The JESUS Litmus Test And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 It’s one of the hardest tests you’ll ever take, but today I want you to take it. It’s a pop quiz that will change your life, and hopefully, bring you closer to God. I woke up this morning and decided to examine my every word and deed within the course of a 24-hour period. Every time I open my mouth, I ask, “would Jesus be O.K. with me saying this? Next to each deed, I ask, “can Jesus participate in this activity with me?” This is the test I want you to take today. Every word you say—whether it’s to your cranky boss or lovely spouse; whether it’s to your rebellious child or that annoying co-worker—I want you to do it all in the name of Jesus. When we take on Jesus’ name, and when we vow to live as Jesus’ witnesses, we must be prepared to turn a few cheeks, endure a little persecution, submit to false accusation, and nonetheless, pray “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Doing everything in Jesus’ name will make a prayer warrior out of you. It will force you to search the Scriptures to see how Jesus reacted. It may cause you to become more silent than you’ve ever been before. Colossians 3:17 tells us to speak and act like Jesus, but verse 18-25 tells us why. Our relationships are opportunities to practice the love of God on real people. Wives have to submit. Husbands have to love. Children have to obey. Fathers can’t entice their children. Slaves must obey their masters, which is actually (in modern day) another way of saying “employees, obey your employers.” Colossians 4 opens by advising employers to create a work environment that is fair, because the Ultimate Employer in heaven is assessing our lives to see if they line up with His Son. When you think about Colossians 3:17 in light of the context, I hope you are challenged to be better person. The goal is not to become the next Mother Theresa, but to learn how to genuinely love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Colossians teaches us is that Jesus wants to help us to live our best life in relationship to others. The Holy Spirit has given us the power to hold our tongue, to advocate for the disempowered, to listen and to learn from everyone, but until we walk it out, we fail to glorify the One who was buried, died, and rose on our behalf. Dealing with people is a great challenge, but you are fit for the fight. Your job is not to belittle others, but to treat them the way Jesus would treat you. Instead of fussing and cussing today, make another choice. Do what Colossians 4:2 says “devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Pray for the person who doesn’t understand you. Watch for clues that speak to a larger issue. And be thankful that God has given you another chance to get it right today. Many people are acting out of their own pain. Underneath their strong words is a broken and wounded soul, but you don’t see that because you tend to take everything personally. Today, don’t greet them in your name. Greet them in the name of Jesus. Imagine that Jesus has, like Patrick Swayze in the movie Ghost, possessed your body for a day. You are Whoopi Goldberg and Jesus wants to use your words and your walk to show the world who he is. When you see the world through Jesus’ eyes, half of your troubles will vanish. You won’t entertain certain conversations because you’ll understand that Jesus is too valuable to waste his presence on pollution. Today is your litmus test. Everything you do, do it in the name of Jesus. Everything you say, let your tone sound like Jesus. Let your texts read like Jesus. Everywhere you go, represent Him. If you do, your life will transform your onlookers. Ibwypu Bible Way
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 11:48:10 +0000