imagine you're walking through a winter landscape. the wind is blowing; everything is blanketed in white. as far as the eye can see, there is blinding, cold white. snow covers homes, cars, and playgrounds, and hard ice lines the roads and sidewalks.
the frosty wind bites into your face, and you shrug down further into your scarf, thankful for your huge winter coat, gloves, hat, and boots; even with it all on, you can feel the cold seeping in.
soon you arrive at the edge of a forest reserve and start to notice nature. all the trees have lost their leaves and stand bare, stark black branches reaching into the sky. they look dead. there is no grass, just bare, hard, frozen ground under the snow beneath your feet. all the bushes are bare and smothered in snow. as you stand there in the stillness, it seems that nothing lives. all it quiet, apart from the aching creak of tree branches in the wind.
but wait. what is that bit of color you see straight ahead? it seems to be the only color you've seen in months! you start walking through the black, gray, and white landscape to reach it... around one more tree, ducking under a low branch, and there it is, in a little clearing: a brilliant, leafy green tree, bursting with bright red flowers! what is this?! how is this?! you walk slowly up to it, noticing there is no snow on its spring-green leaves. it seems to warm you as you near it. you wonder if it's truly warm or if you are just affected by the colors on which you feast your eyes.
so much color. so much beauty. so much contrast to the world around.
it draws, it mystifies.
if you are a Christian, this relief of color in a colorless, cold world should be you.
Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world." Matthew 5:13a, 14a
Paul wrote, "But thanks be to God, who... through us spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." 2 Corinthians 2:14-15
in Peter's letter to believers, he says, "Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us." 1 Peter 2:11-12
when people become your friends, see how you act, hear your words, look at your lifestyle, how to they react? do you surprise them by acting differently from the world? even if they eventually ridicule you, do you ever see that split second of admiration or awe when they first realize that you are different?
are you a peacemaker, a killer of gossip?
"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14
do you respect and pray for authority?
"... there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Romans 13:1b
"I urge, then... that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." 1 Timothy 2:1
are you kind and gentle, when the world tells you, 'be a man, don't ever cry, be rough and tough?'
do you thank God in every situation, instead of complaining during the bad and feeling that you deserve the good?
"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe..." Philippians 2:14-15
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
remember, joy isn't running around with a ridiculous smile on your face while you're getting beat up; it's contentment to live in the moment God has placed you. joy blog
are you a honest, hard worker, who catches the eye of the boss just by being diligent and faithful?
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men..." Colossians 3:23
(and here i think, guiltily, how often would i be late if it were God there instead of my boss?)
do you gather your wealth in a tight fist, or do you hold it in an open hand under God's control?
"You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth..." Deuteronomy 8:17-18a
(and the wealth is His anyway)
He says, "The world is mine, and all that is in it." Psalm 50:12b
are you kind/submissive/loving/respectful to your spouse, showing the world what it looks like to be in a faithful, vibrant relationship? your marriage is supposed to be a picture to the world of our relationship to Jesus, our bridegroom!
"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord... Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her..." Ephesians 5:22, 25
do you admit when you're wrong and then apologize?
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8
"... confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." James 5:16
(eek - one i really have to work on. i am constantly losing battles to my pride.)
do you keep yourself from compromising situations, like being alone with someone who is not your spouse, or do you find yourself daring boundaries?
"Flee from sexual immorality... Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit...?" 1 Corinthians 6:18a, 19a
"Abstain from all appearance of evil..." 1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV
we all have something we need to work on.
the world tells us to take what we can get, that we deserve good, that we should live to make ourselves happy (but what do we deserve? deserving blog), that we have the right to complain or nag or leave our spouse when we are dissatisfied, that we don't need any god, that we can be the best we can be through our own efforts...
but remember as you hear these messages, the world is under the influence of Satan, the father of lies.
what do you want to be when the world looks at you: a barren, creaking, ice-encrusted tree? or a surprising, lush, leafy tree, standing out beautifully?
yes, you run the risk of having your flowers plucked, or your branches chopped, or being mocked and ridiculed for being different. but it's worth it.
God put us in the world, and we are to fully live here. but He also called us to not be of the world. Jesus prayed for His disciples (us too!) like this:
"My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it... As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world." John 17:15-16, 18
we are to stand out, to be different, even as we make friends and love each soul that lives here on earth.
are you standing out?
the frosty wind bites into your face, and you shrug down further into your scarf, thankful for your huge winter coat, gloves, hat, and boots; even with it all on, you can feel the cold seeping in.
soon you arrive at the edge of a forest reserve and start to notice nature. all the trees have lost their leaves and stand bare, stark black branches reaching into the sky. they look dead. there is no grass, just bare, hard, frozen ground under the snow beneath your feet. all the bushes are bare and smothered in snow. as you stand there in the stillness, it seems that nothing lives. all it quiet, apart from the aching creak of tree branches in the wind.
but wait. what is that bit of color you see straight ahead? it seems to be the only color you've seen in months! you start walking through the black, gray, and white landscape to reach it... around one more tree, ducking under a low branch, and there it is, in a little clearing: a brilliant, leafy green tree, bursting with bright red flowers! what is this?! how is this?! you walk slowly up to it, noticing there is no snow on its spring-green leaves. it seems to warm you as you near it. you wonder if it's truly warm or if you are just affected by the colors on which you feast your eyes.
so much color. so much beauty. so much contrast to the world around.
it draws, it mystifies.
if you are a Christian, this relief of color in a colorless, cold world should be you.
Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world." Matthew 5:13a, 14a
Paul wrote, "But thanks be to God, who... through us spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." 2 Corinthians 2:14-15
in Peter's letter to believers, he says, "Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us." 1 Peter 2:11-12
when people become your friends, see how you act, hear your words, look at your lifestyle, how to they react? do you surprise them by acting differently from the world? even if they eventually ridicule you, do you ever see that split second of admiration or awe when they first realize that you are different?
are you a peacemaker, a killer of gossip?
"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14
do you respect and pray for authority?
"... there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Romans 13:1b
"I urge, then... that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." 1 Timothy 2:1
are you kind and gentle, when the world tells you, 'be a man, don't ever cry, be rough and tough?'
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Proverbs 15:1
"... live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:1b-2do you thank God in every situation, instead of complaining during the bad and feeling that you deserve the good?
"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe..." Philippians 2:14-15
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
remember, joy isn't running around with a ridiculous smile on your face while you're getting beat up; it's contentment to live in the moment God has placed you. joy blog
are you a honest, hard worker, who catches the eye of the boss just by being diligent and faithful?
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men..." Colossians 3:23
(and here i think, guiltily, how often would i be late if it were God there instead of my boss?)
do you gather your wealth in a tight fist, or do you hold it in an open hand under God's control?
"You may say to yourself, 'My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.' But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth..." Deuteronomy 8:17-18a
(and the wealth is His anyway)
He says, "The world is mine, and all that is in it." Psalm 50:12b
are you kind/submissive/loving/respectful to your spouse, showing the world what it looks like to be in a faithful, vibrant relationship? your marriage is supposed to be a picture to the world of our relationship to Jesus, our bridegroom!
"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord... Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her..." Ephesians 5:22, 25
do you admit when you're wrong and then apologize?
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." 1 John 1:8
"... confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." James 5:16
(eek - one i really have to work on. i am constantly losing battles to my pride.)
do you keep yourself from compromising situations, like being alone with someone who is not your spouse, or do you find yourself daring boundaries?
"Flee from sexual immorality... Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit...?" 1 Corinthians 6:18a, 19a
"Abstain from all appearance of evil..." 1 Thessalonians 5:22 KJV
we all have something we need to work on.
the world tells us to take what we can get, that we deserve good, that we should live to make ourselves happy (but what do we deserve? deserving blog), that we have the right to complain or nag or leave our spouse when we are dissatisfied, that we don't need any god, that we can be the best we can be through our own efforts...
but remember as you hear these messages, the world is under the influence of Satan, the father of lies.
what do you want to be when the world looks at you: a barren, creaking, ice-encrusted tree? or a surprising, lush, leafy tree, standing out beautifully?
yes, you run the risk of having your flowers plucked, or your branches chopped, or being mocked and ridiculed for being different. but it's worth it.
God put us in the world, and we are to fully live here. but He also called us to not be of the world. Jesus prayed for His disciples (us too!) like this:
"My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it... As You sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world." John 17:15-16, 18
we are to stand out, to be different, even as we make friends and love each soul that lives here on earth.
are you standing out?
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