GALATIANS 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
THEME OF THE DAY: LEAVING A CHRIST-CENTERED IMPACT. Every healthy, growing, and close to Christ Christian longs to make and leave a Christ-centered impact on the people in his or her life. Whether it be in the intimate circle of our families, neighbors we care about, or co-workers we befriended, our hearts yearn to present Jesus to them in our words and conduct.
How do we? We may come up with a fairly long list of activities which do have good impact. Maybe participating in outreach ministries in our churches. Sharing gospel tracts is another way to leave an impact on people for Jesus. Also being involved in services of mercy in nursing homes, rescue missions, food pantries, or visiting widows and orphans. There are quite a few activities to leave a mark on Jesus in our communities, but I think we need to look beyond just what we do to who we are and who we represent in our attitudes, speech, and conduct. To go from activities which leave some immediate impact to lives that leave lasting impact, there are two essentials that need to be in place in our hearts and lives.
First, we must have the heart of Jesus become our hearts. What this means is cultivating a close walk with Him so that we see people, all people, as He does.
“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest”” (Matthew 9:35-38).
Without having the love of Christ controlling us, we cannot sustain a love for people which is a prerequisite to leaving a Christ-centered impact. Cultivate a close walk with Him. It is life’s most important relationship.
The second thing necessary to leave a Christ-centered impact on people is not our spiritual giftedness, invitations to church (important) or anything else we do. It will be our Christ centeredness. Our likeness to Jesus in His character which is defined by today’s scripture – “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”. Just think for a moment how those qualities in a person, not sometimes, but consistently present impacts people. They do. Why? Two reasons. They are beyond human ability to produce, and they are so absent in our world today. Sadly, they are also absent in a lot of Christians. Yet, it is the Fruit of the Spirit life that leaves the greatest impact on lives.
One of the great men of God in church history was the Scottish pastor, Robert Murray McCheyne. He once said, “It is not great talents God uses most but great likeness to the Lord Jesus.” Good words to ponder and embrace! People need to see Jesus and that will be largely through our relational investment in them as we model Him from the inside out!
PRAYER: Father, make me as much like Jesus as a human being may become this side of heaven.
REFLECTION: We have the most influence on people when we are most like the Lord Jesus Christ.