JESUS REVEALED!

This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear. 1 John 3:16 The Message

So I had to run into the store quickly to pick up a few items and I heard a teenage girl joke with her dad about how she antagonized her mother on a visit to her house by purposefully using Jesus' name in vain and saying things like, Jesus isn't here, he never was, Jesus doesn't care, He doesn't CARE about US.   Hearing this made my heart sad and I prayed to myself that HE would reveal himself to them in such a way that they would know he cared about every aspect of their lives. 

I got in line with a cashier who appeared to be in her "own world" so I greeted her super cheerfully by the name on her tag and put my little basket on the rack behind me.  When I turned around she was looking at me inquisitively.  As if she knew me she asked, "is everything going okay today?"  When I responded, she looked at me  again with that same wondering expression and asked, "Do I know you?"   I said,  "No, I just thought I'd greet you by name!" and she said, "Thanks, that was nice.  Not many people do that, you know not many people really CARE anymore. You know how that is." I agreed and she went on to compliment my cross bracelet and told me about burying her husband of 50 years one year ago yesterday.  I then expressed my sorrow for her sorrow and told her that I would be lifting her up in prayer.

picture copied from www.riverbankva.org

 

 
What is my point in sharing these stories?  I was reminded that Jesus' presence and CARE isn't just revealed in some supernatural, out of this world "you - know- that- had - to - be - God" moment all of the time (although that does and can happen).  He is  most often revealed, through  US who claim to know HIM, who claim to be HIS followers. 

Driving home thinking of this, I wanted to run back into the store and go to that dad and daughter and apologize.  I wanted to apologize as a representative of those who CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIAN and say, " I am so sorry that we have lived our lives, or used our words in such a way that you think that Jesus isn't here or that he doesn't care.  Jesus really does care about you, and so often he uses his followers to reveal himself to you.  SO if you are disappointed, please be disappointed in the people...but don't be disappointed in JESUS, because he truly loves you and cares for you more than you know!"

So now the challenge is for ME and for YOU - Let us live our lives in such a way that JESUS' presence, love and CARE is revealed. SO much so that others would want to make him the center of their lives.  That HE would be the source of their HOPE. That HIS NAME would be revered.

"For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.  It is written:

“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
    every tongue will acknowledge God.’”

So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.  - Romans 14: 10b - 12

Despise Not the Journey

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
    He delights in every detail of their lives.
Though they stumble, they will never fall,
    for the Lord holds them by the hand--Psalm 37:23 -24


As I prayed tonight, what kept coming to mind was, "Despise not the Steps I have ordered".  I considered this in light of this  promise filled verse in the Psalms that I have thought of many times.  I have stood on and trusted this promise.  I have prayed and believed this promise for others, especially for those seeking to "walk in God's will."  As a matter of fact, this entire Psalm 37, is one of my favorites.  It is chock full of amazing promises one might hear seasoned Christians proclaim.

Nevertheless, I realized tonight as I prayed, that I and perhaps many of you, often only look at the portion of this verse describing how he directs or orders our steps - as though it were only talking about the "good steps", the encounters we enjoy.

Yet the truth, the promise, is contained in the remaining verses as well -- "He delights in EVERY DETAIL...Though they STUMBLE, they will NEVER FALL." (emphasis mine)

How many times do we become disheartened on the journey, feeling as if something is amiss because it isn't perfect?  How many times do we question the path, and even our own ability to "hear HIM" well enough,  to trust that this difficult path IS a part of the journey- guided by HIM?  "Did God really say....?"  

Do we still live thinking that only the good things in our lives are a part of HIS blessings and forget that " He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5: 45 ? 

I wonder.  I wonder how many times we have missed out on a breakthrough, because we decided to change the direction of a path we didn't like, that we despised because it failed to meet our expectations?

Tonight, I was reminded to NOT despise the steps he has allowed me to take on my journey.  EVEN if I have "mis-stepped" for some reason, HE IS STILL IN CHARGE and is able to turn my blunders into amazing exploits.  EVEN IF I have been deceived by the ENEMY of MY SOUL, GOD in HIS mighty power was aware of it, and even ALLOWED ME to experience the turmoil.  For what purpose you ask?  I can't begin to say I always know.  But I do know, many times these trials have lead me to depend greatly on HIM and reveal to me HIS GLORY and POWER in ways I would not have known had I not experienced, or taken those "steps". 

Such experiences make relevant what we read in James 1:2a - 4 "...count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

So with that said, I take heed his reminder to me to "Not Despise The Steps I Have Ordered" and I rejoice that I have  such a colorful journey.  I rejoice that I have learned to appreciate the good and the bad.  I rejoice that I get to learn that that I have so much more growing to do.  I rejoice that I am going to be the recipient of some wonderful and glorious promises.  YOU will, too!