Acts 11:25-26
25 Then
Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and
when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and
Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were
called Christians first at Antioch.
NIV
I went into a fast food restaurant
this week, to grab a snack and use the faster Wi-Fi for work. When I arrived at the counter, no one was
standing there to take my order. Across
the dining room an employee yells, "Precious!" About that time, an
employee with a name tag bearing that name, turns around and glares at me. Begrudgingly, she stomps to the register, and
as if by dare, she says "Can I
take your order?!" I give it to
her. She then turns around, grabs a cup, and slams it on the counter. "That will be $3.58," she
demands. I reluctantly hand it over to
"Precious" and she throws my change back at me.
I'll admit, by this time, I was
waffling between humor and a very poor attitude. Part of me wants to say, "Look, never
mind. I do not want to do business here
anymore." The other part? I'm dying laughing. "Precious" is acting anything but precious.
As so often is the case, the Lord
immediately begins to instruct my heart.
How many times do you bear my Name, but act anything but
Christ-like? Busted. So many times! In that moment, I hang my head a little bit
and thank the angst-ridden cashier with my gentlest and cheeriest
response. In kind, she softens and
smiles.
So many times I am guilty of forgetting
my Name. My mission. Who I represent. When I wear a Christian shirt, I try a little
harder to live it out. But sometimes as
I speed down the interstate, I forget my
Ichthus on the back of my car.
"I am a Christian." "I am a lawbreaker." Can they both be true? At the same time?
We all sin. We all fall short. The glorious grace of God stands ready to
offer us mercy and cleansing. We do not
have to be perfect to bear His Name. He doesn't blot my name out of the Lamb's
Book of Life every time I fail to live up to the family name. But am I representing? Am I representing Him well with my attitudes,
actions and words? Especially when the
right thing is not being done to- or for- me?
Want to be more Christ-like? More readily identified as a Child of the
King? Join me in this prayer:
"Dear Lord, I fail and fall so
short of Your goodness, Your righteousness and Your love. Help me to live out my faith in a way that is
identifiable and understandable to others.
Forgive me for the times that I cause people to lose sight of you. When
I am a poor representation for you. In Jesus' Name. Amen."
© Sherri Evans Ministries 2015. All rights reserved. Used by permission. For booking schedule and information: sherrievans@sherrievansministries.com
