Does The World See Jesus In You?

"Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?" - John 14:8-10

Isn't it interesting that Jesus told Philip that seeing Jesus was the same thing as seeing God, the Father? 

"No one has ever seen God; the only God [the Son - Jesus], who is at the Father's side, he has made him known." - John 1:18

The world is desperate for the things that only God can provide. The world seeks relief from the physical aspects of our existence, our natural lives. God, the Father, in His providence, has made provision for something greater to satisfy the source of their fears and discontent. It is not the physical but the spiritual aspect of their existence - to satisfy their need for a pardon for their sins through faith Jesus the Son and a new life in Him.

"From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" - 2 Corinthians 5:16-18

Starting from the moment of our salvation, our lives are being transformed as we are conformed into the image of Christ. 

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." - Romans 8:28-29

Jesus prayed to the Father -

"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me." - John17: 20-23

And so - just as when Jesus told Philip that if Philip had seen Jesus, then he had also seen the Father, so we who are one with Jesus can say "If you have seen me - you have seen Jesus".  What? You don't think that can be true for you? Well, I would say that it "should" be true. As Christians how we live our lives should reflect our faith. Does your life clearly reflect Jesus to the world? Does the world see Jesus in you?

If our lives do not reflect Jesus to the world then the reason it doesn't is because we have a love problem. Our hearts are divided in their devotion. We love ourselves or the world more than we love God. It is a common malady among Christians. You can't live your new life in Christ on your own. You have been saved by faith and that is how you must live. You are not immune to the temptation to trust in your flesh - to yield to it. But God has provided a way to escape. 

"Therefore, let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone