The Reflection

Devotional for Sunday, July 23, 2000 by Lynne Phipps

As I walked my dogs along the road beside our lake, I was impressed by the scenic beauty reflected in the still waters. So perfect was the reflection, if I had photographed the moment it would have been difficult to distinguish right side up on the finished print. This natural phenomenon sparked my mind to consider these questions.

What and Who is my life reflecting? God-colours in my words, actions and attitudes? God-flavours as the world rub shoulders with me daily? If not, why not? Am I too busy joining the world's ways, being accepted by men, instead of living the resurrection life so that men might accept Jesus? Do I pursue the things over which Christ presides, that my life might have vision and purpose shaped by God instead of things and feelings?

Salt must be poured out to be useful as a seasoning. Light must be uncovered and kept burning to reflect colour and penetrate darkness. Where and how am I pouring out the love, time, energy, finances, gifts and talents that are mine in Christ? Who do I turn to, to keep my light uncovered and well maintained that my life might reflect God-colours? -- my own thoughts, feelings, and intelligence? -- or the person of the Holy Spirit who reveals to me the perspective of Jesus?

I was only doing what I do almost every day: walking the dogs along the road, beside the lake. Little did I know that this day I would meet the Spirit of Jesus -- the light of the world -- in such a savoury way!

Prayer: Dear Lord and wonderful Father, flavour our thoughts with the perspective of Jesus this day, that our words and deeds might colour this world for You. Amen.

Colossians 3:1-5 - So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ -- that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life -- even though invisible to spectators -- is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too -- the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ. And that means killing off everything connected with that way of death: sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy. That's a life shaped by things and feeling instead of by God. (MSG)

Lynne Phipps <lynnephipps@hotmail.com>
Atlin, British Columbia, Canada

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