If you are a believer in Jesus Christ as Lord, if you have turned from your sins and received Jesus as Lord, if you have been forgiven and promised everlasting life with God instead of hell forever apart from Him, if you are a Jesus follower, please consider this question.
Does the world around you see Jesus in you?
The Bible says this concerning believers in the Lord Jesus Christ:
““I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NKJV
We are to DENY SELF, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus whereby Jesus lives in and through us.
“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23 NKJV
We are to die to self on a daily basis.
“I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” 1 Corinthians 15:31 NKJV
We are no longer to live for self but for Jesus.
“and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15 NKJV
The Holy Spirit lives in us.
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV
We are to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
“(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:9-10 NKJV
When we live as such, the world around us should not see our human sinful self-centered flesh. The world should see Jesus.
We are to be vessels for God containing within us and pouring out to others what God desires including His Spirit, the Gospel message, love, kindness, mercy, grace, hope, peace, joy, comfort, compassion, patience, goodness, the truth of the Bible, wisdom, and all He desires.
“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21 NKJV
We are to always be dying to self as Jesus is manifested in us.
“always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 NKJV
Does the world around you see Jesus in you? Do your thoughts, words, and actions show forth Jesus? Are you a vessel of the Lord? Are you a vessel for the Lord? Are you shining with the light of the Lord Jesus Christ?
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NKJV
As we deny self, as we die to self, as we say NO to the sinful desires of the flesh and YES to God and His ways and His will for us, as we yield to the Holy Spirit of God, as we surrender our hearts moment by moment to the Lord, as we read the Bible and live by it, as we spend time alone in the presence of God praying, praising, worshiping Him, crying out to Him, seeking, hearing, and obeying Him, the more the world will see JESUS in us.
Cry out to God that this will be so in your life! May the world see Jesus in you!
Hallelujah, AMEN!