1 Corinthians 2:2

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

It takes time and patience to see Jesus Christ in others. We want to know Christ is in those we have fellowship with but we know Him as we know Him, not as others know Him. It took me a long time to discover that.

My accountability partner is in Christ. I know this for a certainty because when we are together I feel Christ is there with us, not just for me, but for the both of us. We are more together than apart, not different yet not exactly the same. Our experiences are different but those differences do not interfere with the bond of peace that exists because Christ is there strengthening the bond between us.

My witness is that some of us attract others in a manner in which being in their presence makes others feel better about themselves. Some will see the man as the attraction because they have not come to know Christ crucified. If they had they would see Christ in him is what is attractive.

We will be in a local gathering and there will be a huddle of people trying to get close to that one person. It is like a line of readers waiting to get a book autographed, except it isn’t a book signing. That is when we should look around the room to see the ones that are sitting alone. They are the ones that need us, not the main attraction.

I know this because I too have been that one feeling like an outsider with no one wanting to be with me. There is nothing so lonely as being alone in a crowded room. No one in Christ should feel that way. If they are not in Christ, well then, they really do need to have someone who knows Christ crucified to come along beside them.

One of the identities of the Holy Spirit is one who walks beside you. He guides us where we are needed if we read the room and stop focusing on the popular and seek the needy.

Isn’t that what Jesus would do?

Luke 19:5

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”

Zacchaeus is only mentioned in the gospel of luke. He was small in stature but his reputation among the people was hated. He was of little consequence in the telling of the gospel that he only gets one mention. Jesus said “I must”  as if it was commanded of Him by the Father to show grace to this little hated man. 

This isn’t about Zacchaeus, it is about obedience of faith.

1 John 1

The Word of Life

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Would you limit all your experiences, relationships, and love to just one word?

Neither should we limit this life to the definition of faith. What we do in obedience of faith is as varied as there are believers. We may be equal in the eyes of God but in calling, gifts, talents and experiences we are all different.

Galatians 3:26-28 English Standard Version

26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

All different and yet the same in the eyes of God. God has proclaimed us equal in every way and yet we struggle with seeing things as God sees them. Jesus told us to love one another as He has loved us, as equals, and we struggle with that.

This life of faith is a struggle between knowing what is right and true and acting on it. This struggle will continue until we are called out of this world and perfected in the eternal realm.

This life of faith is an experiment that is run over and over again in many different ways with the same predictable results. That is because the outcome is not based on performance it is based on God’s promise.

No matter what we do in this life of faith we cannot escape where we are in Christ. We are captivated by His love. Who would want to leave?

John 6:66-69 English Standard Version

66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Do you know Him that way?