Last weekend a few of us went to an outdoor market area for dinner and just to hang out! We were sitting at a table when two guys from Israel approached us and started making conversation. The conversations quickly turned to our faith and what we believed when we shared with them why we were in Thailand! They themselves were not believers, but they were very curious about our beliefs and opinions on certain topics. Joy and I ended up talking to one of the guys and we were both sharing with him how different our lives are and the noticeable change that comes with the moment we begin to follow Jesus. He then asked us this question:
“Say someone who believes in Jesus works a job 9-5, and someone who doesn’t believe works the same job 9-5. What is different about their days?”
This question has stuck with me this entire week. We shared our thoughts and answered all of his questions to the best of our ability, saying how as followers of Jesus our lives should be a direct reflection of who he is and explaining what that looks like in the day to day. But his question truly convicted me. Do the people I see and talk to every day see Jesus through me? Am I living my life in a way that reflects and honors Jesus and points others to him every day? Is my life truly noticeably different now that I have a relationship with Jesus?
Not only do we receive the hope that is found in Jesus when we start following him, but we receive NEW LIFE! new life in Jesus! This literally means that we should start living a life that is counter to what we were living like before. We should not look like everyone else. We should be living lives that are set apart and mirroring how Jesus lived during his time here on earth. The good news of the gospel is like getting hit by a train, we should not walk the same after living in light of who Jesus is and what he has done for us! So, forgive like Jesus forgave! Love the least of these! Choose joy in the hard times! Extend kindness to people that don’t deserve it! Take the time to be intentional in every moment of every day make Jesus known by how you live your life!
