I don't know about you, but it is truly amazing to me to reflect on "Christ in me." My whole life was a life of rebellion, opinion, justification and selfishness. The older I get the easier it is has let Christ rule every facet of my life. This does not come with age, but with surrender. We were all created in God's image and we all have the opportunity to live each day with Christ in us, and to be led by the Holy Spirit. This does come with a cost however; "We have to be dead to self."
Last week I was confronted by an elderly lady who got in my face and went off on me because of my shouting Jesus. As I sat there with others witnessing this Un-Christ like behavior, I had nothing but compassion for her. As I sat there being attacked all I could do was pray. When she took breaths between her lashings, I would inject these words "_____, Forgive me if I have offended you. Please let me know if there ever is anything in my life that offends you and I will never do or say them again." After she received more air she would continue to go on as if I never said a word to her. You could have heard a pin drop when she was done. Everyone stood there perplexed to what just happened. I prayed a while and then left for my office. On my way to the office and when I got to my office I just kept praying for her and asking the Lord to show me anything in my life that could have prevented this conversation. Soon I found myself once again filled with compassion for her and jotted down a note to her that might prayerfully be received by her. I went back over and handed the letter to her and told her I loved her.
Two nights later I received a phone call from this dear lady. She said that she sinned against God and had sinned against me and wanted to come over and ask forgiveness face to face. What a blessing this was to be reconciled through Christ.
You see, the old Pete would have humiliated this precious woman in front of everyone after, and even when, she lashed out at me. I would have torn her apart with scripture and ruined any chance for reconcilliation. I had every right to stand my ground because the reason I shouted (and had shouted Jesus before) as if we were excited and as she said "a stadium Jesus", was because a dear volunteer at who volunteers her time has been depressed for years because she cannot get her daughter back. Both of them are victims of downs syndrome (I am supposing this because I do not want to ask for sure, and by her looks and demeanor I conclude this) and finally two weeks ago I told her (after praying and counseling her on how to overcome through Jesus fot the past several years) to just keep saying Jesus over and over again and that He will give her peace. She came in two days in a row shouting Jesus, Jesus, Jesus over and over again with a huge smile on her face saying "It works." You not what? It does. She had stepped away from bondage and we all should have been elated and glad for her victory. The dear elderly lady realized this severl days later and through Christ was able to also step away from bondage.
The verse that changed my entire life in 1992 is 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore whoever is in Christ is a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come." Jesus wants to make us new and that is exciting. Assurance of our salvation is evident by change in every facet of our lives. When we as believers realize that we are to follow Him, love as He loves, and serve as He served, then be prepared for change. Be prepared for the peace that surpasses all understanding. Last but not least, He is either Lord of all, or not at all~
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