How's my living?

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Colossians 3:12-4:1

TO CHEW ON: "And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."  Colossians 3:17

Perhaps at some time you've driven behind a commercial vehicle on which was posted the decal "How's my driving?" Under the question was a phone number or website—the number or site you, as an observer, could contact if you saw the person driving badly.

Why would someone have such a message on their vehicle? I'm sure it's not the idea of the driver, but of the company that he and his vehicle represent.* That employee represents his company in the way he drives, loads and unloads his truck, even behaves at truck stops. On the job, he lives in the name of the company that employs him.

That, says Paul, is what's involved in being a disciple of Jesus. We "...do all in the name of the Lord Jesus..." We realize that everything we say and do represents Him. In this, though, we are never off the job, never out of uniform.

The way we handle good times or stressful situations, whether we act with kindness or rudeness,  how we behave in exaltation or tragedy—all are done as representatives of Jesus. We act in His name while in traffic, in line at the bank, when we see someone in trouble, and when we're left with a sinkful of dishes… I wonder what would happen if somewhere on us was posted "How's my living?" with a heavenly number to call with complaints. Would heaven be flooded with calls?

This outlook reminds me of another verse that such a life implies:

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" - Galatians 2:20.

PRAYER:  Dear Jesus, help me to internalize the fact that everything I do reflects on You. Help me to make choices in my talk and actions that will bring honor to Your name. Amen.


*The Wikipedia article on "How's my driving?" cites that vehicles displaying the decal are involved in 22% fewer accidents and a 52% reduction in accident-related costs.

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

What kind of ambassador are you?

TODAY'S SPECIAL: 2 Corinthians 5:1-21

TO CHEW ON: "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20


A few weeks ago we commemorated Jesus' death. What is its significance to us living in 2015?

I don't know if there is a clearer explanation in the Bible of why Jesus died than what Paul gives us here (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). He uses the words reconciled and reconciliation several times which implies estrangement is involved. So we ask, who is estranged and how are they reconciled? A sidebar article in my Bible explains:

"Reconciliation is the process by which God and man are brought together again. This is made possible through the blood of Jesus .... We were once estranged from Him, but we have been brought to God and restored to relationship through the shed blood of Christ" - Raleigh Washington / Bill McCartney - "Jesus Our Foundation," New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, p. 1616.

We take advantage of this act of reconciliation by agreeing with God that we are sinners and accepting Christ's death on our behalf. It's a personal decision each one of us must make for him- or herself.

Our scripture goes on to give us, who have been reconciled, a job. We are to spread this good news that God and people can be friends again. We are ambassadors of that message for Christ, tasked with imploring those around us to take advantage of this offer of reconciliation, which came at a hefty price: sinless Jesus became sin and paid the death penalty for that sin so we sinners can be the righteousness of God in Him.

My confession—I haven't been a very good ambassador. Partly it's because in my society there seems little sense of need or desire to be reconciled to God. With no feeling of alienation from God in people there is little receptivity to hearing that they can be reconciled to Him.

My prayer is that God would put me in touch with those people whose hearts He has and is preparing for this news. Further, I need greater sense of urgency to share this news, a heightened alertness to opportunities, and boldness to "implore" people to be reconciled to God.

What about you?

PRAYER: Dear God, please give me a sense of urgency and boldness to share the news that it's possible to be reconciled to You. At the same time, please prepare people in my neighbourhood, town, province, and country to hear it. Amen. 

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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.