Who You Are Affects Everything
I was at my local Chinese-import chain store and was gazing excitedly at some jewelry behind the locked glass. It was jewelry pointed out to me by my friend that we had both wanted to get for some time. No employee was in sight as several customers hovered over the cases like my cats do when they want to come inside the house. Seeing an employee pushing a cart with boxes on it near my location, I spoke over the jewelry cases between her and I along with some hand gestures and asked if there was anyone who could help. She smiled and was cordial and went to find someone and hopefully, send them my way.
An older lady appeared with curly medium-length hair and a gentle face. She came straight over and unlocked the case I stood in front of and pulled out the little box I needed and removed it. She had me pay for my purchase there at the counter and then before she went on her way, she asked if there was anything else we needed. But after she walked away out of our view, my friend had spotted something she hadn’t noticed before and needed the presence of the woman who had just waited on us. I decided to find her and sauntered through the women’s clothing and I found her deep in boxes of inventory and she was instructing another employee. When she saw me, I mentioned my friend and her need and together we walked back to the jewelry department. She was gently humorous and said, “I asked if that was all you needed.” I affirmed her and smiled and said, “I can vouch for you. Yes you did.” And she helped my friend make her purchase as well.
This employee was very busy with her work load, but she quietly and calmly left all of it to come and give her attention to us. She didn’t exude being stressed out and she was professional and made the transactions and two satisfied customers walked out the door.
Her inside demeanor affected me and I could feel her calm professionalism and it made the whole experience truly a pleasant one. I noted that to my friend.
Sometimes we think being a Christian is all about doing good things and rushing about and putting on airs and knowing more than others around us and praying more eloquently aloud. But what if what God does inside of us in that He deposits His peace and joy, in the midst of the chaos and stress of this life, to the point where it oozes out and affects others lives is truly important? That deeper work that is real and it has a lasting affect - people notice and are drawn to you not realizing it is God in you and you can tell them what He’s done in your life. Because that kind of thing does not come naturally. It just doesn’t. To know God and be close with Him and in that closeness, to be in contact with all He is affecting all you are - that is the sweetest. To know God. To be known by Him. To radiate His Life.
Sometimes it seems we have it all wrong. We can try to control our outer selves. Jesus said that you can polish that outward cup but the insides can be in deep need of cleaning. And we need Jesus everyday to clean us. David prayed often for God to create in Him a clean heart and renew a right spirit within him. I’ve read that the word create in his prayer is the same word for what God did when He made the heavens and earth. He created something brand new. He doesn’t just clean up our mess in the way we usually think of when we think of clean, He makes us new. That’s why He says when any man is in Christ, He is the work of a new creation. The old is passed away and the new has come. Many don’t know how to follow Christ because they’ve tried cleaning up their act and they know they can’t do it. Their old man is stuck in so many ways and tied to the old life. But we think we don’t tell people they need to clean up their lives before they come to Jesus. Or do we? Do we ever tell someone that when they turn their heart to Jesus and believe on Him that what He does is give them a brand new nature on the inside? I have hardly ever heard this kind of thing. Soak in God. Be in His Presence. Be with Him. And watch Him work in you something you can NEVER do. You will be like Him. He said you would be. Don’t get discouraged because life keeps happening day in and day out and it can seem boring at times. Don’t get discouraged because you don’t look like the ones you think are super-spiritual and have it together. Continue in your faith, rooted and grounded in Christ. Don’t look to the right or left or compare yourself to others. Fix your eyes on Jesus - He is the author and the one who perfects your faith and you will exude Him. You will be all He desires you to be. Don’t swerve from your hope in Him dear friends. It will affect you deeply on the inside and that affects everything.
An older lady appeared with curly medium-length hair and a gentle face. She came straight over and unlocked the case I stood in front of and pulled out the little box I needed and removed it. She had me pay for my purchase there at the counter and then before she went on her way, she asked if there was anything else we needed. But after she walked away out of our view, my friend had spotted something she hadn’t noticed before and needed the presence of the woman who had just waited on us. I decided to find her and sauntered through the women’s clothing and I found her deep in boxes of inventory and she was instructing another employee. When she saw me, I mentioned my friend and her need and together we walked back to the jewelry department. She was gently humorous and said, “I asked if that was all you needed.” I affirmed her and smiled and said, “I can vouch for you. Yes you did.” And she helped my friend make her purchase as well.
This employee was very busy with her work load, but she quietly and calmly left all of it to come and give her attention to us. She didn’t exude being stressed out and she was professional and made the transactions and two satisfied customers walked out the door.
Her inside demeanor affected me and I could feel her calm professionalism and it made the whole experience truly a pleasant one. I noted that to my friend.
Sometimes we think being a Christian is all about doing good things and rushing about and putting on airs and knowing more than others around us and praying more eloquently aloud. But what if what God does inside of us in that He deposits His peace and joy, in the midst of the chaos and stress of this life, to the point where it oozes out and affects others lives is truly important? That deeper work that is real and it has a lasting affect - people notice and are drawn to you not realizing it is God in you and you can tell them what He’s done in your life. Because that kind of thing does not come naturally. It just doesn’t. To know God and be close with Him and in that closeness, to be in contact with all He is affecting all you are - that is the sweetest. To know God. To be known by Him. To radiate His Life.
Sometimes it seems we have it all wrong. We can try to control our outer selves. Jesus said that you can polish that outward cup but the insides can be in deep need of cleaning. And we need Jesus everyday to clean us. David prayed often for God to create in Him a clean heart and renew a right spirit within him. I’ve read that the word create in his prayer is the same word for what God did when He made the heavens and earth. He created something brand new. He doesn’t just clean up our mess in the way we usually think of when we think of clean, He makes us new. That’s why He says when any man is in Christ, He is the work of a new creation. The old is passed away and the new has come. Many don’t know how to follow Christ because they’ve tried cleaning up their act and they know they can’t do it. Their old man is stuck in so many ways and tied to the old life. But we think we don’t tell people they need to clean up their lives before they come to Jesus. Or do we? Do we ever tell someone that when they turn their heart to Jesus and believe on Him that what He does is give them a brand new nature on the inside? I have hardly ever heard this kind of thing. Soak in God. Be in His Presence. Be with Him. And watch Him work in you something you can NEVER do. You will be like Him. He said you would be. Don’t get discouraged because life keeps happening day in and day out and it can seem boring at times. Don’t get discouraged because you don’t look like the ones you think are super-spiritual and have it together. Continue in your faith, rooted and grounded in Christ. Don’t look to the right or left or compare yourself to others. Fix your eyes on Jesus - He is the author and the one who perfects your faith and you will exude Him. You will be all He desires you to be. Don’t swerve from your hope in Him dear friends. It will affect you deeply on the inside and that affects everything.
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