I look in the mirror, and I don’t look much like Jesus. I look like a homeschooling writer mom hanging on by a thread: rumpled clothes because I had no time to iron and graying hair that was brushed hours ago. Smile lines crinkle around my eyes. Middle age spread is spreading around my middle. Looking at my spattered apron, you’d have no idea that Jesus lives in me.
Yet His Word says we’re temples of His Holy Spirit.
We’re His living letters.
Jesus in us might be the first our kids see of Him in the morning when we wake them up. (Scary thought!)
Jesus may prompt me to reach out and squeeze my husband’s shoulder or give him a kiss.
Perhaps He’ll call you to listen if a friend needs to talk or to pray for her when she’s struggling.
Jesus reminds us to smile at our neighbors and stop to say hello
We’re the only Jesus some of our friends may ever see.
That scares me because the Jesus I carry inside sometimes gets tarnished.
Some days I don’t want to act like Jesus. I’m tired. I snap in irritation rather than speak words of life. I’m selfish instead of self-sacrificing. I want to retreat rather than talk with my teenager, listen to my husband, or teach Sunday school. I think about my own needs rather than try to understand my friend. I don’t always reflect Jesus clearly.
The good news is we don’t have to be perfect for people to see our Savior in us.
If we’re transparent about our weaknesses, Jesus shines through us more brightly. If we confess our sins, God forgives and keeps using us. When we admit our failures and apologize to others, they see we’re imperfect people who aren’t pretending. Cracked vessels that let the light of Jesus shine through.
Maybe the secret to letting more of His light shine through us is letting more of that light get inside us. John said it this way: “He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30)
How do we let more of Jesus get inside us?
Maybe He becomes greater when we give His Holy Spirit more control and put His Word to work. We learn to let His Word renew our minds and be written on our hearts. As we invite the Holy Spirit in, we’re empowered to:
- Love more and criticize less.
- Choose more forgiveness and less bitterness.
- Show more kindness and less anger.
- Serve more and judge less.
- Say hello to God’s way and good bye to my way.
Who can we be Jesus to today?
Who can we smile at? Who can we touch or hug? Who can we call or send a text to? Who can I help? Who can you be a friend to today? We’re His living letter, the only letter from Jesus that some people may read.
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This post is part of a January series called “More of Jesus.” Here are previous posts you may have missed:
One Wonderful Word When You Need More of Jesus
What to Do When You Need a Best Friend
The Most Powerful Word You Can Pray
I’m linking up with Holly Barrett’s #TestimonyTuesday, Kelly Balarie’s #RaRaLinkup, Holley Gerth’s Coffee for your Heart, Arabah Joy’s Grace and Truth, and Suzie Eller’s #LiveFree Thursday. Check out these communities for more encouragement.
<3 Your words are always to encouraging and refreshing, Betsy! I see a whole lotta Jesus in you! XO
Aww Liz. That means so much to me coming from you, friend. : )
Thank you for this inspiration this morning, Betsy. Your words became the basis of my morning devotions and prompted me to get in touch with a friend who’s going through a tough time. I pray that Jesus will shine through me and give her hope.
Hugs and blessings!
Thanks so much for encouraging me, Marva. I pray that God will use you to life up your friend and let her know she’s loved.
Betsy,
What beautiful encouragement to start my day! Yes, the thought that I may be the only Jesus that people may see today is daunting, but like you pointed out…we DON’T have to be perfect. I love the image of getting more light in us that will shine through the cracks of our weaknesses. I’ll keep pouring Him in by being in His Word. Thanks…I needed this!
Blessings,
Bev
Amen to that, Bev! Let’s keep pouring His Word in, so we can pour out more. : )
Betsy, thank you for candor, encouragement, and challenge! Jesus calls us to be His with all our imperfections. This is exactly what I needed to hear today. Blessings from your neighbor at Kelly’s
Thanks for reading my words, Alice. Blessings to you too.
Amen. Who can I be Jesus for today? That is a question I need to ask everyday. I need to be intentional about hanging with God in a way that it spills over into other parts of my life. Thank you for being so real Betsy. It helps me to recognize my own mess and strive to be more like Jesus. That was a compliment by the way! 🙂
Praying you and your family are doing well.
Oh thanks so much for the compliment, Mary. : ) Yes, I’ve got plenty of mess around here too, so glad Jesus loves me and wants to reach others through me anyway. : )
Starting my day feeling inspired by your message today. I have always believed that “the little things” matter the most, but your thoughts illustrate a deeper connection to our daily, small acts of love. Thank you
Thank you for reading, Roni. Yes, the little things turn out to be big don’t they? Hope you have a good day.
I love your posts Betsy because yes, they are convicting, but they’re also encouraging. I think it’s because you’re honest about your own weaknesses first. I can relate to so much of this and I really appreciate your encouraging words and the suggestions for practical ways to show Jesus’ love in our day-to-day lives.
Thanks so much, Jeannie. I so appreciate your encouragement. I’m a bit of a mess lots of the time, so I figure I might as well try to be honest about it. : ) Grace to you and your family today.
It is challenging to think that we are the only Jesus some people will see but it’s a great reminder of how important it is to represent him well, and I’m grateful that he can use us despite our imperfections. I like that translation of 2 Corinthians 3:3.
I love that verse too, Lesley. I’m so grateful that He uses us and loves us despite our messes. Because I’ve got plenty of those. : )
Very good post, Betsy. I appreciate your vulnerability and your words of encouragement. I plan to share this link on my Facebook page in the coming week. I always know I will find something of quality when I click on one of your links (this week, at #raralinkup). Blessings to you!
Thanks so much for reading, Sarah. I am honored. Blessings to you!
Thanks for this grace-filled reminder that I don’t have to be quite so obsessed with those teachable moments, but can just enjoy my kids, and love them like Jesus would. Today, I’m going to smile more and follow your first suggestion: “Love more and criticize less.”
Blessings, Betsy! This has been a great series.
Thanks, Michele! Yes, I can get obsessed with teachable moments too, being the teacher I am. 🙂 Here’s to smiling more! I’m sure Jesus did that a lot.
I bet after a hard day ministering, caring, serving, and sandals through the mud, Jesus looked a whole lot like you do after a hard day of the same. I love your encouragement that we don’t have to be perfect to look like Jesus. Here’s to shining for Him.
Amen! I never thought before about what Jesus himself must have looked like after those days. Great thought, Tiffany. Thank you.
Well said and timely for me Betsy! Thanks for reminding this cracked vessel to still shine Jesus through it all!
It’s from one cracked pot to another, Jill. 🙂
The only Jesus someone may see. Yikes! I know that is true. And the minute I tell my kids to be kind, the neighbor ticks me off. Guess I need to practice what I preach….
Isn’t that the truth, Sarah? I know the feeling!
Such an encouraging post, Betsy!
Thanks, friend. : )
Hello beautiful woman! His light beams strong in you, grey hair, frumpled clothes and all. (As I sit here in pjs w/hair that’s yet to be touched! lol) You’re transparent, gentle, and caring – and you lead us to Him so well. Amen. #goJesus
Hah! From one pj friend to another! (I wear yoga pants instead of pj’s, on the pretext that I’m about to exercise. : ) ) #goJesus
I see Jesus in you, In each and every visit.
Grateful for your influence in my life, Betsy …
Wow, Betsy. Such a beautifully written post. Love that verse, too. Thanks for sharing a perspective on it that I hadn’t considered. — And, thank you for this series; I’ve enjoyed it. (( xoxo ))
Thanks so much for reading, Brenda. I appreciate you so much.
God bless you and your family💕you touched my ♥ and I want to say thank you.
Jeannette
Thanks so much, Jeannette. Blessings to you and your family too.