Christ, the Center

There are a couple of new safety features in our car that surprised us as we have driven on the freeways. They are part of the LFA or Lane Following Assist and they remind us to stay centered in our lane. If we get too close to the lane marker two things happen, we hear a ‘beep beep’ sound and the steering wheel gently steers back toward the center. It was a bit of a surprise at first to feel the tug of the steering wheel for a few brief moments, but now we understand what is happening. For our safety, the cameras and sensors keep us centered!

This reminded me of how we need to be centered in Christ, centered on the path He has for us. In John 5:30-45, the passage continually points to Christ. In verse 39, “the Scriptures…bear witness about Me.” In verse 46, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me for he wrote of Me.” In verse 37, “And the Father who sent Me has Himself borne witness about Me..”

Even after coming to Christ, we may center on ourselves instead of Him. Miroslav Volf says we have a “wrongly centered self that needs to be de-centered by being nailed to a cross.” It is easy to go back to the familiar, the old patterns of doing things. We must replace those old patterns with God’s words and thoughts; as we abandon ourselves, our wills, and our minds to Him, His words keep us centered in Christ. How does this happen? Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8-9. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me-put it into practice.

This journey’s path is one of continual transformation because we will often have to de-center ourselves and center in Christ. We sense a ‘beep’ and realize we have moved away from the center and then return to Him being centered. But we have confidence that He will complete this work in us because He said He would.

Perhaps we could have a CCA or a Christ Centering Assist and there is one in a very familiar verse:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Meditation: Please take some time to meditate on Philippians 4:8-9. Read through it slowly several times. What word or phrase draw you? How might God use this to center Christ in you? Talk with our Father about it!

Francie Overstreet

by Francie Overstreet

Testify to Love

by Dave Korinek

A Rejoicing Lamp

"He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light”
John 5:35.

Jesus declares a beautiful truth about John the Baptist’s life—He was a lamp. It’s important to clarify that a lamp bears the light, but it is not the light itself. This distinction is significant because there are lamps that are not burning or shining. Believers have the capacity to burn and shine; but can often hide their lamp under a basket, instead of placing it on a stand for all to benefit from the light (Matt 5:14-16).

Believers are not called to live in a bubble; protecting themselves from contact with anything secular. A bubble-wrapped Christian chooses to live safely among other Christians; avoiding contact with the world. This bubble over time can quench a person’s passion to be actively involved in Christ’s mission.; they choose to hide out from the culture instead of standing out!

John was the kind of lamp that shone brightly. He was a witness who told people where they could see, hear and know the light; John was a true witness to Christ because he lived out what he believed.

My husband and I recently celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary, choosing to renew our vows in our home with friends and family surrounding us. Though some in our home were not believers; we did not hide our faith. A dear friend began the ceremony in prayer and led us in worship. Then another close friend, who is a pastor from the seminary we work at, shared richly from Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 along with talking about the significance of Aquila and Priscilla’s ministry. Perhaps the rejoicing moment came after we said our vows and passed around the sparkling cider for a toast. We sang Brandon Lake’s “Gratitude” and there was not a person in the room not singing “Hallelujah”! Our lamps were shining and pointing to the One who deserves all the praise; and even those who did not know Him rejoiced for a while in the light.

Too often we keep our faith hidden, and in doing so we create a compartmentalized life and a fragmented faith. A robust and healthy Christian worldview offers us the freedom to be who we are out in public and in private.

It’s time to pop the bubble. More than ever before, the world needs to see authentic Christianity. To live biblically, doesn’t mean we beat people over the head with our Bible. The call is to make Christ known in the world, find ways to build bridges in understanding the culture and share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Margy Hill

by Margy Hill

A Strong Family Likeness

“If I alone bear witness about Myself, My testimony is not true” John 5:31

Jesus is still defending His equality with God to a hostile crowd, so He brings forth three very trustworthy witnesses. John the Baptist, His works, and His Father.

This made me think about my own witness; who do others see in me? It is very possible to live a life steeped in Christian culture, to get so wrapped up in what a Christian is supposed to look like, talk like, and act like, that we never really encounter Christ Himself. He isn’t seen in us, the light of the Holy Spirit isn’t detectable, and, if we try to convince a hostile crowd of Christ’s deity, it falls on deaf ears.

So, how do I witness the love of God in my life? I don’t have John the Baptist pointing others to me and I haven’t performed any miracles. But I do have Jesus, how can He be my witness?

Oswald Chambers preached these words over 100 years ago, and they are now more relevant than ever.

“The great need today, among those of us who profess sanctification, is the patience and ability to work out the holiness of God in every detail of our lives…to have a strong family likeness to Jesus”

That’s what I want, for others to see Jesus in me. I shouldn’t have to tell anyone I am a follower of Christ, there should be something different about me, a ‘family likeness’ that draws others in, opens doors, and opens hearts.

How to ‘work out the holiness of God’ and have the heart and mind of Christ is the question. Here are a few thoughts:

Love those who are unloveable, John 4:19 ‘We love, because He first loved us’.You can sing it if you want! But He did love us first, Romans 5:8, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. If we are walking with God, we should be demonstrating that ‘agape’ love to everyone, not just those who are easy to love. If we show a love that is sacrificial, unconditional, freely given, even to those who we think don’t deserve it, people will see Jesus.

Forgiveness is a difficult thing to extend. To forgive those who have hurt or betrayed us, to show grace and compassion to those who are a thorn in our side, is a powerful witness of what Christ can do in a heart.

Life is hard, but the joy we have is from being forgiven and free in Christ. Being joyful in all circumstances, to live a “life abundant" John 10:10,in the good and the bad times shows that we know He is in control and we trust Him, no matter what is going on in our lives.

Let our words be filled with life, healing, and love, not pride & self-righteousness. Patience, self-control, humility, and understanding, are what make a person lovely and someone others want to get to know.

So I promise to strive to ‘work out the holiness of God in the way I live my life. The next time I am with that one person, we all have at least one, who I think isn’t deserving of His love, who I can’t see presented perfect in Christ, I will remember who I want as my witness. I would love for you to join me in this so that we all bear that strong family likeness to Jesus.

Cyndie Evans

by Cyndie Claypool De Neve