Expression of Christ

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

James 1:22

 Expression of Christ
 Is a beautiful phrase,
 But how do we convey it
 Throughout our days?
  
 Praying with a loved one-
 Forgiveness and compassion-
 That's an expression of Christ.
  
 Imparting peace instead of stress-
 Words sprinkled with kindness-
 That's an expression of Christ.
   
Joy in the Lord unsubdued-
A posture of gratitude-
 That's an expression of Christ.
  
 With God's guidance in
 All you say and do,
 An expression of Christ
 Will be showing through. 

In the movie, War Room, one character says, “See you in church.” The other character responds, “I need to see the church in you, Bro.” That got me thinking…How can I live in a way that others “see the church” in me? I thought about why we go to church: to learn more about God, worship God, pray, fellowship with other Christians, etc. Then James 1:22 came to mind. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Most of what we do in church is listen. We listen to the sermon. We listen to scripture. We listen to the music. (Sometimes we also sing, though!) Listen, listen, listen. Listening is good and has its place. But we need to do more than listen. God doesn’t want us to leave the church at church!

For others to “see the church” in me, I need to apply what I hear in church. If I walk out of church and do nothing with what I’ve heard, what was the point of attending? I don’t want to be a “Sunday morning Christian.” I don’t want to compartmentalize my faith. I strive to be a 24/7/365 Christian! One way to do that is to practice what was preached. My pastor always ends the service with a blessing and a directive. He gives us practical ways to apply what he’s just preached about. He shows us how to live out our faith.

What does living out our faith look like? It’s living in a way that reflects Christ. It’s being an expression of Christ. It’s one thing to memorize scripture, but it’s quite another to live it out. I can either tell someone I’ll pray for them as I walk away, or I can stop and pray for them at that moment. (Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. James 5:14) I can spew all kinds of negativity when I’m upset, confused, afraid, etc. Or, I can take a beat, recognize what’s at the heart of the matter, and resolve the conflict in a calm manner with a sound mind. (Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14) I can grumble about not being able to see my friends in person, or be thankful for the various ways I can see my friends on the internet. (A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired. Proverbs 17:22)

I’m not saying this is easy or that I’ve mastered this myself. But when we intentionally live out His Word in our lives, people will see the expression of Christ in us!

Lord, Help me to not just read your Word, but do what it says. Guide me in living out my faith so others “see the church” in me. Help me to be an expression of Christ, pointing others to You. Amen