Am I "Jesus" to People Around Me?
Do you have a tough time understanding how Jesus is connected to all the things you do in life?
What difference does your faith in Jesus make in your day to day activities and interaction with others?
What does Jesus have to do with cleaning the house, doing the laundry, cleaning the bathroom, mowing the lawn, going to work, doing work well, buying groceries, paying bills, and a myriad of other “normal” things you do. In this series, “Living Your Faith in Everyday Life,” I’m looking at how you can connect Jesus Christ to your day to day living. Today, let’s ask the question, “Am I "Jesus" to people around me?”
BROADEN YOUR VIEW OF JESUS
Part of the problem we face is how we practically view the story of Jesus. For many, the view can be a pretty narrow understanding: “God loves me. I’m a sinner. Jesus died for me and because I accepted Jesus as Savior, my sins are forgiven, and when I die, I go to heaven.” And though all of that is true, it’s a pretty narrow understanding of Jesus that reduces him to a private salvation story that’s just for you. That understanding needs to be expanded!
It seems to me that when Christ-followers structure the story of Jesus simply as the Savior who "punches my ticket to heaven" it’s all over once you accept him as Savior. “Ok, that's done. I’ll just get on with school and marriage and family and career and life until I grow old, die and go to heaven.” It’s like going through baptism or confirmation and saying, “I’ve arrived, I’m in, and I’ve done the religious thing, now I can get on with life.”
IS THERE NO PLAN FOR HOW JESUS IS INVOLVED IN DAY TO DAY LIVING? IS THERE NO ENHANCEMENT IN THIS WORLD IN BEHALF OF GOD? DO I HAVE NO GOD-GIVEN PURPOSE, PLAN, OR CALLING TO INFLUENCE MY FAMILY, NEIGHBORHOOD, WORK-PLACE, OR COMMUNITY FOR JESUS?
No, there’s a broader view of knowing and following Christ. Let’s not settle for living with an incomplete story of who we are as followers of Jesus. In these days, I believe Christ-followers are experiencing a renewal of what it means to be a fully redeemed and restored person in service to God. Christians are God’s chosen people called to represent him to others each day. You are "Jesus" to people around you.
IMAGE BEARERS
In 2 Corinthians 3:18, the apostle Paul writes…
“So all of us who have had that veil (effect of sin) removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”
The follower of Jesus is appointed to be like him; to be image bearers of Jesus to people around us. If you belong to Jesus by faith, he not only lives within you, but he sets you apart to be his image bearer and in doing so, to transform the hearts and lives of people around you. He calls you and me to live our lives in a way that restores the true character and image of God to people. And what does that look like? Loving God and loving people. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40…
“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
How do you do that on a day to day basis? Jesus said in Matthew 16:24…
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”
The Apostle Paul took the words of Jesus seriously. He dedicated his life to representing his Savior each day. Paul unfolded this truth in 2 Corinthians 6:3-8…
“We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense. We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, slander us or praise us.”
Paul took up the cross in order to show the love and truth of Jesus to people. He did that in God’s power. He used spiritual weapons of righteousness (purity, understanding, patience, kindness, sincere love, truth; all empowered by the Holy Spirit; vv. 6-7) to reach the hearts of people in his day. If you’re a follower of Jesus, you’re called to restore the image of God to people around you. In 2 Corinthians 5:20, the Apostle Paul writes…
“…we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
In your family, neighborhood, workplace, and community, are you living life in such a way that no one will stumble or find fault in who Jesus is? Are you willing to endure troubles and hardships to prove your purity, understanding, patience, kindness, sincere love, and God's truth so that others will see Jesus in you?
POWERFUL FORCE OF GOODNESS
Francis Chan tells the story about a man named Vaughn who reflected the character of Jesus to everyone around him. Chan tells how a few years ago, a missionary came to his church and told a beautiful story about sharing the Good News of Jesus with a remote tribe in Papua New Guinea. At the end of the story, the missionary said, “I should really give the credit to Vaughn, my former youth pastor who loved me and inspired me to live for Christ and to share Jesus with others.” Chan recalls that the next week another guy came to their church and challenged them to start sponsoring kids living in poverty. He also concluded by saying, “I'm involved in this ministry because of my youth pastor, a guy named Vaughn.”
Chan said he found out that those guys were from the same youth group! Then the next week another speaker named Dan told Chan’s church about his ministry at a rescue mission in the inner city of L.A. After Dan's talk, Chan casually mentioned, “It was so weird: the last 2 weeks both of our speakers said how much impact their youth pastor, Vaughn, had on them.” Dan looked surprised and then told Chan, “I know Vaughn. He's a pastor in San Diego now. He takes people into the dumps in Tijuana where kids are picking through garbage. I was just with Vaughn in Tijuana. We would walk in the city, and these kids would run up to him. Vaughn would show such deep love and affection for them. He'd hug them and have gifts and food for them. He'd figure out how to get them showers. And the whole time I was walking with Vaughn, I kept thinking, If Jesus was on earth, I think this is what it would feel like to walk with him. He just loved everyone he ran into, and he would tell them about Jesus. People were just drawn to his love and affection.” And then Dan said this, “The day I spent with Vaughn was the closest thing I've ever experienced to walking with Jesus.”
Now, I wonder—could someone say that about you and me? When Jesus is King, we become the most powerful force for goodness the world has ever seen. When Jesus is King, God’s truth is lived out. When Jesus is King, you say “yes” to Him in every area of your life. When Jesus is King, you love God and love others. When Jesus is King, the world gets better and the hearts of people bend toward Jesus a little more. When Jesus is King, every individual is the greatest place to invest your time. And that’s how you change the culture. That’s how you connect your faith with everyday life—one person at a time.
NEXT STEP
1. If you are confused about your identity as a follower of Jesus try applying these characteristics this week:
—I am an ambassador of Jesus
—I am an Image bearer of Jesus
—I am a Cross-carrier
—I am a Grace-giver
—I am a Truth-teller
2. This week, remember there is no sacred/secular divide. Each day is a day to love God, worship him through your actions, and represent him to others. Be "Jesus" to people around you!
