Lengthy Quote Reflection
I recall when my wife and I were sitting on a bench along the levy of the Great Miami River in Troy, Ohio. It was a lovely evening that afforded us a beautiful view.
A few minutes into our river view experience, a couple of young men dressed professionally in black pants, white shirts, and ties rolled up behind us on the bike path.
One asked if he could give us a card, and my wife said, “Sure.” He then told us he and his partner were missionaries from The Church of the Latter-Day Saints. Â They went on to tell us they were Mormons.
To some people, that would have caused an abrupt stop to the conversation. On the other hand, Lori and I are pretty open to everyone. On top of that, several years ago, we had Mormon neighbors who were the nicest people you’d ever want to meet. I can’t speak for Lori, but I try my best to reserve any judgment about others’ practice of religion, especially if it includes the love of Jesus.
The same guy asked if we believed in God, and we both said, “Yes.” Â He followed that question with a question about Jesus, and if our lives were different because of Jesus, and if so, how. I chuckled and thought, “I once was a full-time narcissistic, drug-addicted a$$, and now I’m not.”
Luckily, I had my filter on, and Lori and I shared that we had some pretty big struggles many years ago and credited our faith in Jesus for helping us get through.
I know I have a lot of Jesus followers who read my blog. How many of you have taken the time to compare your “with-Jesus” lives to your “without-Jesus” lives? It’s an excellent exercise for measuring your “walk with Jesus” progress.
If my walk with Jesus isn’t improving, I am backsliding.
God doesn’t ask us for much but wants us to live a life representative of our love, honor, and obedience to him.
Personally, my walk with Jesus gives me the best chance to live a life that is loving, honorable, and obedient in the eyes of my Father.
…kind of like two guys riding their bikes in 80-degree heat wearing black pants, white shirts, ties, and helmets spreading the good news…
I pray for their success.
1 Samuel 16:7, But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
