March 2017 – Quaddot Productions

Reflecting Christ

Mirrors are reflectors. They reflect the light that hits them. What we see in the mirror reflects the light that is illuminating us as we stand in front of the mirror. That light shines off of us at the mirror and reflects into our eyes where our brains interpret the image how we appear at that moment in that light.

Gazing into the mirror is how we can see ourselves as others see us. We cannot step outside our bodies to look ourselves, so, up until recent technological advances, mirrors have been the only way we have had to check out how we look and learn how others view our outward appearance.

When we read the creation story, we find that Genesis 1:26 (ESV) says,

“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness,”

so we think God patterned our physical appearance very specifically. However, since God no has bodily form, he is referring to his image as his spiritual form. So man was given spirit, a living soul, created to live in harmony and communion with him.

So, with this image in mind, how do you view yourself when you look in the mirror? It is possible to view beyond the physical appearance and into the spirit.

In the 1970’s a Christian artist, Sharalee Lucas, recorded a song by the name “Jesus in Your Eyes.” This was very popular song back then for weddings given the love song nature of the lyrics. But it spoke about being able to discern Christ in another person.

I see Jesus in your eyes, and it makes me love Him

I feel Jesus in your touch, and I know He cares

I hear Jesus in your voice, and it makes me listen

And I trust you with my love, because you’re His.

I see Him… ^[1]

Have you ever had someone you’ve just met say, “You’re a Christian, aren’t you?” If someone can ask that before you say a word that’s even better.

We can never be fully like Christ, but we strive to always be. And as we become more like Him, the more others will see Christ in us. Do others see Him you? When you stand in front of the mirror, do YOU see Him in you?

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A Path to Peace and Joy

From the book of Joshua, I think we have all heard in some form or fashion the story of the Battle of Jericho. Israel surrounds the town of Jericho, marches around it for days, and on the seventh day, the trumpets blasted, the voices shouted and the walls came down. All spoils except the silver, gold and bronze and iron were to be destroyed. However, a man by the name of Achan kept some spoils for himself and hid them by burying them under his tent.
Not knowing this, Joshua then proceeded to next the town of Ai. It was a small town, so Joshua sent only a small army to battle them. The Israelites lost and had to retreat. God told Joshua, who was distraught over the loss, that someone had hidden the spoils and until their sin was exposed, He would not be with them. Joshua lined the entire nation up and they all passed in front of him tribe by tribe. When Achan passed in front of Joshua he admitted his sin. Joshua had the spoils along with Achan, his family, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, stoned then burnt, ridding the nation of the sin that had so angered the Lord. Having seen the cleansing, the Lord turned from His anger and blessed Israel yet again.
What is the lesson to be learned here today? You may hide your sin from man, but not from God. When praying specific prayers, God knows what you want before you ask it. He wants you to ask specifically so that YOU know what you need. If He knows your need better than you know yourself, isn’t it logical to conclude that He knows your sin even before you confess it? He knows we need to confess our sin to have a true penitent heart and to restore our relationship with Him.

How grateful we should be that Christ came to earth? We do not need to fear the wrath of judgment that Achan experienced because Christ did that for us.
When we gave our lives to Christ, we were forgiven our sins. The Father’s love is unending. But when we still sin, which we do because we are still human, our relationship with Him is strained. He doesn’t love us any less. As a parent doesn’t love their child any less when they err, so is God with us when we sin. Our relationship is strengthened through confession. This is the basis of 1 John 1:9 which says “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
This begins a cause and affect sequence which is the real topic of this lesson. To be cleansed from all unrighteousness means a close relationship with God. A close relationship with God is the only place where true peace can be found. C.S. Lewis said, “God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”
And by finding true peace you can find joy. If you are having a hard time finding peace, then I would suspect you are having a difficult time with joy as well. Not all sources of tension limiting peace and joy are a result of sin. A family member suffering from cancer or some other disease is a good example of this. But if your lack of peace and joy can be traced to your guilt, your sin, then begin the road of restoration with confession and with working to be closer to and worship Him. When we confess our sins, we grow closer to Him. Being closer to Him overwhelms us with peace, overflows in joy and manifests itself in glorious praise of God.

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Reflecting the Greatest Commandments

Do you ever wonder what it would be like if Christ was actually walking earth today and you ran into him? When we look back to evidence in the New Testament, it appears he must have had an appeal beaming out from him that captivated those around him. How do you think it went in recruiting the disciples? It almost gives the impression he walked up, said drop your nets and follow me. Except for maybe Peter and Matthew to a degree, there is no implication there were huge debates, followed by PowerPoint presentations by Jesus showing returns on investment, and so forth working to convince each of the future disciples why they should do just that. It seems they sensed his special anointing, and felt strongly that was something they had to do. I doubt they knew at the time the scope of the decision they were making. They were making a decision that would etch them into the history of all mankind and would alsolead to their persecution. Had Jesus told them up front, “Hey follow me, but know you will ultimately be killed for it,” The number of recruits would have been sizably less. But once they understood the significance of the Spirit in the man, and that spirit was made alive in them, they realized physical, earthly death was not the end or even that big of deal. Living for Him, reflecting Him… that is!

Jesus would be doing the same if He were walking the earth today. His charisma, being so magnetic, would draw people to him. He would be where Christians today fear to trod. I believe he would be in bars and strip clubs, the casinos, the gang-infested neighborhoods, the sex-trafficking houses where young girls are sold. And I believe in each of those, within minutes of entering, all activities would cease, and there would be a number of people at his feet listening, intently and remorsefully. As always, there would be those whose hearts are hard and resist. Jesus had those even 2000 years ago, such as when the Pharisees even tried to trick Him. In Matthew 22:36-40:

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

They failed but Jesus’ response brings three topics to light, two of them are obvious.

Love God.
This commandment is first because it is the most important.
Love your neighbor.
The second obvious statement.
As YOURSELF!
Not so obvious! Do not forget to love yourself!

So many people have guilt, remorse, low self-esteem, etc. which gives them anxiety, depression and much more. All of this impacts their ability to love themselves. These can impact to the point of serious health issues and even suicide.

You can love God, and you can love neighbor, but not love yourself. But how much can you truly love them? Work on forgiving yourself, letting the things go that God has already forgiven you for. Pray for peace. Meditate on it daily. Hourly if needed. Truly, truly give it. Your CAN let it go. Once you do, you WILL find that peace and you will find yourself loving yourself. Then you will love your neighbor and God even more after that. Your faith in God goes up, your peace and joy will skyrocket. You will want to grow closer to Him everyday!

If your life is in order already, then praise the Lord! Keep working to become a fully developing follower of Christ.

While we can never be fully like Him, we strive to always be more like Him. And as we become more like Christ, the more others will see Him in us. Do others see Him you? When you stand in front of the mirror, do YOU see Him in you?

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When Times Are Rough

No matter how hard we try, there will be days where we wish we could just stay in bed, or take that extended vacation to the Caribbean. Many times, the reasons for these feelings are caused by outside sources or people. Maybe it’s a boss who belittles and only sees what is not right without seeing all the good things you do. Or perhaps it is an unexpected bill, valid or not. It could even be a friend or family member who lets their negative emotions get taken out on those around them, including you.

Max Lucado tells the following story. “How can a person deal with anxiety? You might try what one fellow did. He worried so much that he decided to hire someone to do his worrying for him. He found a man who agreed to be his hired worrier for a salary of $200,000 per year. After the man accepted the job, his first question to his boss was, “Where are you going to get $200,000 per year?” To which the man responded, “That’s your worry.”

You really can adopt the philosophy that by giving everything up to the Lord with confidence and faith, you can change the things you can actually change. The things you cannot change, you give them up to the Lord with faith He will handle things in His timing according to His plan. Giving something up to the Lord means you do not give in to stress or worry, but you trust and further strengthen your faith in Christ by doing so. Your faith strengthens ten-fold when you’ve given up to Him and then you see how He handles it.

Through faith, we give EVERYTHING up to the Lord, not just the ones we stress about. Worry and stress are actually a demonstration of a lack of faith in that God will handle all things according to his plan.

Rick Warren says, “The more you pray, the less you’ll panic. The more you worship, the less you worry. You’ll feel more patient and less pressured.”

James 1:2-4 says it best:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,

whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

He continues in James 1:12

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Trust in the Lord with all your heartand lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.

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