My first experience behind a radio microphone was at the local university campus station. I was eager to learn a new skill and wanted to fit in with all the other radio personalities. I soon realized, however, that my values as a believer in Jesus differed greatly from many of the other students. Though I didn’t agree with much of what I saw or heard, I experienced boldness and strength from Christ to share with others the difference He’d made in my life.
Years later, I met up with one of those radio personalities who said he was now serving God. I was amazed to learn that he’d explored the Christian faith because of the way I had represented Jesus to him.
As believers in Christ, God calls us to represent Him by going into our sphere of influence dressed with “tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12). In an often brutal and merciless world, we’re able to display the dramatically contrasting nature of our Savior—making allowance for the faults of others and forgiving those who have wronged us (Colossians 3:13). We can be ambassadors of Jesus by allowing His peace to rule in our hearts and by always being thankful, no matter the circumstance (Colossians 3:15).
When love is our overriding motive, we naturally become a harmonious expression of Him on earth (Colossians 3:14). We can’t help but embody Christ’s character when we allow who He is and His message to fill our lives and flow out and through us (Colossians 3:16). May we remember: “whatever [we] do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 2 Kings 22:1–23:3
More:
Read John 13:35 and see how we’re able to best embody Jesus’ character by our love for one another.
Next:
In what practical ways can you effectively represent Christ in your sphere of influence? How are you able to work together with your fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus to be an expression of God in our world?
Gary Shultz on April 27, 2017 at 5:48 am
Hi Ruth: It is true the world is looking, they want to see a relationship that can be anchored to the care package God provides. They are watching. The love a church can generate through Christ will be a magnet to hungry souls, hurt souls. I suppose the question is what do they see? The other question is have we made it visible? What have we done to export a care package of God’s love to those around us? We can also try to export a tidy looking, well designed program, but if we don’t have the spark of the Spirit in our work and in our lives to continue to generate a power that is above the norm, we fail. The fraud will soon be discovered and disliked because of their hypocrisy. If we must be disliked by the world, let it be because they saw an example of God given to them to make a choice. The choice should be theirs not our failure. People looking for something super need to see it, naturally. Thanks Ruth
Ruth O'Reilly-Smith on April 27, 2017 at 9:43 am
Hi Gary, I love what you say about making our relationship with God ‘visible’. As we ask for Holy Spirit’s help, may we be intentionally aware of the opportunities we have to tell those around us of the difference (for the good) God makes in our lives and the hope for true peace, acceptance and love, He offers to all.
sandy229 on April 27, 2017 at 9:55 am
I agree that if we must be disliked by the world, let it be because of our love and values for Jesus. If the world hates us for this, we must remember, they hated Him first, so let us always be a good example for Jesus, the choice is theirs if they want to follow Him or not, but we should never set a poor example of what He means to us.
Ruth O'Reilly-Smith on April 27, 2017 at 11:40 am
Hi Sandy, the Bible says we will suffer more and more persecution like this. May we continue to speak boldly of our faith in Jesus and how He has made a difference in our lives for the good – in love, with grace and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Tom Felten on April 27, 2017 at 7:55 am
Ruth, I’m reminded of the saying, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Jesus so beautifully lived this out in the way He compassionately cared for people’s physical needs even as He provided for their spiritual needs.
Ruth O'Reilly-Smith on April 27, 2017 at 9:56 am
I agree Tom. The key, I believe though is that Jesus spent time with His Father in the morning – before He went into his day. He was intentional about his purpose – ‘For the joy set before him…'(Hebrews 12:2). In the same way, as we ask God what He wants us to do and whom He wants us to speak to, may we walk in obedience to Him – and thereby see lives changed for the good, through Him.
sandy229 on April 27, 2017 at 10:18 am
Thank you Ruth for this devotion today. Relationships often prove to be the crucible in which our godliness is tested. Colossians challenges us to bring the life and character of Christ into the way we relate to others. Drawing strength from the power and might of His glory, we must remove and discard our old ways of living and relating. God has made us new creations in Christ; let us be continually renewed to live and love in a manner worthy of our Lord. So we should put on love, and from the core of our being, be tender, merciful, humble, patient, and forgiving in all relationships. We should let the peace of Christ control our thoughts and emotions, and be thankful, study, think about, memorize, believe and live the Word of God so that it becomes part of who we are. Let the Word inhabit your conversation with others and your worship of God. Devote yourself to Jesus and to knowing God’s Word.
Ruth O'Reilly-Smith on April 27, 2017 at 12:13 pm
Amen Sandy. May our conversations and actions be genuinely and consistently peppered with the wonder of God’s grace in our lives – evident for all to see, but always to the glory of God.