blog 1: representing jesus well

This is for the Jesus followers. If someone looked at you would they see Jesus? Would they know right away , you’re a follower of Jesus?

Why or why not?

Is there something different in the way you speak? The way you handle people and situations?

John 13:35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Will PROVE TO THE WORLD when you love on another! Wow. That means not talking bad about people , no matter what they have done to you.

Trust me this is much harder when there has been an offense, I get it. When THEY have said hurtful things about you or someone you love. It’s hard when you believe you are right and they are wrong. These are the moments when we show whether we are Jesus disciples OR we are just like the world.

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

They will know you by your fruit, what fruit??

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

I look at this as a check list. Have I been these things to people? To my husband? My kids? My parents , my enemies?? The ones who don’t like me? Do I show these things to them?

This is how the world will know we are followers of Jesus. Not because we go to church on Sunday. Not because we have John 3:16 on our bumper sticker. Not because we can quote scripture or comment “praying for you” on someone’s post. Nope. It is through loving people and showing these fruit.

Again, this is easier said than done. When you feel they are in the wrong. I’ve learned it is not my job to play the Holy Spirit. It is not my job to take matters into my own hands or talk down about someone else. That is NOT what the Bible has taught me to do. So why do we do that? Why do we continue to hold grudges, or hold onto unforgiveness, and pass judgment?

I strongly believe it’s because we are not rooted in Christ.

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit

And a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

That is what it says right??

So if I’m acting out of alignment with those fruit that must mean it is coming from a bad tree right?

The only way I can bear good fruit is if it comes from a good tree.

Jesus!

It’s can and will only come through Jesus. Apart from Him we can do nothing. The world and the ugliness in it is no match for little me or little you. It takes someone BIGGER to put down those things, those hurts , those triggers. It takes the Holy Spirit to fill us so full that the only thing that cross our lips is love.

Will we fail at this? Yes.

But in those times is when we can go to God and ask Him to forgive us if we have acted like the world and to help us to bear the good fruit, to love on those who have wronged us.

This world is searching so desperately for love, in all the wrong places. The world is searching for something that doesn’t contradict itself. That doesn’t say one thing but acts another. That doesn’t just love people like itself.

Luke 6:32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

The world will know you because of your love for one another.

One love friends.