As I was returning from a family vacation — where my legs were voted whiter than the Florida sand — a song came on the radio and captured my attention. The lyrics asked:
“What would life be like if we let Jesus live through you and me?”
John Kyle
Let that sink in for a moment. What if the hundreds of millions of people who claim to be Christians actually let Jesus live through them? What if we did more than profess our faith and, instead, lived as Jesus would live if He were walking among us today?
I believe that would be — noticeable.
Those early Christ followers were certainly noticeable. A quick review of Acts 2:42–47 illustrates how these new believers lived out the gospel Jesus proclaimed. The result — “Every day the Lord added to their number…” Now that’s noticeable!
What happened?
At the risk of oversimplifying what can certainly be a complex issue, I wonder if one of the reasons we’re not more noticeable is that we’ve followed Jonah’s way instead of Jesus’ way? In other words, we’ve chosen our own direction.
God clearly spoke to Jonah. He told him where to go and what to say. Jonah essentially responded, “No way,” then intentionally boarded a ship headed in the opposite direction.
As the ship traveled, a violent storm suddenly engulfed it. The sailors feared for their lives. They did everything they could to keep the ship afloat, but the waves continued to batter them as the water poured in.
Meanwhile, below deck, Jonah — God’s disobedient messenger — was sound asleep. His absence, lack of awareness, and lack of concern were noticeable.
As the waves threatened to break the ship apart, the sailors became desperate. They went below deck, woke Jonah, and asked in panic, “Don’t you care that we’re about to perish?”
Jonah replied, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea … for I know that I’m to blame for this violent storm that is against you.”
Jonah chose his own direction instead of following God’s direction, and the result was harrowing, to say the least — for him and those around him.
Returning to the question in the song — what would life be like if we let Jesus live through you and me?
Would there be more illumination in a dark world because we consistently let our light shine? Would certain actions, behaviors, conversations become so distinct and life-giving that they could almost be tasted because we actively became the salt we are called to be?
Jesus reminds us that we are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. No legislation, initiative or program can replace the influence of believers who live out their faith.
Fellow Christ-follower, He lives in you. Now, let Him live through you. Adopt Paul’s approach: “For to me, living means opportunities for Christ” (Phil. 1:21, Living Bible).
Imagine what life would be like if we let Jesus live through you and me.
— John Kyle is a retired director of communications for the Louisiana Baptist Convention.