Reflect the Son

It was cloudy on my early morning walk, and the sun was just coming up in the east.  Looking across some fields to the west, something caught my eye.  It was about 2,960 feet away (I’m a bit geeky sometimes, so I measured the distance using google earth.)  It stood out as a bright orange spot.  It was difficult to capture the effect with my camera, but I tried.

The bright orange spot turned out to be a road sign.  It stood out because it was especially designed to reflect light.  That got me thinking.

Christians are also especially designed to reflect light.  We are designed to reflect God’s light.  We are made to be like Him.  We are supposed to point people to Christ.  When others see us helping our neighbors, it is a reflection of Christ.  When you have a deep joy in the midst of your trials, you are like a bright sign on a dim, cloudy morning.  When people see you responding to others with grace, you are reflecting God’s love. See Matthew 5:16 and Philippians 2:15.

When I got close to the sign, I could see what it said:  “ROAD WORK AHEAD”.  This reminded me of yet another truth.  None of us reflect Christ as fully, as brightly, or as clearly as we would like.  Don’t be discouraged.  In my life and in your life there is “road work ahead”.  God is still working on us (Philippians 1:6).  As you follow Christ you will become more and more like Him and you will glow more and more brightly for Him.

So keep growing and glowing!

note:  If you liked this blog post, you will probably also like this one.

Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others . . .

Jesus Created Sadie to Run Fast

I love it when we see deer in the fields on our morning walks and Sadie gets to chase them.  God designed dogs like Sadie to be fast and to chase things.  Watching her do what she was made to do brings me a little bit of joy. Here’s a 93 second video I took this morning on our walk (Sadie had been chasing other deer before I got this video, and even she was starting to slow down a little.  I’ve seen Sadie catch up to a deer running at full speed when she’s fresh):

I doubt any of you are as fast as Sadie, but God made each of you to do things more important and wonderful than chasing deer.  And God is pleased when He sees you doing what He designed you to do.

All of us were made to know and love God.  We are also designed to love other people.  In addition to God’s broad purposes for all people, God has given each of you special gifts and abilities.  He loves to see you use these to serve Him and to build up His church! (see Ephesians 4:16 and 1 Corinthians 12:7)

God made some of you to be especially generous in giving, and others to be very diligent in serving, and some to lead in music and singing, and others to be good at organizing or leading or managing, and some to teach and explain, and others of you have a gift of encouraging people.  There are many more gifts.  Whatever your gift is, God loves to see you use it in ways that honor Him and build up His people.

God is pleased when He sees parents raising their children to know Him and when He watches employees serving in a way that honors Him and when He observes leaders humbly leading others in ways that imitate Christ.

I believe that God likes to see Sadie doing what He so skillfully designed her to do. How much more He must love to see you growing and giving and loving and sharing and shining for Him.  That’s what He made you for!

Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others . . .