I wash Olivia's little hands, so silky soft, creamy pink in my hand, reaching to remove the fuzz that gets absorbed into her little creases. I have always found it fascinating how infants have these perfectly formed hands and feet, full of potential, yet they are gathering fuzz, lint, the occasional hair. For lack of use, they fuzz up!
Do you ever wonder if you're the kind of follower of Jesus who gathers lint in your hands and feet? I did yesterday while I bathed my wiggling girls. Here we are, empowered by the Almighty with the same power that rose Jesus from the dead, to extend our hands to go with our feet to those that need love and light, peace and hope, but maybe we are gathering fuzz. We are fully functional souls, many of us having experienced the nurture and love of our Father for many years, yet still infants in our lack of use. I do not want to gather fuzz any longer.
"Lydia, come here please!" I called to my vivacious 2 year old.
"I'm not Lydia, I'm Uncle Josh!" She exclaimed.
"Okay, Uncle Josh, come here and get dressed."
"Okay, Mommy!" she replied.
I'm always surprised that someone who can so confidently claim the identity of another does not change at all in her character, her relationship with others or her actions. She remains the same jumping, jolly little person, while trying to convince me she's my older brother (who is also quite jolly). This continues throughout the day, and it makes me wonder if I'm a bit like Lydia.
I have taken on a new identity in Christ. I'm a new creation, and yet, is there a change in me that is more than a name change? I do hope that with the name "Follower of Christ," that his character, the way he asks me to relate to others, and his actions permeate how I live my life.
So often we ask you to pray with us about something, but I have the joy of sitting while nursing babies many hours in my day. I have time to pray for you, and I'd like to do that. Please let me know how you're doing using your hands and feet to ward off the spiritual fuzz and impact your world and what your identity change looks like in this season. This will encourage my heart, but also help me to pray for you. If you're struggling to think of how you are having impact or clearly showing your life in Christ, I will be happy to pray for you or listen!
Do you ever wonder if you're the kind of follower of Jesus who gathers lint in your hands and feet? I did yesterday while I bathed my wiggling girls. Here we are, empowered by the Almighty with the same power that rose Jesus from the dead, to extend our hands to go with our feet to those that need love and light, peace and hope, but maybe we are gathering fuzz. We are fully functional souls, many of us having experienced the nurture and love of our Father for many years, yet still infants in our lack of use. I do not want to gather fuzz any longer.
"Lydia, come here please!" I called to my vivacious 2 year old.
"I'm not Lydia, I'm Uncle Josh!" She exclaimed.
"Okay, Uncle Josh, come here and get dressed."
"Okay, Mommy!" she replied.
I'm always surprised that someone who can so confidently claim the identity of another does not change at all in her character, her relationship with others or her actions. She remains the same jumping, jolly little person, while trying to convince me she's my older brother (who is also quite jolly). This continues throughout the day, and it makes me wonder if I'm a bit like Lydia.
I have taken on a new identity in Christ. I'm a new creation, and yet, is there a change in me that is more than a name change? I do hope that with the name "Follower of Christ," that his character, the way he asks me to relate to others, and his actions permeate how I live my life.
So often we ask you to pray with us about something, but I have the joy of sitting while nursing babies many hours in my day. I have time to pray for you, and I'd like to do that. Please let me know how you're doing using your hands and feet to ward off the spiritual fuzz and impact your world and what your identity change looks like in this season. This will encourage my heart, but also help me to pray for you. If you're struggling to think of how you are having impact or clearly showing your life in Christ, I will be happy to pray for you or listen!
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