If you have worked with, gone to school with or just been friends with a large group of people, then you may know someone like the example I am about to use. Have you ever known someone who was married, but when you first met them you had no idea? And sadly enough you had to know them for a while before you actually figured out they were? I once with worked with a guy who when I first met him I had no idea he was married. He did not wear a wedding ring, he did not speak as if he were in a committed relationship, and his actions certainly did not reflect that of a man who was committed to one woman. So much so, that I remember the day I heard him use the word "wife" I about fell over. My mind immediately went to the times that I had heard him or watched him flirt. The language that had come out of this his mouth about other women that totally indicated to me that he was certainly single. And I remembered thinking to myself.....does his wife have any idea that this is how he acts when he is not around her?
I used that example because today I wanted to challenge some people to take a look at their life, their walk with Jesus, their commitment to Him. I used the example of a marriage because the I believe that our relationship with Jesus is like a marriage. It is a commitment like marriage and it should be as life changing to you as marriage is to a single person. I firmly believe that one of the best ways you can honor your wife in marriage is for someone to see how good of a husband you are to her. For someone to see how devoted and committed you are to your marriage. For people to see that you honor your wife with your words and your actions as much when you are not around her as you do if she is standing right beside you. To see that you LIVE the life of a "married man".....not a man who is married but still trying to live the single life.
When we accept Christ into our life there should be a change that takes place in our heart. Not a change that is only seen by God when He looks into your heart, but a change that people see when they look at your life. Just as much as getting married should make you stop living the single life....accepting Jesus should make you stop living the worldly life. What exactly am I getting at?....I'm talking about being set apart. Looking different. Not just "thinking" different than the world, but actually living, speaking and looking different than the rest of the world. A life and a language that points people to Jesus. Matthew 7:13-14 says “Go in through the narrow door. The door is wide and the road is easy that leads to hell. Many people are going through that door. But the door is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life that lasts forever. Few people are finding it." I'm talking about living in a manner that someone would not be shocked if they were getting to know you and one day you said the words "yeah, I'm a Christian".
It is very clear that the point of accepting God's amazing gift of Jesus Christ was not just so "I" could get into heaven. It was also so that once I found Jesus I could point others to Him. In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus said “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” This was the instructions of Jesus. This was not someone's interpretation of what Jesus "may have" meant, they are His own words. And I thinking trying to live a life that looked like Jesus' did is one way we can do this.
So I ask this question as I bring this to an end...."If I'm still living the "single life", even though I say I'm "married to Jesus", then how do I expect people to see that knowing Him has changed my life....and it can change theirs too?" Please, today, let God speak to your heart about the change He may desire to make in you, so that you can be effectively used by Him. Because being a vessel He can use is really what a life with Him is all about...
God, Today I ask you to speak directly to our hearts. I ask You to look into our lives and have Your Holy Spirit point out in us the things that You would like to see changed. Help us to be open to Your correction and direction in us. Help us to humble ourselves and see the things that we do that do not reflect You. If we are made in Your image, then help us look like You in ALL we do....our actions, our language, our thoughts, our forgiveness, our mercy and our love. In Jesus name, Amen.
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