The following is notes from the Bible study I lead at Leadership Development Weekend (LDW). We spent two days in San Salvador for LDW. The whole squad comes together for reflection and rest as we prepare to head to Uganda.
Where do you see Jesus?
This month we did ministry near the beach. For me it was a huge blessing because I love the beach and I feel so close to the Lord while I’m there. One day I was having my quiet time on the beach and the Lord reminded me of a quote “May we be consumed with the Creator of all things rather than with things created.” This was so profound for me in that moment because the ocean is so huge and so beautiful. It is easy to get distracted by its grandeur, but if the ocean is that vast, gorgeous, and teeming with life, how much bigger and grander is our God?
In Genesis 1:10 God created the ocean and He said it was ”good”, so by all means we should look at it or the stars or whatever in the world that makes you stop and say “wow” and marvel. However, our minds should not stay focused on the creation itself, but rather, the greatness of the Creator, our savior, Jesus, with whom we have a personal relationship.
I sat contemplating this for a while, and I began to think, how else am I being distracted by created things? The Lord told me people. People are created. In fact, the Lord created people and said they were “very good.” This is an important differentiation, because we are not placed on the same level of goodness as the rest of creation. We are image-bearers of Christ. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God: He created them male and female.” He made us like Him. Therefore, we should look for His attributes in people even more than in nature.
It is so easy not to look for Jesus in a person. Whether they are not being nice, doing something you don’t like, or creating a situation that is not ideal, they are still God’s creation. Maybe they are not a believer, and they have attempted to rid every part of their life of Jesus. They are still God’s creation, and they are still image-bearers of Christ even when they don’t act like it. Every person has a little bit of Jesus in them that they can’t escape.
This has implications in our relationship with ourselves as well. We are Christians. We have a personal relationship with Christ and we are image-bearers just like everyone else. We have so much Jesus to offer the world. But, often lies from the enemy distract us or situations annoy us, and it keeps us from seeing Jesus within ourselves. God gave you talents and abilities for you to use to glorify Him, but our flesh distracts us and we are convinced we can’t be used for Him. Our minds are minds are consumed with finite creation rather than with Jesus.
We must allow Jesus to shine through our lives, but so often we don’t shine like we should because we are distracted by our insecurities and inadequacies. Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light so shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” This is, of course, easier said than done, but it is so important. We may be the only Bible someone ever gets to read. Our interaction with can either show them Jesus’ light or not.
Having Jesus’ light shining through you and being the version of yourself God wants you to be sounds great. Right? However, in practice it can be intimidating. Humility so easily crosses the line into self-doubt and even self-loathing so easily. You might think people will accuse you of being too cocky or prideful. You might think people will judge you. You might think there is somebody better for the job, but if you do it with Jesus fully shining through you, there is no one better for the job. I want to read you one of my favorite poems.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God!
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
As we enter into a new continent, there will be many moments where things stop and make you say ”wow.” See Jesus in those things and in those moments. You will meet people who don’t know Jesus, and they act like it. See those people the way Jesus see them. When you meet those people or get put in those situations, do you chose to see Jesus in them and see they are a creation just like you who Jesus loves and has a plan for, or you get distracted by the fallen flesh of the person?
So in closing, are you seeing Jesus in every person and in every situation? And, are you seeing Jesus in yourself so that you can fully be light to others?
