Revealing Jesus

I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.
John 1:31, NLT*

John says that Jesus “has revealed God to us.” (John 1:18, NLT*) We who believe in Him are called to reveal Jesus to those around us just as surely as John the Baptist was called to prepare the way. (See Matthew 28:18-20)

Each of us will have a different way of revealing Jesus to the world. John the Baptist called the people en masse to repentance, confronting their sin so they’d be ready to receive salvation.

You and I, unless we’re in some kind of public ministry, are likely called to reveal Jesus one-on-one. That doesn’t mean practicing John’s approach on a smaller scale, pointing out our friends’ sins and calling them to repent.

It means revealing Jesus through our lives, caring for others in a manner worthy of the Gospel. Listening. Seeing. Helping. Encouraging. Yes, it may mean asking honest questions about life choices that don’t honour God, but only as and when He leads.

It’s important to remember that the Jews of John’s day thought they were already serving God. John showed them the gaps. If the people in our lives aren’t interested in following God, what’s the point of us pushing them to obey Him? First they need to discover who He is and why His way matters.

God our Saviour and our one true Hope, You have revealed Yourself to us and drawn us to Yourself. You do the saving, but we have a part to play in showing others how good You are and how practical Your love is. Open our eyes to the opportunities You give us to shine for You, and help us to share what You’ve given us. It’s too good to keep to ourselves.

A song that echoes the challenge is “Live Like That,” by the Sidewalk Prophets.

*New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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