Looking with the Eyes of the Spirit

The Samaritan woman at the well was just trying to get some water. Yet, her conversation with Jesus caused her spiritual thirst to be quenched with the eternal living water of the gospel. (John 4)

The lame beggar at the temple was just trying to get some money to live. But one encounter with Peter and John got him healed of his illness altogether. (Acts 3)

The Ethiopian eunuch was just riding along the road reading the Scriptures. But a talk with Philip opened his eyes to the revelation of Jesus' saving power that those Scriptures pointed to. (Acts 8)

Jesus, Peter, John, and Philip were able to recognize opportunities to minister the gospel. Jesus was able to look into the heart of the Samaritan woman and see all the troubles that she wrestled with. Peter and John knew that a few coins would not help the lame man in the long run. Philip heard the discerned that the Ethiopian eunuch was trying to find his way to God's Truth.

All of these men looked with eyes of the Spirit and was able to see each person where they were and allow the power of God to meet their every need.

How often do you look at those around you with the eyes of the Spirit? Do you just see people passing by, or do you look closer and allow the Lord to show you their needs? Once you see what is wrong, do you step out on faith and allow God to use you to meet that need?

We have been given a command to go into the world and share the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:15). Sharing that gospel can start with just an awareness to our surroundings.

That person looking for a handout has a greater need than some money. Your friend who is agonizing over their marriage needs more than your words. The neighbor's child needs more than just an interested mentor.

They need the power of Jesus Christ.

You hold that power.

Don't let it go to waste.

Verse of the Day: And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 2 Corinthians 5:18-20

My Everything

Check out my post this month for EmpowerMoments!

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.  Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:4, 5 NLT)

It took me a minute to figure it out. I was used to being at the top of my game; I wasn’t a stranger to losing, my life was blessed… I had no reason to think otherwise.

Then the trials came, the testing began, and God began to allow His purifying fires to burn. I started to lean to my own understanding. I trusted in my own strength, my own intelligence and my own knowledge to get me through. Yet, all that I had by myself was not enough.

And when I inevitably came up short, I grew frustrated. When I failed, I was depressed. When I missed the mark, I got angry. When I took wrong turns, I lost precious time.

Like I said, it took me a while, but I figured it out. Once I figured out that I had to make God my source, it all fell into place. God had to be my main source. Read the rest here!

Salty?

I love to cook. I love to watch cooking shows on television. I like reading cookbooks and picking out recipes that I'd like to try one day. I follow a bunch of food blogs. I especially love to eat really good food.

One thing I've learned in my food explorations is that seasonings make a world of difference. Get the wrong flavors on your ingredients, and you mess up the meal. One of the best and most simplest seasonings a cook can use is salt. It's presence magnifies flavor bringing joy to the taste buds. It's absence is often quickly noted and sends one searching for the remedy.

Jesus called His followers the "salt of the earth". (Matthew 5:13) We are called to be a desired presence in the earth. We are called to permeate the world around us and change it for the better. The effects of our witness should be openly known.

Yet too many of us are hiding our flavor. We don't want to be judged, persecuted, or labeled as strange. So, we try to assimilate with the world around us. We don't go against the grain. We overlook what disagrees with God's Word. We shy away from openly standing up for godly principles.

Oh, we're okay being "salty" around other saints. We can preach, sing, and serve in the church. Our "amens" are loud and clear in the sanctuary. Our flavor is turned all the way up when we get in the church walls.

But, this behavior is ultimately defeating. No one eats salt by itself. No one has ever enjoyed a nice big ol' bowl of salt.

Salt is always used to affect something else. It flavors any type of food you can bring to the table. It's The same principle applies to your Christian walk.
effectiveness is only realized when it is applied.

If you aren't flavoring the world around you, you're not accomplishing what Christ wants you to do. In fact, Jesus says that a flavorless witness is "good for nothing". (read Matthew 5:13 again)

Are you being the "salt of the earth"? Is the world being impacted by your presence? When you show up, does change take place?

Don't let your Christianity be "good for nothing"!

Verse of the Day: Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Matthew 5:13 (KJV)