The church had just completed the installation of a new sound system which had a special "boost in volume" capability. All the speaker had to do is push a button and the volume would increase. The preacher was commenting on the new sound system one Sunday morning and said: "If your children get a little noisy, don't worry about it. I have a little button now to take care of it." A little girl who was usually very noisy during services sat very quietly that morning and her mother asked her, "Dear, are you not feeling well today?" The little girl answered, "No, Momma, but what happens if he pushes the button?"

Obviously, the preacher was not very effective in communicating his message!

I wonder sometimes how effective we are at communicating what is important to us. If you are a Christian, sharing that fact should be at the top of our list of things to communicate. How are you doing? The word effective is defined as: "To be productive, efficient, to have the desired effect or to be successful."

Is your Christianity having the desired effect on the world around you? Do people even know you are a Christian? The scriptures tell us:

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

A modern translation puts it this way:

Start being effective in communicating!
"In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father" (NLT).

Let me suggest this week that you "let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." How? I'm not sure, but look for opportunities! Write that card or letter to a neighbor, co-worker, friend or fellow Christian. Encourage them. Let them know about the love of God and how it can bless you.

Call someone who may be struggling! Take a plate of cookies to a neighbor; visit someone who can't get out much themselves. Let your light shine, let folks see God living in you, communicate what God is doing in your life and what he can do in the lives of others.

In other words, start being effective in communicating! God has given us a message, now share it with others. What's the message? God cares and living in him can change you and give you a life worth living, for now and through eternity!