DO PEOPLE SEE CHRIST IN YOU?

Dear People,

For the past weeks, this notion has come to me in so many different ways. How do we convert people to Christ? How do others see Christ in us? This morning, a scripture was quickened in my heart which answered many preoccupations I had.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

11Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
We are Christians who are blessed to be a blessing to others. Our lives should emulate the teachings of Christ and the way He led His life. I now understand why most people did not ‘join churches’ in the days past. We used to say “Frustration don make that one join church”. And being born again was repulsive because those who claimed to be born again were the most sloppily dressed, wore very unattractive clothes and generally looked really battered and trodden. In my mind I was like “Jeez…if that is how people look in God’s kingdom, then I will need a lot of persuasion to get there” .
I also remember that when I finished my A Levels, I wanted to take the CUSS exams. A doctor in the town I lived in then, Kousserri, used to come home for lunch everyday. People, this guy was hungry looking I beg to say. And when mum served him food, he would wolf it down in seconds. And after that, he would give me advice on becoming a doctor. I was like…I am not so sure I want to be a doctor anymore. I asked my mum that what if I was posted to a town where there was no one kind enough to give me food like she did the doctor. I didn’t think much of being a doctor then just because of the way I saw this doctor’s outward appearance.

In the same light, our lives as Christians should be a light and beacon for people to turn to Christ. You cannot be a Christian and you are involved in gossip, quarreling, or looking so haggard and down trodden all the time. I believe that when we are Christians and we trust God fully, he blesses us so that we can be blessings to other people. How do you encourage someone in Christ when you are so negative and discouraged all the time yourself? How do you convince someone that God is your provider and the source of all good things when He has given you a good job and means but you insist on taking ‘bend skin’ everywhere or wearing the sloppiest of things because you are trying to be miserly and save up. I don’t know about you but where I am going to, the streets are made of Gold and I am going to adorn myself with the brightest smiles, the best that God has given me so that I fit into that environment.



Psalms 127 says 1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. 2 In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to [a] those he loves.



Our lives should be easy going and full of peace. Our homes should be happy and peaceful. We should smile always, encourage others and be a blessing to other people. We should help others out. When we do all that, God blesses us and through us His glory is revealed to other people. When we trust in Him, He does marvelous things in our lives that will keep us dumbfounded.



Why do we say the God of Abraham? Because we saw the wonderful things God did for Abraham. People were like, Abraham’s God… I want to have someone like that on my side. Well now, I am proud to say a few people have started saying, Marja that God of yours is good. In the last weeks and months I have changed so many bad attitudes that people know that it can only be God working in me. And guess what, they are willing to know that God of mine. They are willing to listen to what I have to say about Christ because they see a new and bright person in me.



May our lives be beacons to others and enticing enough that people draw towards us to get to know Christ.