GALATIANS 5:22-24 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
THEME OF THE DAY: ARE YOU JESUS? It happened quite a few years ago but it is one of those experiences that left a forever mark on my life. I am sure each of you had those same types of experiences or encounters in life. And as so often is the way the Lord works in our lives, it wasn’t some “Fourth of July spiritual fireworks” moment. No, it was ordinary but with extraordinary impact.
The little boy was about seven years old. He was in foster care with a couple in my church. This family was faithful in church attendance and like most Christians, they sit in the same place every Lord’s Day, close to the front. We are creatures of habit, are we not? This little boy was quite attentive during the service, and especially when I started to preach. Granted, not perfect, but neither are adults. He, however, would stare at me, seemingly fixed on every word I said. After the service, I would come down from the pulpit and make this little boy the first person I greeted. Normally, “Hello, it is good to see you my little friend.” This went on for a good bit of time, but then the moment. After one service, I went for my customary greeting but before I could say anything, he looked at me and said, “Can I ask you a question?” My response was “Or course, anything.” He looked up at me and said, “Are you Jesus?” I admit in twenty years of pastoral ministry, I have encountered a lot of questions and certainly some comments, but never once this one. I smiled at my little friend, and said, “No, I am not Jesus. I work for Him, though.” He smiled and said, “Okay. Thank you” and went on his way.
“Are you Jesus?” The goal of every Christian is to be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus. It is to be our daily goal because it is God’s daily work in us – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified (Romans 8:28-30).
Since it is God’s work in us and our goal for us, what does this image look like? Today’s scripture – the Fruit of the Spirit life. This is the picture of the Good Shepherd, the High Priest, the Advocate, the Prince of Peace, and glorious Redeemer. And if the world is going to take notice of the Lord Jesus it will be through His people, not only proclaiming His Gospel, but “incarnating” His Gospel by being like Him. We will have greater influence for Christ in our conformity to Christ than any activity or ministry for Christ.
So, are our lives becoming more and more like Jesus that would prompt people – young, old, and in the middle – to ask, “Are you Jesus?” because they are observing a life of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? May it be so. After all, that is why God the Father saved us.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to see it is becoming like Your Son, not what I do for Your Son, that has the greatest impact.”
QUOTE: “Likeness to Jesus. Pursue it. It is the reason why we are Christians.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim