Christ Like

 Happy Sunday!

"It is God himself, in his mercy, who has given us this wonderful work of telling his Good News to others, and so we never give up.
We do not try to trick people into believing—we are not interested in fooling anyone.
We never try to get anyone to believe that the Bible teaches what it doesn’t.
All such shameful methods we forego.
We stand in the presence of God as we speak and so we tell the truth, as all who know us will agree.
If the Good News we preach is hidden to anyone, it is hidden from the one who is on the road to eternal death.
Satan, who is the god of this evil world, has made him blind, unable to see the glorious light of the Gospel that is shining upon him or to understand the amazing message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is God.
We don’t go around preaching about ourselves but about Christ Jesus as Lord.
All we say of ourselves is that we are your slaves because of what Jesus has done for us.
For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made us understand that it is the brightness of his glory that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ."
2 Corinthians 4:1-6 (Living Bible).

What a beautiful passage, and a beautiful translation.  Everyone needs some good news!  There are more than enough frightening and sad things to talk about and think about.  BUT the Apostle Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit reminds us to think about good things, and especially the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.   Romans 12:3 says, "Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you THINK. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him."(CEV).  Philippians 4:8-9 says, "Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your MINDS and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."(Message).

Have I ever told you that one of my favorite movies is "Date Night" with Steve Carell and Tina Fey?  Well, it is.  On their date nights they would play a game called "What's Their Story?"  They would pick a couple in the restaurant and make up a funny story about who they were and what they were doing.  It's comical, but what's your story?  When people see you can they tell you are filled with the Spirit of God?  Can they see the Glory of the Lord on you?  Or are you just like every other customer in line: pushing your way forward, only concerned with yourself, and oblivious to those around you.  Do people want to be around you?  Do they enjoy your company?  Or has COVID-19 been an answer to their prayers to not have to visit you? Selah.

The Believers in the early church did not called themselves, Christians.  The people around them saw they way they lived and conducted business and called them "Little Christs".  This may have been derogatory at first, but it does prove that they were different and the anointing was evident.  Matthew 5:16 says, "You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illumine creation, so men and women everywhere may see your GOOD actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it."(Voice).

Love and prayers, Cynthia