Lord, YOUR SPIRIT keeps reminding me of the words of this hymn. As I have been pondering them, it has made me wonder if others can notice when I have been sitting at the feet of JESUS?
MY child, when you spend time with ME, and continually get to know ME better, others cannot help but notice it. Have you ever seen coal or wood burning in a fire? What happens when one of those embers pops out of the fire and lands away from it? I don't need to tell you what happens. You know that as long as it is in the fire, it is hot and glowing, but once it leaves the fire it gets cold and goes out. That is the same with the Christian life. While you are enjoying that close relationship with ME, you will be warmed and glow because you cannot help it, but if you drift away, you will become cold in heart. Oh, you won't lose your salvation, but there will be something missing in your life.
Have you seen unhappy Christians? Of course you have! Do you know if they were spending "real quality time" with ME, and not just going though the motions, they "couldn't" be unhappy! Why--because they would understand that everything they have, and all the blessings that they enjoy both here on earth, and in heaven, comes from MY hand. How could you be unhappy knowing that? MY children should always have a smile on their face. They ought to be a happy people when they think of all that I have blessed them with. What could possibly make them so unhappy, when I as their heavenly FATHER have only given them MY very best?
Now--have you seen other Christians that are passing through deep, deep waters, and yet they have a joy and peace about them. Why is that? It is because they know ME in a real way and are trusting the ONE who has allowed these things to happen. Do they understand "Why?" Absolutely not, but they are choosing joy that comes from knowing ME, and not from their circumstances.
They aren't playing at being a Christian! They want to be real and to show others what JESUS would do no matter what the situation. It is their number one priority to honour Me and to BE obedient to ME in everything they do.
So MY child, smile and be happy! After all, would you want to get to know someone, if they were always grumpy and unhappy? Remember, others see ME through you! Do others see JESUS when they look at you?
My prayer: O LORD, help others to see JESUS when they look at me. Let me choose this day to be happy, and to choose that joy that can only be found in knowing YOU.