HIS GLORY is in YOUR GIFT

I don’t ever write to brag, but at times I will boast BUT--SOLEY--in the name and work of the Lord. There is a proverb that has come to life for me again and again:  “A mans gift makes room for him and brings him before great men” (Proverbs 18:16).Some translations say your gift or ability will usher you before “great men”, “important people” and even “princes”.I have experienced this ever so abundantly since my release from prison.  It was this exact time last year, where I was invited to sit on a panel at the New Jersey Wardens Conference. Not too significant in and of itself. However, if you parallel that invitation with the fact that I was only a few weeks displaced from prison myself—where I had just been governed by a parole panel—and there I sat on a panel next to a former New Jersey Governor, James McGreevey.Only God could bring about such a powerful transition. I mean, I could barely get the words “good morning” out in prison without getting cursed at by some Correction’s Officers. Now, here I sat on a panel next to a former Governor, where Wardens are listening to me speak about God ‘being good morning by morning.’  LOL. That event has been followed by numerous subsequent speaking engagements from the West Coast in Cali to the Midwest in Nebraska and all over the Tri-State area. I have found myself with “much room before great men.” From private events to church and school engagements, the Lord has allowed me to speak before lawyers, judges, police officers, executives, pastors, priests, businessmen, social workers, county officials and most importantly to the young minds of the next generation.Again, I stand in awe of a God who is willing to make much of Himself through a felon like me.  Many may respond, “Matt, you’re not a felon. You’re God’s child.” I get that! But the fact remains, I am a convicted felon and I highlight such a fact to show how God takes the base, the weak, and the foolish, to confound the lofty, the strong, and the wise. “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence” (I Corinthians 1:28-29). I dare not take what IS fully God’s--glory. The Bible says “He will share His glory with no one” (Isaiah 42:8); but I add this next sentence from experience—He may not share His glory, but He is always willing to share His story with anyone.   And it doesn’t end there. Actually, it has only begun. Most recently, I sat across from a very distinguished and notable individual. In fact, as I sat in his office, I shared with him the proverb that was manifesting right before our very eyes. “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.” He immediately said in return after I quoted the verse, “No, no, you’re the great man, it’s an honor to finally meet you after I have been tracking all of the work you have been doing.”“No Senator,” I humbly replied, “by God’s grace alone….”And, like Jabez in the Bible, I will continue to pray to the God of Israel.  “Oh Lord, that I may bless YOU indeed; that You would continue to expand my opportunities, my influence, and my territory; that Your hand would be with me, that You would keep me from evil, and that I may cause no more pain” (I Chronicles 4:10).