I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me.   (Gal. 2:20)

As I was driving back along the turnpike, the glorious colors of the fall leaves literally sparkled in the sunlight. It’s amazing how creative our Lord is; and how gracious He is to allow us to enjoy such beautiful sights. Then, I was reminded of something I learned in elementary school a LONG time ago! I’m actually seeing the “true” colors of the trees! As trees produce chlorophyll, they turn green… and that’s the “color” we think trees are. BUT, scientifically, the true colors of a tree don’t show through until it stops producing chlorophyll. Only when the tree begins to DIE does it shine with the color their Master Creator designed it to.

The more it “dies” the more beautifully and vividly the colors shine through.

Galatians 2:20 mirrors that thought. God created each of us to display His glory. Only when we die to self can our “true colors” shine through. As we surrender our thoughts, wishes, dreams and desires to Him, our lives are transformed by the One Who lovingly redeems life’s hurt and pain. The more we “die,” the more His glory can radiate through us. And as a result, those around us can be drawn to His beauty and power… and their lives filled with His praise!

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“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  (Eph. 5:1-2, ESV)

I like to cook and do some occasional baking.  I guess the reason why I like to cook is to help out at home, and to have my wife say, “Oh, this is yummy.”  But one thing I don’t like while I am cooking is to mess up or to ruin the surprise for my wife what I am cooking.  Because of this I don’t like to ask for help while I am cooking.  However, there is one problem, I don’t always read the directions right or understand them correctly.  So you guessed it, this gets me into trouble.  Recently, I made a lemon meringue pie and had some problems.  While following the recipe everything was going well, the pie shell and the filling looked great. The meringue peaked and when I put it all together it seemed great. I put it in the oven and all was going as planned. As it was cooking my wife and I had dinner.  I told her I had made a lemon meringue pie but I had a question, how do you grate lemon peels?  She told me how and you guessed it, I did not do that, I simply cut the peels so fine no one would ever know.  At dessert time we had the pie and the first thing she noticed was that the pie crust was not cooked fully, I had missed the part about putting the filling in the baked pie crust, second the lemon peels were not fine as we were able to pick out almost all of the peels as we ate it.  The filling and meringue were great, but the overall pie had some issues.  Why is it so hard to follow directions?  Why is it so hard to ask for help?

One word, it is pride.  In the above two verses Paul calls us to imitate God instead of following the world.  We are to imitate our father as a dearly loved child.  To look to Him in all his righteousness and live a life of love just like Jesus did for us.  It is hard to ask for help.  It is hard to admit that our life here on earth will never measure up to what God desires for us.  But we can live the life God wants for us through Jesus.  The joy is set in place that when we do live that life we are like a sweet fragrant offering to God.  The smell of the lemon meringue pie filled the house in spite of its flaws.  It is an incredible thought that when God sees us through Christ he sees dearly loved children perfect and righteous because of Christ.  

So I am left with daily questions, how can I imitate God today?  Am I living a life of love as Christ loved me?  Is my life a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God?  What areas do I need to work on?

Prayer: Lord, help me to set aside my pride and ask for help.  Help me to imitate you God and allow my life to be pleasing to you.  I pray that I would be a fragrant offering to you. Help me to be more like you.  Amen

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You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:14-16)

Recently, I have been thinking,  “What makes me a Christian?”  Yes, I know to become a Christian I need to realize I am a sinner, turn from that sin and accept our God’s free gift of eternal life through Him.  But, after that, what shows other people that I am a Christ-follower?  What shows people that I am different from the world?  Matthew 5 talks about different kind of lights.  I am one of those lights that Matthew talks about that is hidden under a bowl?  Do I go to church and then go home and hide in my house without anyone seeing any of Jesus light in me?    I don’t want to be like that.  I want to be like the city on a hill that cannot be hidden!!  However, in order to share about Jesus to others, my job is to spend time … A LOT of time getting to know Him.  

It’s like a dating couple.  They spend time … usually A LOT of time … getting to know one another and as they get to know each other they grow in love for each other and begin to tell others about who they are dating.  If their relationship develops and they get engaged there is such a glow about them and when you ask about their fiancé they just bubble over with words about their future spouse.

Are we so in love with Jesus that we just overflow with words about Him to others?  This has been my prayer recently.  A few years ago I read an autobiography by Bill Bright.  In that book he shared that each day he prayed a prayer asking the Lord to use him.  He said,

We cannot be a light that brings any kind of glory to the Lord without Him working in and through us to make us shine.  Let’s ask Him today to help us be like that city on a hill that CANNOT be hid.  May we be lights for His glory!

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“But the fruit if the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”  (Gal. 5:22)

During a recent tour of Israel I was overwhelmed by the lush green valleys and bountiful fields, many filled with fruit trees. Before Israel became a nation in 1948 the land was an unproductive wasteland. Now the land has come to life through water conservation, irrigation systems and above all God’s blessing.  Isaiah 27:6 “…Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.” (NIV)

As I saw fields of almond trees in bloom I was challenged in my heart about the fruit my life was producing. When difficult, frustrating or challenging situations arise do I exhibit the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit in my response? Am I so pre-occupied with myself that I do not see the needs of those around me? Am I available for God’s use? Do I yield to the Spirit’s working in my life? Do others see Christ living in me?

I can remember when my life was a spiritual waste land, and when I was given life-giving water. I am reminded that any fruit in my life is a product of Jesus living in me and that I yield good fruit when I abide in Him. Can I challenge you too, to examine the fruit that you are producing?

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