Can others see Christ in me?

Joy Williams sings a song about this. The following are the first verse and chorus:

Is the face that I see in the mirror the one I want others to see?
Do I show in the way that I walk in my life the love that You've given to me?
My heart's desire is to be like You in all that I do, all I am


CHORUS:Do they see Jesus in me?
Do they recognize Your face?
Do I communicate Your love and Your grace?
Do I reflect who You are in the way I choose to be?
Do they see Jesus, Jesus in me?



The words are something to think about. God's word tells us to go proclaim the good news to the world.. but I have asked God how to do this, if "preaching" isn't really my style. It just doesn't come out right- and as a friend of mine asked me the other day " I just never seem to see the fruit of my labor and I don't know why? It must be something I am doing wrong!"

A couple of things came to my mind.. one, being the whole "seed-sower" issue. God told me long ago, maybe in my teens, that this would be my "modus operandi" where He was concerned. Some of us get the gifts of prophecy and teaching or evangelism ( I didn't get much of those) and others of us get gifts like mercy, serving, or shepherding gifts. Apparently that was the line yours truly was in. :) I praise Him for those gifts, and cry out for Him to use them through me to accomplish His works.. but being a seed- sower is hard sometimes. I have seen others get to lead the very people to Christ that God had put in my life for a time of "softening" or something like that. I could go one of two ways with this. I could cop an attitude with God :" HEY!! Those were MINE!" ( probably not wise, since they were never mine, they are HIS) or, I can praise Him that they are now in the family of God and will be in Heaven for all eternity. I choose that. :)

Other times, God might put people in your life for a time of softening, and you grow to love and care for them, then *poof* they leave . Maybe you keep in touch, maybe you don't- but God always knows where they are. In His time, and according to His will, He pursues and answers those prayers. This is probably harder for me to swallow- but my Father admonishes me to go ahead in faith, knowing that HE is always faithful. Amen? :)

Back to my original pondering... as Christians, we are called to preach the gospel, in whatever way we can do that. One of the most powerful ways this can happen is for someone to recognize Christ in us and in our lives and families. How can a person see this? One little word. "Grace."

Much grace was poured upon us at the time of Christ's persecution and death for our sins. For what we have been given, a lifetime and an eternity with God , we are thankful and we praise Him. Out of that thanks , our hearts are transformed through the work of the Holy spirit... the Holy Spirit, when we ask, gives us all we need for others to see Christ in us. We are being made into His likeness.. meek, humble, loving and kind, generous, gracious and selfless servants of the Living God who are called into the world to love the hurting and lost. Take this seriously. If we aren't loving the hurting and lost , who is? The world? Satan may try to lure them, but he certainly isn't loving on them.. and to a hurting person, being lured looks like love sometimes. Temptations and worldly acquistions look alot like acceptance to many people. I believe it doesn't take much for people to see something different in us as Christians, but I believe we must ask God for the ability to BE different. Pledge to be kind today to someone "different" from yourself. Pledge today to choose a smile and soft heart over anger and spite. Pledge today to use words that uplift someone, as opposed to tearing them down ( even if you feel like they "deserve" it. ) A friend of mine said to me once " Every chance you get, take the high road." Another friend says that her Mother in law tells her to "Just do the next right thing." Basically we can look at Christ, and ask God " Lord, make me more like Him." He always took the high road, and He always did the next right thing.

Father, create in me a clean heart. Remind me daily that my first order of business with You is to say Thank You for all the blessings you have showered upon me. God, I pray that you would fill me with Your Holy Spirit, and use me to do Your work here on this earth. I pray You would lure me further and further away from the world and it's temptations, and closer to You and Your plan for me. Lord, I ask that you would help me give others grace. Let there be a smile or a hug from me that is sent to a hurting person, from You. Love others through me, Father. Let them see Jesus in me.

In Your Son's precious name I pray,
Amen.