Christian Living

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Uplifted

A stranger showed up at church, one bright Sunday morning. In the crowded aisle during greeting time we came face to face. His remarkably bright smile, radiant through a dark beard, captured my heart in an instant. I thought: this must be what it would be like for anyone to meet Jesus.

Later, after the service, I called the young man over to the greeter center to sign the guest book and receive one of our church mugs. I had to tell him, "I saw Jesus in your smile."

That was the stunning truth. If I weren't already convinced that those among the lost of this world are lost only because they haven't yet met Jesus, this experience sealed that conviction. My surprise is that without a single word spoken a heart could be so touched.

Do people see Jesus in you and me? Do we "preach the gospel at all times, if necessary use words" in our daily interactions? When I am lost in thought and happen to catch a reflection of my face in the glass, I can be startled at how glum I look, certainly nothing winsome there. Then, I'm reminded of the Bible camp song, "Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me." And that's enough to prompt me to pray.

Do I radiate the love of Jesus for those who cross my path? Or, am I so wrapped up in my own world, my own thoughts, that I send a signal "don't interrupt me." Preoccupation can be as disrupting as prejudice, making us inaccessible to others. So, how do we bring Christ to the nations in fulfillment of the Great Commission? If we are less than living witnesses, perhaps we could be called upon to be dying witnesses.

Certainly, the impact recent martyrs in the Middle East have had on eyewitnesses is remarkable. These men did not die in vain. Instead, in dying they actually lifted Jesus up for the world to see.

Our assigned ministry of reconciliation presupposes a spirit of joyful gentleness on our part, along with the other gifts of the Spirit. To berate the lost for their sinfulness is certainly no way to begin. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, not our job, and not even possible for us to accomplish. I'm pretty sure everyone, sooner or later, recognizes already how far we fall short of the mark. And, that realization hits us as well as those who yet need to hear the Good News. The only difference, the Good Shepherd has already gathered us into the fold, where He works with us to help reach the other lost sheep that have gone astray.

Since faith comes by hearing, rather than seeing, we can expect that proclaiming the good news comes first. Zacchaeus had heard about Jesus, and hearing made him so desire to get a look at Him, he climbed up a sycamore tree. His encounter with Jesus demonstrated the impact it had on Zacchaeus. He overflowed in joyful response. (Luke 19:1-10)

Then, there's Lazarus. A dead man certainly cannot lift a finger to save himself. Yet, when Jesus called him by name, the unbelievable happened. He walked out of his tomb.

Jesus calls each of us by name, and through us, He continues to call the rest of those who are still waiting to hear.


"...Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”

Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. - John 12:28-33


---Edy T Johnson---
Copyright June 2015
free to share

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