CAN PEOPLE SEE JESUS IN YOU?
We had to arrange for a tradesman to come to our Villa in our Retirement Village this week. When he arrived and I greeted him at the door, he took something I said and twisted it into a lewd immoral response, I was shocked. He appeared to be a quality young man with enormous potential, but his response indicated where his mind seemed to live. I felt the Holy Spirit immediately challenge me personally, to make sure I was NOT a hypocrite, that looking the part (just acting like a player on a stage) was not good enough, that I was to:
NOT ONLY LOOK THE PART , BUT ALSO TO BE 100% GENUINE
I was strongly tempted to rebuke him, as I am sure Margaret heard his foul comments,then I felt that if I did, I would just be confirming that I was the stereotype Christian that the world thinks we are.
I then asked myself the question HOW CAN WE REACH THIS YOUNG GENERATION WITH THE GOSPEL? The only response I could give was FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM, so despite my repulsion at his comments decided to simply reach out to him in a (I trust) genuine friendly way. We had a nice conversation. If my readers can give me other keys and clues I would really appreciate it, as I want to fulfil the Great Commission in this 21st century.
Here in the Village we have many ways to reach out to our neighbors, and there are some that we are especially praying for and seeking to witness too, again by SIMPLE ACTS OF KINDNESS, one lady calls us “Saints” !!! and says she has never met Christians like us!!!! We thank God for this constant privilege to be a blessing, and even though she is in her senior years she will come to know Jesus as her Saviour and Lord.
As a Believer I sure want my fellow Believers to SEE JESUS IN ME, therefore I must spend quality time in His presence daily. Some Christian groups (especially the ladies) almost wear a uninform, in that what they wear and how they do their hair and add a “head covering” they want to tell the world they are “Christians”. I think it is a lot more than what we wear, but must include our whole life and lifestyle, that expresses God’s DNA and nature in us.
Many years ago we used to sing a hymn and these words came to me today,
“Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wonderful passion and purity,
Oh, Thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.”
Verse 2:
When your burden is heavy and hard to bear,
When your neighbors refuse all your load to share,
When you’re feeling so blue, Don’t know just what to do…
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.
Verse 3:
When somebody has been so unkind to you,
Some word spoken that pierces you through and through,
Think how He was beguiled, spat upon and reviled,
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.
Verse 4:
From the dawn of the morning till close of day,
In example in deeds and in all you say,
Lay your gifts at His feet, ever strive to keep sweet
Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you.
MAY THE WORLD SEE JESUS IN US, AND WANT TO KNOW HIM