Do You Remind People of Jesus?

 “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

I Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)

   The elderly lady pinched my cheeks and hugged me until I could hardly breathe as she exclaimed for everyone to hear: “Oh my! You have to be related to Pat Haggans! Your smile, the way you walk . . . even how you talk. You remind me so much of her!” 

  I smiled and nodded that yes, she was my aunt and thanked the woman for the compliment as I rubbed my cheeks and prayed the sting of the pinch would go away quickly.  I got that reaction a lot as a little girl and it carried into adulthood because my aunt and I were very similar in mannerisms, personality, and appearance.

  I have a question for you: When people look at you, who do they see? Yes, we may remind them of a friend or perhaps a sister or cousin . . . but, more importantly, do we remind them of Jesus? In I Corinthians 11:1, Paul is not saying “Follow MY example. Period. That’s it!” Absolutely not. Instead, he encourages believers to follow him but only because he is following Christ’s example. 

  And his encouragement holds true today. If I am going to carry the name Christian – Christ Follower – then I must make sure that the way I walk, talk, and smile – in other words, everything about me – mirrors the perfect example of Christ. Will I always follow that perfect example perfectly? No, even though I try my hardest. There will be moments when I totally look like anyone but Jesus. 

  So I ask you today to hold me accountable, my friends. In the checkout line at the grocery store, when I’m stuck in traffic, in a conversation with friends, when someone takes my spot in the parking lot. Who do I remind you of?

            Father, I want to be like you in all I do and say but I fail miserably time and time again. Help me to never forget how you treated and loved those around you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

 Reflect

•  If this was your last day on earth, how do you think people would view your life?

•  Would they say “She was a Christian!” or would it be “SHE was a Christian?”

 Apply

•  Search the Scriptures to find examples of how Jesus treated those around Him.

•  Keep those Scriptures in mind as you face each day, no matter where you go, and practice loving and speaking as Jesus did in His ministry.

 Power

•   I Corinthians 11:1 (NIV) “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

•  I Peter 2:21 (NIV) “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

•  Psalm 143:8 (NIV) “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.”

Would You Say That To Her Face?

 “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you  have  said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered  in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”

Luke 12:2-3 (NIV)

   Cell phones can be a great way of communicating . . . most of the time. On the plus side, you don’t have to stay at home waiting for an important phone call because you can be reached no matter where you might be. But there can be a downside to them, too, as a friend of mine found out several years ago.

   She had received a call on her cell phone from Marie with questions about a party that was being planned. The conversation was a bit complicated because Marie’s sister was at her home to help plan the party so the conversation went from Marie to her sister, back to Marie, and then to my friend.

  Marie finally solved that problem: she put her cell phone on speaker so they could all hear the conversation at the same time. When they finally had everything planned out, Marie said “I’ll talk to you later” and my friend said “Okay.”

    The one catch? As the conversation ended, Marie forgot to hit the “end” button on her cell phone. That in itself wouldn’t necessarily be bad because my friend could simply have hung up but she heard her name and started to answer, thinking that Marie had forgotten to ask her something. Instead, what she heard caused her to catch her breath and tears to roll.

   The two women she had just talked to on the phone were discussing her and it was not a kind discussion. Their opinions left no item out of the conversation, from how poorly she decorated her home to her lack of cooking skills to her latest haircut. As my friend heard the conversation move on to her husband and children she hung up, brokenhearted and incredibly hurt by the comments of the two women.

  I could not help thinking about Luke 12:2-3 after she tearfully shared with me what had happened. “What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight . . .” How many of us have made unkind comments and given our opinions about someone that would have crushed that person had we said it face to face? 

   Confession time. Me . . . I raise my hand here but not in a proud way. I am ashamed to say that I have made comments that would have hurt deeply the person I was talking about had they heard them. I am the one who has whispered judgment about someone that I would never ever want “proclaimed from the roofs.”

  It is never okay to gossip and comment hurtfully about someone. As I comforted my friend and her broken heart, I also asked the Lord to forgive me for those things I have said that would hurt so deeply if repeated to the person.

  Join me in memorizing Luke 12:2-3. And let us resolve to do everything we can to encourage and not rip apart as we hit the “end” button on hurtful comments so that the only thing “proclaimed from the roofs” is the love of Jesus.

  Father, I am ashamed about the harsh words that I have spoken about someone that I would never say to her face. Forgive me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever made a comment about someone that you would be embarrassed to have them know?

• What do you think their reaction would be if they had heard your comment about them? Hurt? Tears?

Apply

• Before you respond to a comment made about someone, take a breath and ask yourself: Would I be embarrassed or ashamed if that person was standing in front of me when I answered?

• Memorize Luke 12:2-3 as a reminder before you comment about others.

Power 

• Luke 12:2-3 (NIV) “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.”

• Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is  helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

• Titus 3:2 (NIV) “to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”

One Day You Will Thank Him

 “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:8 (NIV)

        The dress stood out as it hung on the end of the rack: purple bows on the sleeves and around the neck, blue and green tulle – yards and yards of tulle – gathered at the waist and accented with silver roses. It was just the style of dress that would appeal to a little girl wanting to “dress up” but not to her mother.

   My granddaughter Ella stared at the dress as we walked by and smiled. She turned to me and said “Grandma, when I was little I wanted a dress like that more than anything in the world! I begged and begged my mom to get it for me.”  “And did she, Ella?” I asked.

   Ella smiled again. “No. I was so disappointed but I remember her hugging me and saying ‘No, Ella, and one day you will thank me.’” I laughed and replied “And what do you think now?” Ella grinned “She was right.”

  I can totally relate that conversation to my relationship with God. Can you? I ask and ask for something, so sure that it is exactly what I need or want. And when it doesn’t work out – when God says no – I am extremely disappointed and, unfortunately, start to question whether or not God really knows what’s best for me.

  We don’t like it when we don’t get what we want, do we? And when we can’t see the reason for the “no,” we forget what God has promised us in His Word: that He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6); that His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8).

  Does God understand how important our request is? Does He even listen and care? Absolutely! But He who made the heavens and earth, who is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end – He knows what we need before we even ask. And He never ever makes a mistake.

  Think about it: the boyfriend in high school that you prayed would be “the one” but he married someone else – and a year later you met the Godly young man who is now your husband. What about the job that you were certain was the right one and you prayed but didn’t get it, and now you are thankful because the business folded after one year.

  Both prayers had “no” answers from God. But eventually, the reasons for those answers became clear and resulted in thankfulness for a Father who knows what we need before we even ask (Matthew 6:8).

  Ella was initially disappointed in her mother’s “no” to the dress she thought she needed, but she eventually completely understood her “One day you will thank me” reply.

   We, too, may be disappointed when God does not always answer in the way we want. Just remember that He always knows what we need, even before we ask, and one day we will thank Him for His answers.

         Father, I take this moment to thank you for all those “no” answers to my prayers. You know what I need before I even ask. And you are faithful. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Have you ever gotten mad at God because your prayer for something you were sure was right for you, was not answered like you wanted?

• Did you stop to consider that God had a better plan in place for you?

Apply

• Journal prayer requests that you have made for the last year that God said “no” to for your life.

• How many of those requests are you now thankful that you received a “no” instead of a “yes” answer? Praise the Lord for His faithfulness in your life.

Power

• Matthew 6:8 (NIV) “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

• Matthew 7:9-10 (NIV) “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?”

• Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV) “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”

I Really Do Want to be Like Jesus

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

Romans 7:15 (NIV)

   Right before I climbed out of bed early one morning to work out, I lifted up my day to the Lord. I asked Him to direct my attitude to be one of kindness and compassion; to help me see anyone who is hurting and needs an encouraging comment; to overlook those whose attitude is less than kind toward me and to ignore things that are hurtful and instead look for good in everyone. Those requests were sincerely spoken from my heart as I told Jesus that I wanted to be like Him. And then I went to the gym.

  The one with the music blasting at a “permanently damage and rupture your eardrum” level turned the music UP louder when I asked if he could turn it down just a bit. Immediately the anger in my heart began to grow as I quietly wished he would pull a muscle and have to leave.  I really DO want to be like Jesus but to this guy, Lord? Are you kidding?

  Then I followed an elderly woman driving 10 mph in a 40 mph zone as I hurried to the store. She signaled she was turning left and then suddenly swerved back into my lane, never realizing that I came within inches of hitting her. Honestly! Why in the world is she even driving? Impatience and unkind thoughts joined the anger already building in my heart.

  And if that wasn’t enough, I had to deal with yet another call to the phone company and explain for the 5th  time that my bill was incorrect and I had never made any calls to a foreign country nor have I ever called one in my entire life. Add the fact that I couldn’t understand what the woman was saying and she kept repeating that she was sorry but didn’t correct my bill because she needed to transfer me to yet another department! People like this, Lord? Those who really don’t care about my problem? Am I supposed to be kind to them? It is 10 a.m. and I have already done the complete opposite of what I had just prayed only hours earlier. What in the world is wrong with me?

  Paul, in Romans 7:15, totally understood what we are facing. He wrote “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Sound familiar? That’s us! Paul was a Godly man who loved the Lord with all his heart and yet he struggled with the very attitudes and emotions that we struggle with every single day.  I truly long to be like Jesus. I want to be His hands and feet and for people to know by my actions that I serve Him with every part of my life. And yet, I fail again and again

Thankfully, we have a Father who understands that we will fail repeatedly because we are human and because we are weak. We allow sin to creep in and unfortunately try to determine for ourselves just who WE think we should be kind to in our lives.

  The Lord has given us a helper as we maneuver through every day. He is the Holy Spirit. We read in John 14:26 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, who the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

  He is the nudge in your heart that says “Take a deep breath. You have no idea what is going on in her life.” He whispers “You just did that same thing yesterday and you are forgiven.” He reminds me that the Lord of my life is the Lord of all. And that He loves everyone – no matter how loud the music or how slow the driver.

  And so I will try again. I will ask for forgiveness and a second chance. God replies with “Of course.” I will remind myself of Colossians 3:13 which says “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” 

  My blood pressure will go back to normal. My breathing will relax and my heart will rejoice that God forgives us for the very things we get angry about with other people. And I will praise Jesus for placing each opportunity in my life to be like Him. Why? Because I really do want to be like Jesus. 

  Father, thank you for your patience and forgiveness with me as I try to live a life as you would have me live. I will focus on you and your word. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• Can you remember a time when you became angry over an incident someone did that you did yourself?

•  Why did you think that what they did was somehow “different” than you doing the same thing?

Apply 

• Journal your actions in the last week when someone did something to irritate you or make you mad and your reaction.

• Thank the Lord for forgiving you for your negative reaction, take a deep breath, thank Him for His forgiveness, smile and praise Him for what He has done in your life. Repeat as necessary.

Power

• Romans 7:15 (NIV) “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

• John 14:26 (NIV) “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, who the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” *

•  Colossians 3:13 (NIV) “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”