“It’s not uncommon,” Stan began, “for Christians to say about themselves, ‘I certainly am no saint’.”
“I’ve heard a lot of people say that about themselves,” I responded.
“Me, too,” Stan replied, “and my question is always to wonder why someone would say that.”
“Probably want to express their humility or just to be honest about what they see in themselves,” I ventured.
“Perhaps,” Stan said, “but I can’t help but see it as contrary to what I think God thinks or how He sees. And I saw something about this at the beginning of the letter to the Hebrews this morning.”
“Did Paul write that letter?” I asked.
“Seems like no one on this side of eternity knows for certain who wrote it,” Stan responded, “but whoever did put in an excellent description of Jesus that, I think, bears on what we are talking about.”
“How so?” I asked.
“The writer of the letter described Jesus as being the exact representation of God’s nature. Kind of like looking at Jesus to see what God looks like walking around on two legs.”
Continuing, Stan said, “And if that’s true, which I believe it is, and if the Holy Spirit of God lives in me, which I believe He does, there is no reason for me or, for that matter any Christian, to be self-described as ‘no saint’.”
“If I do that,” Stan added, “I think I am denying what God has for me to be, which is the manifestation of Christ. It may sound humble, but I do not think that God wants me to be humble in that way. No, I think He wants me to be bold in representing who I am in Christ.”
“It doesn’t mean,” Stan concluded, “that I am to run around proclaiming that I am a saint, but I am to manifest the sainthood of being a Christian.”
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And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature. Hebrews 1:3.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus into the world as your exact representation. Thank you for His finished work on the cross that gives me the assurance of spending eternity with you when it is time. And thank you for His presence in me through the Holy Spirit which He asked you to send. I confess that too often I do not manifest His presence in me the way you want. Please forgive me. And please, Lord, help me in being bold in allowing your exact representation to be manifested in and through me to make a difference for you on this side of eternity. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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Things to think (and journal) about:
1. What is your biggest take-away from this devotional?
2. What does this devotional say about God and about us as His people?
3. What is God saying to you to do personally?
4. Who can you share this with to make a difference?
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Comments, questions, suggestions, and the like can be addressed to The Storyteller at: waiting4thetrain@gmail.com.
Waiting for the Train 