Recognize Me

2 Corinthians 10:7 - The trouble with you is that you make decisions on the basis of appearance. You must recognize that we belong to Christ just as much as those who proudly declare that they belong to Christ. (NLT)

I have spent the last eleven months working on a healthier me; I have incorporated many new habits into my life. The biggest change so far is that I have lost 85 pounds. It has been difficult at times, to say the least. I have managed to stay the course, by the grace of Jesus; when the doubts and challenges have hit, I have turned to Him for my strength. I have often laughed and shared this past year, when people have asked me how I have done it. Because I cannot read my Bible with sticky fingers, I pick up the Bible and read it instead, so that keeps the snacking at bay. What I wasn't prepared for, though, was the fact that people who have not seen me in the past year may not recognize me. This has happened twice in the past few weeks. The first time, it was my nephew. The next instance happened in a small local coffee shop. I went in on my way to work to get a coffee, and I had not been in for a number of months. I said hello and placed my order, and then went on my way to work. As I drove, I could not help but feel that the two people who served me were distant and not very chatty with me on this day. I mentioned this to my husband, and he said that they probably didn't recognize me. The more I thought about these two encounters, the more it made sense to me: my family, workmates, and I are seeing the changes gradually. People whom I have not seen for a long time are seeing a different person, on the outside. What about the inside, though, which is so much more important to this world of people who do not know Christ?

1 Peter 2:9 - But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God's holy nation, his very own possession. This is so that you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (NLT)

Vital, yes, is a healthier me, but how I let that show is a testimony to who Jesus is in my life. So what about other areas of our lives? How much are we allowing the light and love of Jesus to show through in our finances, our relationships, our jobs, our family life, our health, and so on?

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You are the only one who can truly transform us. We submit again to Your ways in our lives. Help us to be the light in a dark world and into dark situations. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Julie Bowles