Thoughts for another day

September 9, 2008.

Today's verse: 2 Cor. 13:5. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

When we were small, we went to school. At the end of a particular term, we had what we call, test/exams. We studied/worked hard to make sure we passed the exam and when we did with flying colors, boy, weren’t we absolutely delighted!

So should it be with our faith, our religion (a misnomer for we are not a part of religion but of a way of life, yet I use it to better understand what I am talking about). So in the testing of self, what do I find in me? Can I look at myself asking the question, ‘do I resemble Christ?’ Definitely no, I’d say for myself because there are more spots in me all over than sparkle. As a human being and a follower of Christ, I have failed miserably in reflecting Him. I can remember what Peter wrote in his letter, 1 Pet. 2:12, ‘Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.’ Alas, I have done just the opposite and pleasing mammon has been my forte. Where then is my desire to glorify my God?

Sure, in our lives being a part of this world, we have been led to shores of disunity with God. We were encouraged in eating the forbidden fruit and succumbed. We probably were part of the troupe performing with finesse the dance that thrills the denizens of the evil kingdom. Oh, there might have been scores of seductions ruling over us, yet today, the Lord of Heaven beckons us: COME HOME. For the Kingdom of God is here!

See, my friend, there is the little wick of His life inside of us and this little wick is waiting to be lit into a flame. Waiting for you and me to embellish it in our lives and even as we stand on mountaintops, this flame begs to be seen of the world. Asking us to reflect the majesty of Christ to men who may never get to know Him but through us. This flame is urging us to be patient, for our God is long suffering. It’s telling us to love, even when every fabric of our being, is advising the opposite. It’s asking us to forgive as He did, even as we burn. It’s pleading us to give till it hurts. It’s imploring that we remain steadfast in love to our spouse of heaven, the Lamb of God, even as we are threatened that if we do, we die. In the face of such great love beckoning us, are we to reflect anything else other than Jesus?