| Hide and Seek - article by Joel Hempel The first recorded episode of Hide and Seek was in the Garden of Eden, following Adam and Eve’s fall into sin. Because of guilt and shame, they foolishly tried to hide from God. Playing along with them, God called out, Where are you? The Creator of the garden, the one who knows all and sees all, asked a penetrating question. Where are you? I have vivid memories of hiding behind my mom’s skirt at church when I was a little boy. Back then, people thought it was cute. However, as I grew older, my shyness became a problem. Thankfully, my post-pastoral training got me out of oppressive introversion and into productive introversion. But not all the way out! Sadly, I still find myself hiding, not so much in interpersonal relations, but at times by not being an outspoken witness for Jesus. My guess is that you, too, are hiding, or are tempted to do so. Where are you? God needs us to be His witnesses, to live His Gospel, not only in deed, but in word. Go, therefore, and make disciples . . .1 Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.2 In your hearts, always honor Christ as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; but do it with gentleness and respect.3 Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.4
Obviously, our witnessing and our prepared testimony are critical in God’s sight. Hiding and not being a conduit for Jesus’s healing presence creates countless missed opportunities for the Light of Christ to shine from within us.5 A good friend and I occasionally go out to lunch. He always says to the server, “We are going to pray in a moment. Is there anything you would like us to pray about?” Sometimes the person says, “No, thank you.” But often she says, ‘Yes,’ and then opens up about her need. The last time this happened, we spent ten minutes providing spiritual care to the man serving us. Where are you? I’m not my friend. Such witnessing does not come naturally. He has the gift of evangelism. I have different gifts. What are yours? God needs us, yes, needs us, to identify them, embrace them, and use them to God’s glory and the well-being of others.6 Pray for opportunities to let the Light of Christ shine through you. My friend has a word of wisdom to offer all of us when it comes to boldly living our Christian faith for the benefit of others: Just do it! Get your focus off of yourself and keep it on Jesus and what he wants for the person in front of you.7 If we are willing to risk, we will not be risking alone. There is One who promised to be with us. Here’s what’s exciting about that: When we dare to live the Gospel message, some will receive the planted seed. Then, the Holy Spirit can do His work – on them and us.
1. Matthew 28:19 2. Matthew 10:32 3. 1 Peter 3:15 4. James 2:14-26 5. Matthew 5:14-16 6. 1 Peter 4:10; Romans 12:6-8 7. Rev. Dr. Robert Scudieri, Retired Exec. Dir. LCMS North American Mission, Founder and CEO, Mission Nation Publishing Co. | 
