WHEN OTHERS OBSERVE YOU, WHO DO THEY SEE?

SCRIPTURE:
It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for 
us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  
(1 Corinthians 1:30)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever seen someone and said, “You look just like your dad (or mom)”?
Or maybe someone has said something similar to you.
Sometimes they make that statement because your physical appearance is 
similar to that of your mom or dad, but often their thoughts are confirmed 
by what they see in your characteristics, words, actions, demeanor, and habits.

The question is, if you are a believer, would they see similarities 
in you that they see in, or know about, the One you are following?
Would they see a righteousness and holiness in you?
Shouldn’t we expect them to see His characteristics in us 
if we are sincerely committed to the Lord?

Would you agree that ‘people change people’ as much as ‘ideas change people’?
The power of personalities is strong, and we could probably cite many 
illustrations that prove that personality is as great (sometimes greater) 
of an influence on others as ideas.
This is also true when it comes to Christianity.

The secret of the power of Christianity is not in its ethics. 
It is not in Christian ideas or philosophy 
(although Christianity has a philosophical set of ideas). 
The secret of Christianity is found in a Person, 
and that Person is the Lord Jesus Christ. 
Men have discovered other philosophical and ethical systems, 
but they have not found another Jesus Christ. 
No one in history can match Him.

Only God has made it possible 
for us to be ‘in’ Jesus Christ and for His Spirit to be in us.
Only we (and God) know if His Spirit is truly living in us.
Only we (and God) know if we are 
developing the characteristics of our Lord and Savior.
Only we (and God) know if we are obeying Him in a similar fashion as His Son.

Only we (and God) know if we are mimicking our Savior 
by frequenting our Father's House as Jesus did.
Only we (and God) know if we are 
showing love to others as He has shown His love to us.
Only we (and God) know if we 
readily share the good news with others, as Jesus did.

ACTION:
Can others see Jesus in you?
If you are unsure, ask some of your friends.
It is important for others to see similarities of Jesus in you 
so that they will be receptive to the good news.

It all begins with trust – others have to trust that your faith is real.
If you claim to love and follow the Lord, 
but you seldom attend services to worship and praise Him with other believers,  
do you really think they are going to believe (and trust) 
that your faith is real?
If others aren’t convinced that your faith is real, 
then they are not going to be interested in anything you have to say 
to them when you try to point them to Jesus.
Superficial faith is not what God expects of His followers.

God has called selected individuals 
to share His Word with others in a corporate worship environment.
Are you qualified to share His Word as it should be shared?
If not, then doesn’t it make sense that you would want 
(and have the responsibility) to encourage others 
to listen to the ones He has called for that purpose?
Unless you set the example, you cannot expect others 
to listen to those God has called.
If it isn’t important to you, then it is not going to be important to others.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your salvation. As a follower 
of Jesus, I want others to easily see His characteristics in me. Convict me 
of any stubbornness that prevents His characteristics from becoming a part 
of my own life. Reveal any blind spots where I am preventing the fruits of 
the Spirit from flourishing in me. As a child of the King, I want to point 
others to Jesus, and not turn them away due to my own selfishness. Thank
You, Jesus, for the example you established, and for making it possible for 
everyone to receive God’s salvation.”