Today, while I was out doing some shopping for the church, I decided to wear both my Gospel hat and my Dodgers 2024 World Series Championship hoodie that I got for Christmas. One was a conscious effort to have a reason to talk about Christ, the other was expedience, as it has been a cold and rainy day! At one store, a gentleman stopped me and told me he liked my hoodie. We shared our experiences, and as it turns out, we both came from Southern California. It was great to make a connection, and in the end, I said “may God bless you! Thanks for visiting with me!” so I was able to pray a blessing from God over him. The second encounter was at a Walmart, our final stop on the “Church Needs Tour.” The kid at the checkout told me he liked my hat, told me he had a similar bracelet, and asked how long I’ve been walking with Christ. I was able to say, confidently, He’s been my savior for 30 years, and he shared that he had been saved 8 years ago. I ended the conversation “May God bless you, brother.” I can guarantee you, everyone in line heard our conversation. What a great day! Two blessings, from two conversations over two different forms of representation, and all because the church needed supplies.
Isn’t this how we should all be, every day: ready to represent Christ in all things and all ways? When Jesus said, “Go make disciples,” the word “go” infers “as you are going on your way.” Every day, in every way, may we seek to represent Christ. May we seek to bring Him honor and glory in all things, and freely speak of the Majesty, Power, Grace, Love and Mercy that Jesus has shown us!
1 Peter 3:8-27
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. For
“Whoever desires to love lifeand see good days,let him keep his tongue from eviland his lips from speaking deceit;let him turn away from evil and do good;let him seek peace and pursue it.For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,and his ears are open to their prayer.But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
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