles for 20% off. Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.

Throwback Tuesday - Martin Wiles

The Prayer Closet

They can be organized or unorganized…neat or cluttered.

My wife and I once lived in a one-hundred-year-old home with two diminutive unlit closets. Then we moved to a 2500 square foot home with closets galore. Presently we’re enjoying inadequate closet space again. One is stacked with treasures we don’t have room to unpack, another is crammed with coats, and still another functions as a laundry room, clothes closet, and linen closet combined.  Read more...

Looking for a wide selection of genres in Christian books at discount prices? Use coupon MWiles for 20% off. Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.