Be Jesus

Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.  For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. (I Peter 3:8-11)

We improve our relationship to Jesus through time in the Word and in prayer. We can get down to improving our relationship with others only after we get our relationship with Christ right. Mom always used to say I was to treat others as I wanted them to treat me - the Golden Rule. The only way to treat others right is to be sure the 'rightness of our heart' is maintained through time with Jesus. Try as we might, we cannot control what another says or thinks - even though we may be trying to do that for them. A wise counselor once told me I could never be another person's conscience, nor could I ever improve their behavior or attitude - that was the work of the Holy Spirit, not me. I could focus on the attitude I maintained and the behavior I exhibited - period. I will say there is power in being a positive example, though!

If you have ever tried to be kind when someone else is being a little bit of a bugger, it isn't all that easy! In fact, you might just want to be a bugger right back! It took me a long time to realize my attitude was all I could control. The more I took it to Christ, spending time exploring what he said in his Word, and what he was saying to me, the less I wanted to correct that other person's behavior. Why? Mine was enough to handle! Is it difficult to respond to criticism with grace? Yes, it can be, but when we listen 'between the lines' of what is being said, we sometimes find elements of truth that expose just a bit about ourselves or the circumstances we didn't really see on the surface. Some of the worst arguments have begun in my life because I never stopped to consider if there was any truth to what the other person was saying!

It is hard to stop to listen when an argument is beginning to raise your hackles, but somewhere within the two worlds that are colliding in a barrage of words and attitudes, there might be a little bit of truth we need to hear. It took a lot of time with Jesus to change my attitude toward some individuals - time well spent, I might add. When I allowed him to point out things I needed to work on instead of always focusing on why the other individual was 'wrong' or 'misled' in the situation, my attitude began to change toward the other individual. Gracious words began to replace hateful ones. Acts of service began to replace begrudging duty. Change like this within relationship is only possible when we get the first part of all relationship correct - Jesus in the center. The other individual may not even know Jesus, but your example may be the exact thing that draws them into a relationship with him of their own. Just sayin!

Choose a side

I was watching a show last night in which a physician was asked to be an 'expert witness' in a malpractice case. As healthcare providers, physicians and nurses are often called upon to give 'expert testimony' as to the practice exhibited by another provider during the care of a patient that didn't quite go as expected. If you are called upon to be the expert witness on behalf of the one being tried, you are there to give testimony to the evidence of the care being provided in a reliable manner - it met the standards of care. If you are called upon to be the expert witness against the one being tried, you are expected to bring out errors in judgment that led to the 'bad outcome' of the patient. It is clear from these examples, we can be a 'witness' on either 'side' of the issue - it depends on who's side we 'side with'!

'I am Jesus, the One you're hunting down like an animal. But now, up on your feet—I have a job for you. I've handpicked you to be a servant and witness to what's happened today, and to what I am going to show you.' (Acts 26:15-16)

A witness is one who has sufficient knowledge to constitute enough proof that something exists, or perhaps that someone is who they say they are, or that there is evidence to the contrary for one or the other. It may not be clear to you, but you are being spoken to by God - direct communication with God - and the message is clear! We are being "handpicked" by God to be his messenger and to act as a witness to the power of our holy and righteous God. We are called to stand on the side of God - to give a testimony to the reality of his existence - to proclaim his actions are 'spot on' in all regards. The effectiveness or what others will believe about our witness is often viewed by the kind of people that we are in our ordinary everyday lives, not what we say. All the preaching, teaching, or sharing we do is useless if what we "say" doesn't match with what we "live out" in our everyday lives. To be faithful to the message of hope that lives within us (Christ), we need the power of the constant flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

There is no substitute for power - we can light a candle, but it dims in comparison to the light afforded when a light bulb is connected to an outlet that feeds it the voltage to "light it up". That difference is found in the 'energy' source - one 'burns' the small wick secured within that candle wax; while the other 'burns' the energy provided by huge turbines moved by pressures exerted by wind or water. One is dim because the source of energy is less than the other. It is the same with our Christian walk - we cannot find any substitute for the power of the Holy Spirit within us. The operation of the power of the Holy Spirit will be that which produces conviction, convinces of the truth, and affords a conversion in our lives. Our own energy to 'live right' is kind of like that candle - it is dim in comparison to the energy source of the Spirit within. A witness has a personal awareness of what they share. It is the work of the Holy Spirit within to bring about this personal awareness of God.

The 'witness' within our lives comes first in conviction - bringing us to a place where we recognize our need for a Savior, moving us into a place where we are constantly aware of the sinfulness inherent within our lives apart from Christ. The witness grows as we are convinced of the truth - allowing us to see the error of our wrong choices, opening to us the truth of God's standards by which we are to pattern our lives, moving us from making wrong choices to making better ones little by little. In bringing about the conversion of our lives into that which brings honor and glory to our holy God, the Spirit of God within is helping us to become 'reliable witnesses' of the work of God's grace within us. It is the last point that makes us solid witnesses of the truth about who God is in our lives. When there is a lifestyle change, there is a witness that is linked to the grace of God.

God's work within our lives is never secretive. There is always a witness of his grace touching us - we may not display the "why" behind the grace (the sinfulness that led us to the place of needing that grace), but we definitely display the "freshness" of that grace (the hope and joy it produces in our lives)! That is the type of "witness" that God asks us to be - channels of his grace by allowing his grace to be "lived out loud" in our lives. Wherever God's grace has affected your life, let it shine out! The witness of God's grace in that area of your life may be the very hope that reaches out to another in need of that same grace in their life! Just sayin!

Patient persistence pierces through indifference...

Indifference is all around us.  I am a people watcher, so maybe I pick up on this a little more than someone who isn't.  Whether it is the casual disregard for someone's property exhibited when someone just drops their unwanted trash by the wayside without a care in the world, or the passing by of a motorist broken down on the side of the freeway - lack of concern and compassion is just part of what we see everyday.  Indifference is also the producing of "work" which only requires mediocre effort.  Anytime we don't give our "all" to a project, we can be guilty of being a little indifferent to the outcome, as well.  In this world, Christ called for his people to make a difference - to stand out, to be counted, and to be agents of change.  If you haven't guessed it by now, we have a hard job ahead of us!

Patient persistence pierces through indifference; gentle speech breaks down rigid defenses.  (Proverbs 25:15 MSG)

Patient persistence is the antidote to indifference.  Now, if you struggle with ever wanting to just give up when things seem like they are too hard to break through, or people just don't want to listen to what you have to say, then you have probably come face-to-face with the desire to just throw in the towel and declare their is no use in trying anymore.  Persistence is the ability to continue with something, even in the face of resistance, and even after the resistance has been removed.  Patience is the ability to bear annoyances without retaliation, delays without explanation, pain without stumbling, provocation without getting in someone's face, and hardship without counting the cost too high to bear.  So, the antidote to indifference is us living in such a way that our lives speak of a "difference"!  Gentle speech is the antidote to the rigid defenses of those who resist our persistence!

I had to look up the synonyms for "patient" today because it is what I do - I like words and they inspire me, so I look them up!  Here's what I found:

- Uncomplaining: When things aren't going our way, or as easily as we might have hoped, it is quite easy to get into a little jag of complaining, isn't it? Why? It is human nature to want things to be easy and to regret or be frustrated when things are not. Yet, our reminder today is that if we want to conquer the indifference in our own lives so we can make a difference in the lives of others, we have to begin with curbing our desire to complain about all the things that are not "right" with our life!

- Long-suffering, Forbearing: We have an example of this in Christ's life, but since none of us is exactly like Christ at the moment, we sometimes struggle with enduring injury, trouble, and provocation for any length of time, or with the patience of a "saint".  The good news is that we are each Christ-like with the full potential to exhibit his example - we just need to tap into the potential we have been given.  Nothing will turn the heads of rulers and our fellow man quicker than one who is exhibiting long-suffering and forbearance (self-control).

- Resigned: Some might think of this as giving up, but I think this is the attitude of heart and mind which is set on doing the will of another (Christ). When we live in such a manner so as to reveal our life is not our own, but is fully under the control and influence of Christ Jesus, we show the power of submission.

- Calm, Unruffled, Unexcited, Composed: Patient persistence pierces through indifference simply because people don't know what to do with someone they cannot "ruffle".  All around us, people are seeking our "reaction" to what they say, do, or think.  What they see in us is this ability to remain on an "even keel" even in the face of some pretty rocky and rough circumstances.  This speaks volumes to those who might want to stir us up and make our lives a little topsy-turvy.

- Untiring: To continue without your strength or vigor being impacted is something most of us would love to do, but we all know how fickle our bodies are.  We want to go on, but they demand rest.  Our minds want to continue to work on something, but we suffer from mental exhaustion and our mental acuity begins to wane.  In the face of indifference, Christ gives us the sharpness of mental acuity and the soundness of body to exert our best efforts while under his control.

We deal with indifference by being willing to make a difference.  We answer the defenses of another with the gentleness of our speech.  Let's not forget we are here on this earth as agents of change - ambassadors of the message of reconciliation and hope.  We are here to encounter indifference and breakdown the rigidity of those who oppose the gospel.  Just sayin!

Can I get a witness?

'I am Jesus, the One you're hunting down like an animal. But now, up on your feet—I have a job for you. I've handpicked you to be a servant and witness to what's happened today, and to what I am going to show you.'

(Acts 26:15-16)

A witness is one who has sufficient knowledge to constitute a proof that something exists, that someone is who they say they are, or that there is evidence to the contrary.  Paul was being spoken to in this passage by God - direct communication with God - and the message was clear!  He was being "handpicked" by God to be his messenger and to act as a witness to the power of a holy and righteous God.  

We are also called to be witnesses - handpicked by God.  The effectiveness or "believability" of our witness is often viewed by the kind of people that we are, not what we say.  All the preaching, teaching, or sharing we do is useless if what we "say" doesn't match with what we "live".  To be faithful to the message of hope that lives within us (Christ), we need the power of the constant flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

There is no substitute for power - we can light a candle, but it dims in comparison to the light afforded when a light bulb is connected to an outlet that feeds it the voltage to "light it up".  It is the same with our Christian walk - we cannot substitute for the power of the Holy Spirit within us.  The operation of the power of the Holy Spirit will be that which produces conviction, convinces of the truth, and affords a conversion in our lives.

A witness has a personal awareness of what they share.  It is the work of the Holy Spirit within to bring about this personal awareness of God:

• First in conviction - bringing us to a place where we recognize our need for a savior, then in keeping us aware of the sinfulness in our lives.
• Second in convincing us of the truth - allowing us to see the error of wrong choices, opening to us the truth of God's standards by which we are to pattern our lives.
• Last, in bringing about the conversion of our lives into that which brings honor and glory to our holy God.

It is the last point that makes us solid witnesses of the truth about who God is in our lives.  When there is a lifestyle change, there is a witness that is linked to the grace of God.  

God's work within our lives is never secretive.  There is always a witness of his grace touching us - we may not display the "why" behind the grace (the sinfulness that led us to the place of needing that grace), but we definitely display the "freshness" of that grace (the hope and joy it produces in our lives)!  That is the type of "witness" that God asks us to be - channels of his grace by allowing his grace to be "lived out loud" in our lives.

Wherever God's grace has affected your life, let it shine out!  The witness of God's grace in that area of your life may be the very hope that reaches out to another in need of that same grace in their life!