–1 Peter 3:4
When people see you…who/what do they see? I’m talking, what if we were never able to engage in conversation with the lost of this world? What if all they could do was watch us? (Which they absolutely are!!)
What if they could only…
- Watch how you treat other Christians.
- Watch how you look at someone with different convictions than you. (Ex. tattoos, shopping on Sunday, clubbing, homosexuality, etc)
- Watch how you talk to your children while you walk through Wal-Mart.
- Watch how you treat your waitress when she messes up your order.
- Watch how you talk to the ‘unfair’ coach of your child’s team.
- Watch how you handle someone who is spreading rumors.
- Watch how you speak to a bill collector, salesman or telemarketer.
- Watch how you take the time, or pass on by, to the hurting and needy right in front of you.
- Watch how you minister to another soul that is just as lost and in question as they are. Are you condemning? Are you better than thou? Are you compassionate? Are you always ready and waiting/willing? Are you passionate? Do you show them love?
If you never got to say a word. If the voices of all Christians, were silent in the ears of the lost…would they still know? Would they see Christ by watching? Would our faces reflect His love and glory? Would our actions prove what our mouths profess? Would our eyes be looking for them…or would they be focused ONLY on our agenda?
“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 Know that non-Christians and struggling Christians are watching without intent to ever converse to let you tell your ‘excuses’. Understand that you are a platform for what faith looks like. It does not matter if you don’t want that responsibility. It became yours to uphold, back on day one, when you accepted Christ. Accept that you are transparent when your days is running smooth and when your anger pot is about to boil over. Who sees it when it finally spews BOILING water everywhere? Is it the person who was the last straw? Did they deserve the scars from they received from that explosion? Picture those scars the next time you want to flip out. Let that picture be the reason that you hold back. No one deserves to pay that price. And even if they didn’t hear your words…the anger in your eyes would be enough to cause them to doubt. ‘Faith. Love. Kindness. Patience. Peace. Joy. Goodness. Self-control. Is that what they look like?’
I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. But, you should know, I AM okay with it. ;-) The reason I am okay with it is because I am not talking AT you. I am learning WITH you. Some of those scenarios listed above are ones that I fail when transparent. God doesn’t want us to stay where we are in our knowledge. He doesn’t want us to KNOW that we are hindering others and be OKAY with it. He is constantly giving us divine revelation. This is one for me today. Read this passage of Scripture that my husband read during worship yesterday. “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1)
God is calling us out of our comfort zone. He’s saying to US now, ‘Prove to the lost that you really DO love without condition. Prove that your faith is always on and active. Prove My Son’s sacrifice by being what you say you already are. Grab a hold of what I am teaching you today. Your words mean little, they irritate the ears, when your actions prove otherwise. Line them BOTH up with My Word. Study My character and imitate it. Cling to becoming genuine in all situations. In all circumstance. Run to me and allow me to mold you. To scrape off the things that are not of me. The pain will be worth the prize. You can trust Me My precious child. I want you to radiate MY beauty. I want My image to show in you in its flawless design.’
-Song of Soloman 4:7
This lesson has been hard to write, as I am sure it has been hard to read. But I am fired up. God just revealed the enemy’s scheme to me. And it just. got. real. The fight is on! I will not settle for less than God has for me. I will not stay where I am. I will not be comfortable now knowing the weight of this issue and choosing to do nothing. My witness must first LOOK like I am a child of God. Before they hear me…they ARE seeing me. I will not relent. (Because I know the enemy sure isn’t going to!) Now that you know…what will you do?
May He transform us into His likeness more and more! It is amazing to see that all of our experiences (the good, bad, and the ugly) since the time we were born have been for the purpose of breaking our "outer man" and conforming us into the image of His Son! Good reminder that people are watching--and most importantly..He is watching! We are laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Proverbs says, " The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, and to shun evil, is understanding."
ReplyDeleteps. I did have to laugh though..when I read about "the way I talk to my child in Walmart.." Because, I usually just push her around the store and make fart noises at her in my cart.....she likes it, hahaha. So in another way..it is good for me to know people are noticing! lol