I made a trip to New England recently, bringing me to a layover in the Charlotte, NC airport. [Side note: Can I just say how much I love that airport? Full of sunlight, faux trees, and wooden white rocking chairs. As far as airports go, a layover wandering those halls was pretty pleasant!]As I boarded the first leg (in Boston) of the trip, I noticed the...uh...abundance of grumpy people. If you want to find a grumpy person--check the airport. However, before I got too sidetracked by staying out of their paths, the Lord reminded me of my mission as a Christian: we are little Image Bearers of Christ. We are to be little Jesus'--wherever we go, whatever we do. Whether we are handing out tracts on the streets of the Broncs, or walking through through Airport security. This being said, as I was waiting to hand my ticket to the security guard, I found myself smiling. Really big. I don't know why--but all of a sudden I got a super goofy grin on my face. I couldn't stop.
I walked through security, beaming at the grumpy glares shot my way. Eyes got big as I met the gaze of disgruntled passengers. I grinned as I walked down the terminal. I started humming softly as I waited for the call to board. Honestly, I just kept thinking about how much Christ actually loves me. How much He dearly loves all these people that were streaming past me. He sacrificed His own life for every single person--even those that reject Him. He gave Himself for the teens with dark eyes. The tired moms cleaning up spilled goldfish. Hunched over elderly gentlemen. Business men with spotless shoes. I kept thinking, and I kept smiling more (I may have even started whistling)! Then, as I walked through these sunshine-filled halls of Charlotte, I had another thought. What if my smile is the only smile someone sees today? What if I'm the only person that really looks them in the eyes? What if I am the only Christian they come into contact with today--or this week? What would I want someone to know about Christians, simply by seeing ME?
As I have walked with the Lord, I really REALLY believe that Christians (should) look different. Not weird different (although, now, we are starting to be considered REALLY weird), but we are "the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing" (2 Cor 2:15). We are to be different. We are to look different from the people surrounding us. For those who have found the kind of Hope which only Christ brings, there comes with it a peace, JOY inexpressible, and a quiet trust. We are to be LIGHT amidst darkness. We are to radiate the Love of Christ.
I want to be different. I want to be so full of Love that people can tell I genuinely care about them. I want compassion to be in my eyes, words of kindness on my lips, arms prepared to serve, and a humility settled within my heart--a heart which knows who really IS to be praised. His name is Jesus.
What about you? For those of you who follow Christ, what would your friends (those who call themselves Christians and those who don't follow Christ) say about you? That you are quick to argue or that you are a keeper of Peace? Is your mouth the first to "dish out juicy gossip", or do you intentionally go out of your way to encourage others ? What does your facebook say about you? What do your texts hold? What would that slow cashier at the grocery store say about your patience? Do you continually complain (even on social media) or are you looking for ways to help? What do your eyes say about the condition of your heart (Matthew 6:22)?
Most importantly, what would the world say about Christians by looking at you?
Friend, may our hearts be pure, TRUE reflections of the Image of Christ. May we be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry", full of "[peace], gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere" (James 1:19, 3:17). May we be truly different from the rest of this world.
In Him,
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