We Will Be a Living Testimony

Meditations for the Season of Advent 

November 30, 2022

We Will Be a Living Testimony

“. . . and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 3:19 (NRSV) 

What is it like to be filled with the fullness of God? Brennan Manning noted in his journal that we experience the fullness of God “whenever people come home to themselves in our presence, and when they feel a little less hopeful and joyful because we are absent.” I believe Manning is correct, but his insight is also counter-cultural.

We live in a value-added society. Our culture has indoctrinated us to discern the value that will be added to our life before we make a buying decision or before we determine to invest our time in a relationship. “What’s in it for me?” may sound crass, and we may not be so blunt in our speech, or thought processes, but the truth is we subconsciously evaluate the commitment of our time and resources based on the perceived benefits we will receive. Jesus’ perspective is for us to look at how we can benefit others; not how they can benefit us: “Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it” (Luke 17:33). (Also, Philippians 2:4 (NRSV), “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.”)

A few days ago, I noted that when I say, “Jesus is Lord,” the Holy Spirit prompts me to a gut-check: “Have I submitted all the priorities of my life to the Lordship of Jesus?” Yesterday, I observed that I wanted to live with the exciting sense that something is about to happen. When I put these two ideas together, I am inspired with a holy desire that others sense the fullness of God within me, that the people I encounter, whether friends, family, or strangers, find in me a source of strength and joy.

My Takeaway: I invite you to join me in this desire, and together, as we experience the presence of Christ living his life through us, we will be a living testimony to the world of the promise of Advent and Christmas.

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2022 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.