One of things I remember my mother TRYING to ingrain in us as kids was the importance of your appearance. That was further impressed upon me through various preachers once I became a Christian, that one’s testimony even down to how you groomed yourself was a part of your representing Jesus Christ to a world who desperately needs Him. So I think, yes, combing your hair, wearing clean clothing, brushing your teeth, and of course, deodorant (ha !), etc. are all a part of the deal here there is something else as believers we need to consider:  How do we look inwardly as well as outwardly to those around us?   Yes, both are vital because a sloppy outfit conveys a poor message. Grunge is not godly and arrogance is anti-christ !!   But are you truly showing the fruit of the Spirit or is your disposition not a lot different than the average unbeliever’s?

Let’s look a moment at what Paul wrote in Gal.5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”     The apostle says there is no law which can produce such fruit, these are the yield of a life truly yielded to Christ ! It’s not a matter of me trying to be really loving or especially calm in a storm, no, those traits developed truly spring from a person’s right relationship with the God of the Universe !!  But what are you really looking like to people you meet, know fairly well, work around, live by?  Do they really see a difference, in short, do they see Jesus?

Paul also wrote to a church that at times struggled with a good testimony. In 2Cor.5:20 it states, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” That word “reconciled” was used of the exchange of money. If you have ever been to a different country where there was a need to change currency you know what this means, you give up your dollars at the exchange rate of say, a Euro or whatever place you’re in.  In other words, you give something and you get something in return. But with God when you give of yourself you get the long end of the stick ! You get His, what we call in theology, “communicable attributes” or you get from Him what He can transfer to you.  You get, for example, a more loving nature which you couldnt manufacture on your own.  Basically, Paul’s remark to the Corinthians is in agreement with what he also wrote to the Galatians, that we have a small part in this production of fruit (yielding/obeying) but it’s God Who really does the grand work ! 

People really need to see Christ in your life.  They are looking for answers, they are hurting and its not the psychologists or what we called in seminary the “secular priests”, that can truly help, its the Lord and His Word. So think often about what people see in YOU today !  Being harsh, not keeping your place neat, being overly critical, and a “little unethical” won’t cut it !  They want and need to see Christlikeness.   So ask Christ to help you be a great ambassador, give your life this day to Him and ask for His power to show Him through you.   And, if you have been striving to be filled with His Spirit and are taking pains in your outward appearance stay at it because though you may not see it yet, God is making an impact on those around YOU !   His Word doesn’t return void (Is.55:11) !!

In the crosshairs !! What a week thus far, an earthquake and now a powerful hurricane named Irene is predicted to slam the east coast. Aren’t you glad you are a believer when all this stuff occurs?   I remember growing up hearing of the possibility that Russia could attack us one day with nuclear missiles.  There were bomb shelter signs and the teachers told us to get under our desks if it ever happened.  Needless to say such dire prospects weren’t exactly soothing to our young hearts.

Once I became a Christian that all changed though.  I recall reading some portions of prophecy and thinking a good bit about what I’d read like in 2 Peter where the  great apostle wrote, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (3:10).  Wait, you may be thinking, the part about the elements melting, doesn’t sound like nuclear war?  It would unless you realize that Peter was describing this as the “day of the Lord”, not man !   In other words, God is the One Who will initiate this judgment, not some maniac pushing a launch button.  

The testimony of Bible prophecy does not teach that man will destroy this planet, as much as the environmentalist extremists think so and as much as we may abuse creation.  No, God spoke the world into existence and He can speak it out !  In short, the capable “hands” of God are in perfect control at all times !  We need to respect and treat creation as God’s stewards but we needn’t worry about “climate change” (the new global warming, ha), earthquakes, tsunami’s, hurricanes, stock market crashes, etc, etc, etc !   God commands the universe and if you’re saved, YOU are His dear child.

So relax, enjoy the splendors of nature, don’t worry about what could happen, focus on what WILL happen ! “Nevertheless WE, according to His PROMISE, LOOK for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth RIGHTEOUSNESS” (2Pt.3:13) !!!!     Next time someone talks about all these calamities you can show a Christlike contrast and calm their heart with this knowledge too.

It’s started for some and will soon for others: going back to school.  Do you remember what that was like those of you a good bit past your 20’s ?  Once I became a Christian I enjoyed the time, my perspective was much better then. I saw the start of school as a great opportunity to learn something and learn it well for God. And of course there were the meeting and making of new friends, the different teachers, assignments and their consequent challenges, etc. But all in all it was good !

What will God be schooling you about this fall?  How will you look at it and how will you handle it?  Maybe there’s a challenge you’re facing already. Perhaps God’s brought some new people across your path, will you be an influence for Christ – being careful about your testimony, being a spiritual encouragement to them and helping them with your time, energy, etc?   How will or do you see it?  Its easy to complain about the work load or the situation you face but we must have the right perspective that only God can give us through His Word !

In Sunday School a couple days ago I referenced a few verses from Lk.10, “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, ‘Take care of him: and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.’ ”  (verses 33-35).

Jesus then asked His listeners as to which man had been a good neighbor to that hurting soul.  You can almost hear the “duh’s” from the crowd.  Well of course, it was the Samaritan !    Why? His perspective was more Christlike !!   That great parable was precipitated though because a man smugly asked the Lord, “And who is my neighbor?” (vs.29).  This, as the KJV puts it, was his attempt to “justify himself”.   Christ used even his perspective to turn him and us to a better one !! 

Our neighbors need us as Christians to SEE their needs and do whatever we can by God’s grace to meet them. But that means our spiritual sight must be correct first.  We get better as we look at things through the holy lens of Scripture. I was in recently to get my eyes examined, they have this new machine now that inspects your eyes even better than an optometrist can with traditional testing (ya know the good ole Eye chart and stuff). I’m told with this technology your night vision will improve as much as 20% —  sweeeeet !  But it’s not my aging eyes that they will improve, the improvement will be realized in the new lenses !

  I’m all for seeing better but especially when it comes to seeing what He wants me to see.  Look around you this week at people who need the Lord, at your challenges as opportunities to glorify Him and go off into the fall looking at things a little better and fresher !!

The Gospel of Mark is a fast paced account of our Lord’s earthly life and ministry. Mark wastes no time writing about the onset of Jesus’ ministry in chapter one and so he records some of Christ’s miracles on one particularly busy day for Him. Let’s join in the account starting in 1:30, “But Simon’s (Peter’s) wife’s mother lay sick of a fever and anon the tell Him of her. And He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up and immediately the fever left her and she ministered to them (the disciples & Jesus). And at even when the sun did set they brought unto Him all that were diseased and them that were possessed with devils. . .and He healed many. . .”    What a hectic yet fulfilling day I’m sure. We’ve all had hectic days, more than we’d probably like !

But then the activity takes a slow turn as we come to verse 35, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day (I can relate, its early now !) He went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed.”   Like a beautiful musical composition where there are the highs and lows the Lord was busy about His Father’s business but He also slowed down from the frenetic pace of life to get apart and pray.  

I wonder sometimes if we’re not so frazzled because our lives are made up of a lot of activity during the day yet we simply don’t take a little time to just pause from it all and pray?   Prayer can be quite humbling but we need that. Prayer can focus us, we need that ! Prayer can be soothing, we surely need that ! It can invigorate and motivate us and we need that as well. So remember as a new week begins all over again, and you launch into the “same ole, same ole” or tackle something different and life starts to get a bit fast paced, remember Someone is waiting for YOU to talk to Him !

Summer’s winding down, can you tell?  The days get a little shorter, every once in a while we get a little cooler temperatures than we’ve had (fall whispering “I’m coming” !), and last night I even saw a little of the Steelers winning their game, yay football is back much to the dismay of my wife, ha.  Best of luck to the Bears Lyle & Cody, they’ll need it – tee hee !! 

Here in central Pennsylvania the change of the seasons is kind of nice though. We are often so prone to in one season complain about the cold, then the heat, disparage about the snow, too much rain, not enough rain. You know the drill we’ve all done it ! But when you think about it, it’s really kind of refreshing the seasons the Lord lets us go through. Much like the variety He allows for us just as James describes in that somewhat stilted old English where he wrote, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations”   (James 1:2).    He wasn’t speaking of snorkeling in the Pacific with the word “divers” but we know it means “various” or “differing”.  Our lives have introduced into them all kinds of situations and trials that, though not unique are nonetheless challenging for our faith and at the same time good for our faith if we choose them to be !

This is why James went on to then write, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But LET patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire wanting nothing.” (1:3,4).    When your “season” starts to change instead of complaining about what God’s allowed UNDERSTAND that He is allowing something great to occur in YOUR life and maybe also in the lives around you (your family, coworkers, neighbor, etc) !   So, as James continues, you now must make a choice to LET that new “season” do it’s thing, and in the end YOU will be bettered !

I’d say my favorite season is the fall (and not just because of football). The colors of the leaves, the crispness in the air, the more favorable temperatures, etc.   But really, they’re all good. There’s something in them all to appreciate and enjoy when you think about it and set aside the negatives we’re so apt to carp about.  So what “season” are you going through now?   Go through it well, it’ll be fine, trust me – ehhhh (sound of a mistake)— trust Him !!