Created by James E. Woodson III, Journal Your Journey is a daily editorial blog designed to give hope, inspire, and influence its readers to live better, more fulfilled lives. Through divine inspiration, Journal Your Journey delivers daily lessons learned centered around what it truly means to live a life led by God. As you read, we hope that you will be inspired and motivated to make a deeper connection with the Creator and that your life might be transformed. Enjoy!
Today, 2014 years ago, Jesus washed his disciples feet in an expression of love. Afterwards, He told them, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15).
Unfortunately, however, our generation has distorted and perverted what it means to love someone.
We talk about it like it’s some fleeting emotion that we fall in and out of.
But truth be told, love is not an emotion.
It’s a series of behaviors by which we provide a service to others.
For instance, God didn’t love us simply by verbally or internally expressing his feelings towards us. Rather, John 3:16 says He loved us by giving his His Son’s life for us. God performed an act of service for us, which John 15:13 explains is the ultimate expression of love.
My question: when you say you love someone, are you saying you just have positive feelings towards them? Because that’s not real love. Real love is action. It’s not about what you say or feel, it’s about what you do. #PassionWeek #Thursday #EasterIsComing
"In everything, set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." ~ Titus 2:7-8
God calls us to set an example for others in the way we live our lives. Just like you are called to represent your employer on your job, God calls us to be adequate representatives for Him in the world.
So what type of example are you setting? What type of impression are people getting about God through you?
We are God's mouthpieces here on earth? As such, we have an obligation to represent Him well.
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." ~ 1 Timothy 4:12
Make no mistake, if you're living your life for Christ, somebody's watching you.
Perhaps it's the agnostic on your job who keeps questioning you about God. Or the atheist in your class who thinks you're foolish to believe in a supreme being. Perhaps it's that person who claims to be a Christian whose actions don't seem to match up with his or her words. Or maybe it's that person still living in sin but searching for peace and comfort in the midst of his or her storm. looking for a better way.
I used to make the mistake of thinking that if I could just impart Godly principles to an unbeliever, I could bring him closer to Jesus. If I could just get him to think more positive. If I could just get him to stop cursing. If I could just teach him the principles of sowing and reaping. If I could just teach him that it’s more blessed to give than to receive. If I could just get him to do all these things, God would do the rest. There was no need to introduce him to Jesus, because when he started to change his life, he would naturally come to Jesus.
As I’ve grown older, however, I realize that I had it backwards. Teaching an unbeliever the principles of God does not bring closer to Him. Rather, giving people Jesus brings them to closer to his principles. Once people meet Jesus, he begins to transform their minds and their lives. But Jesus is the way to change. He’s the only way to real transformation. Any other type of change will be short-term and fleeting, but once a person meets Jesus, his/her life will be changed forever.
So, for those of you who don’t know Jesus yet, please understand that he is not some invisible force that is looking to control your life and stop you from having fun. Rather, Jesus is very real and he will grant you the peace, freedom, and happiness that you seek in other places (the club, drugs, sex, alcohol, friends). Once you meet Jesus, he will completely transform your life forever. Just try Him. Just for month, give your life completely over to Him. Just pray the simple prayer of salvation at the bottom of the screen, and make a commitment that for a month, you won’t make your own decisions, but that you’re going to put your faith in Him, that you’re going to allow Him to be the decision-maker in your life. Just for a month. I guarantee He will change your life, if you just try Him.
And lastly, for those of you who know Jesus already, stop trying to change the people around you. That’s God’s job. We are called to plant seeds. It’s Jesus’ job to water and nourish the plant that grows from the seed. But if a person doesn’t know Jesus first, then his growth, his change, will not last. It will be short-term and fleeting. So, instead of telling people how to live, let’s show them how to live. Let’s be a living example. Let’s show the love of Jesus through our lives. Let’s be a witness to the type of extraordinary life one can live if he places his faith in Jesus. The best witness you can give is not through words, lecturing, or nagging, but rather through a transformed life of your own. Only then will this world, this lost generation, truly see Jesus here on earth. We have to be their Jesus.
