Today’s Reading : Acts 26
Living is hard.
Doing what is required is hard.
Attempting to live your best is hard.
Throughout many struggles and challenges life can be difficult. In these situations we can give up or we can tap into the special gift of life that God has given us.
The special gift is known as the Holy Spirit, we are able to withstand all of the pressures of life and lean heavily into the Holy Spirit, which is God the spirit. We have received this gift from the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ was crucified, his blood allowed for the reconnection of our spirit and God the spirit. This reconciliation allows us to manifest or hold the Holy Spirit in our person. When we are in a relationship with God and allow the spirit to grow in us, then we can be a reflection of God. When we are a reflection of God, others can see God in us.
Over the last several weeks and blogs one thing that is constant is being a reflection of God’s love to the world. In Stephen’s confession and his presentation we see that Stephen was showing the face of an angel.
And Stephen, full of [b]faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
Acts 6:8-10;15
In Acts 16, we are reminded to be reflections of Christ by loving God and loving others through Paul, Timothy, and Silas in the jail. In today’s reading Acts 26, we are shown how to be confident in our faith and showing others through our actions and life how to be more like Christ and showing Gods Love unconditionally.
4 “My manner of life from my youth, which was spent from the beginning among my own nation at Jerusalem, all the Jews know. 5 They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers. 7 To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. 8 Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?
Acts 26:4-8
A while ago, I read an antidote about spilling coffee. In the story, a person has a cup of coffee and somebody bumped into them. When the person bumped into them, the coffee spills out. The moral of the story is what’s in your cup is what will come out. When we understand that God is in us and we cultivate God in us, then when life happens God can spill out. Others will see the God in you.
God, allow us to be reflections of you in our daily walk.