Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

• Matthew 5:16

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

• Matthew 16:24

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

• John 8:31

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

• John 13:35

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

• Romans 12:2

“Don’t throw bouquets at me
Don’t please my folks too much
Don’t laugh at my jokes too much
People will say we’re in love

[Verse 2]
Don’t sigh and gaze at me
Your sighs are so like mine
Your eyes mustn’t glow like mine
People will say we’re in love

[Verse 3]
Don’t start collecting things
Give me my rose and my glove
Sweetheart, they’re suspecting things
People will say we’re in love

[Verse 4]
Don’t praise my charm too much
Don’t look so vain with me
Don’t stand in the rain with me
People will say, people will say we’re in love

[Verse 5]
Don’t take my arm too much
Don’t keep your hand in mine
Your hand feels so grand in mine
People will say we’re in love

[Verse 6]
Don’t dance all night with me
Till the stars fade from above
They’ll see it’s alright with me
People will say, they will say
They will say, they will say
They will say we’re in love”

• Oscar Hammerstein II (Richard Rodgers, music), People Will Say We’re in Love

Have you ever heard a testimony of how someone became a believer that left you thinking of a line from Hamlet?

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”

• William Shakespeare, Hamlet (Said by Queen Gertrude, referring to a stage actress in a play within a play to elicit Uncle Claudius into a confession)

My point is that this song from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Oklahoma, is a great description of two people in love.  Yet, the relationship that we have with our Savior is worth an eternity and does anyone recognize your love for Jesus?

The Scriptures above, most coming from Jesus, tell us how we should act, but do we do those things?

Do we let our light shine?  Do we take up our cross and follow Jesus?  Do we do good deeds?  Do we hold to the teachings of Jesus?  Do we love another?

Even with those markers, is it obvious or are we one of those hormone junkies who does good deeds for the feeling that we get inside?  Or worse, do we have an ulterior motive?

It can be painfully obvious when you look at the person 3-4 years later and nothing has changed in their attitudes, behaviors, and desires.  They just divert the arguments to the fact that they are a work in progress.  But should not a work in progress make progress?

I have no answers here.  This nudges up close to what Jesus says about not judging unless I am to be judged.

But I pray for a lot of people who have a conversion testimony that does not match their lifestyle.  I screw up too, but I try to not let others see my feet of clay.  Maybe the other folks are more honest, but then those other folks hurt people.

All I can do is pray for them and pray for myself while I am at it.

But we need to remember that we need to prepare for the next life, when we are with Jesus.

Here are Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae singing People Will Say We’re in Love.  This is from the movie of the musical, Oklahoma.

Here is Ella Fitzgerald singing People Will Say We’re in Love.

You cannot keep God’s love in your heart, it tends to bubble out.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.