When was the last time someone said, “Good for God!” because of you?

During a break today I was doing what a couple billion other people do every day – scrolling through my Facebook feed – when I noticed a post by someone that captured my attention.

The post was from a fellow minister who noted it was 25 years ago today a person he knew departed from this life. But he went on to talk about how “No one taught me more about the Gospel … No one showed me more of a life of faith and grace … No one laughed louder, prayed for me more fervently, or pursued me more tenaciously …” than this particular person did.

Reading the post led me to recall the numerous times — and I do mean numerous — when I’ve heard someone talk about, or write about, how a specific person deeply impacted their life for Christ and their spiritual growth as a Christian.

The man who is most that person for me, Dr. LeRoy Lawson, preached a sermon a few decades ago that had a line I still remember that fits perfectly with what my fellow minister was doing this morning. In the sermon, Dr. Lawson asked — or should I say challenged his listeners with a powerful question — of this: “When was the last time someone said, ‘Good for God!’ because of YOU?”

It’s likely every one of us who are sincere followers of Christ can point to at least one person who lives such a holy life that their teaching and/or example has profoundly impacted your followership of Jesus, to such a degree that when you think of this person it is as if you’re saying, “Good for God!” because of them.

But is there anyone saying that because of you?

“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.

“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity,” 1 Timothy 4:12.

“And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching,” Titus 2:7.

“Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world,” 1 Peter 1:12.

Scotty