This summer I was traveling with my four and six year old cross-country to visit family. It was an adventure to say the least. My son, 4yrs, can be a bit of a stinker sometimes. And his sister, 6yrs, can be quite, well, passionate. We were on the plane and had just begun ascending into the crystal blue sky. It was absolutely beautiful, big white fluffy clouds began engulfing the plane, I said to my daughter, “Jenessa—look! How beautiful!” She was amazed as she stared out her window.
She had the perfect seat to view the beauty just outside her window. I sat in the middle seat between my two, which I highly recommend by the way, when she leaned across me to get her brother’s attention.
Reaching her arm across my body she tapped her brother’s arm, “Buddy! Look! Look out the window at the clouds!” She assumed he would be interested to see this breathtaking sight. But he wouldn’t look. So she said it again, “Buddy, look! It’s beautiful! We are in the clouds!!” Still nothing. He was playing one of his little electronic learning games and being that we had such an early morning he was sort of in a zone, he couldn’t have cared less about what was going on around him at that moment.
My daughter on the other hand was so passionate that she ended up spending the remainder of our time flying through the clouds trying to convince her brother to look out the window at how beautiful the scenery was. She became discouraged, frustrated…she lost her joy, she began crying and she just couldn’t understand why he didn’t want to see. After all, it was beautiful! She was so focused on getting him to shift his focus that she ended up missing it herself! Her passion clouded her judgment (pun intended). Instead of just letting his apathy go she aloud her zeal to distract her and as a result her own eyes left the very thing she was trying so hard to get him to see!
This caused me to wonder, how often do we do the same thing? We get so passionate about following Christ and all the things we think others should be doing that we end up getting our eyes off of the very One we hope others will see! We are so busy trying to get others to see Him we unintentionally miss what He has for us personally. Sure our intentions may be pure, but we have to be careful not to take our own eyes off the One we are trying so hard to point others to!
Paul had the right idea when he said, “Follow me as I follow Christ,” (1 Cor. 11:1). In other words, my eyes are fixed on Him… He’s the author… He’s the Perfecter… I’m not going to shift my gaze so you’re just going to have to follow me, my example, as I follow Him.
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” —Ephesians 4:2–6, NIV
Friend, we need to bare with one another more. Especially in the hour we are living. There are many opinions out there. Much to debate if we so choose… but wouldn’t we rather be so focused on Jesus that our lives and character begin to shine bright the nature of Christ? The nature of Jesus is the very fruit of the spirit, love joy peace patience kindness gentleness perseverance… (Gal. 5:22-23) this is the fruit we can bare as we abide in Him (Jn. 15:4).
I would dare say one of the most critical things we can do to help spread the truth is to spend time with Him, the Truth… Jesus… so that our countence and His converge into one. Let’s not be so caught up trying to get others to see that we allow worry and frustration to distract us from what God has for us personally. If people won’t look to Him simply love them and rally behind them in hopes that they will join you as you follow Christ.
It’s your determination to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus that will cause others to want to do the same.
Yes, we need to spread truth by sharing it with people, absolutely, but often, like my daughter, we get so worried and discouraged when they don’t listen that we stop focusing on Him ourselves…
Remember, it’s Christ in you that’s the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). You were created to shine Jesus. So keep focusing on the Son and His brightness will radiate through you and others will begin to lift their gaze and see for themselves how beautiful Jesus really is.
This Week’s Challenge: Abide and Shine. Each and every day spend time in His presence. Spend time at His feet. Keep your eyes on Jesus and champion others as you follow Christ with a refreshed joy this week. Each and every day… If your discouraged bring that to God and leave it with Him. Let your life overflow the nature and attributes of Christ that others can’t help but want to follow your lead.
I love you,
