“Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world… with integrity and godly sincerity…relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.” 2 Corinthians 1:12
Apparently I had done it again! And once again, I hadn’t even realized it. But the look of the faces looking back at me confirmed that what I had said was not in the realm of what the other folks in the room were used to hearing. I wanted to crawl under a rock!
Being WHOSE I am comes with significant benefits! Being HIS for a LONG time has significantly CHANGED me. The problem is, I don’t usually SEE it in myself. For example, imagine if, in the middle of your church, work or classroom, the door opened and Donald Trump walked in! Or Tom Brady…or Taylor Swift! Can you imagine the faces in the room? Yup…it was just like that! But without the fame!
I spend a LOT of time reading, studying, praying and preparing to be a better more faithful follower of Jesus. Yes…some days are better than others! But slowly and over time, that kind of effort AND, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, changes a person. I am a Faith guy! And much more so than when I started out on this journey 53+ years ago. Knowing WHO HE IS has seen to that. Thus…the problem!
‘KNOWING God’ always trumps thinking you know ‘God doesn’t exist.’ The former is personal. The latter presumes the knower ‘knows’ everything! Having seen the work of God SO many times, I realize nothing is impossible for Him. And while I believe flashy miracles are so passe! The BIGGEST miracle of God performs these days is a changed life filled with peace and joy. Which are promises from God Himself.
I wasn’t TRYING to be a jerk when I walked into a room of fear with my normal Faith face. I guess I COULD have been more considerate, which MIGHT have prevented such a reaction. But I didn’t! Hence…the stares! BUT…I WAS honest and sincere! Maybe this is what they meant back in the 70’s when they called followers of Christ…’Jesus Freaks!’ Go figure! Maybe I gotta work more on that Grace thing!
How do YOU look to the world?
