Showing Christ

If I could tell my husband one thing today, I would tell him I love him.

If I could speak special words to him today, I would speak of my love for him.

If I could show him who I love most, I would show him Christ.

How do we show Christ? How do we convey with actions what we’d like to say with words? How can we show Christ and not just speak of him?

For the unequally yoked, this is our greatest challenge, isn’t it? More often than not, it’s our actions that speak of our faith more effectively than our words. I came across these Scriptures today in 2 Corinthians 3:2-3:

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

I love the imagery Paul uses here. He speaks of showing ourselves as a message from Christ so undeniable that we leave a permanent impression on the hearts of those we meet. Or love.

That’s a tall order to fulfill by far, but Paul makes another point clear here. It is not by our efforts that we do this. If it were, we would be the ones taking credit for another’s Salvation. Even to the point of saying we, our own efforts, had saved them.

No, Paul refers directly to the Spirit of the living God. The Holy Spirit is the ink, the markings, the unforgettable and undeniable presence of God, made visible with his Son through us. We are simply the parchment, a willing and ready surface for the Holy Spirit to make his mark.

I find such comfort and inspiration in that. Comfort in the sense that it isn’t up to us to know what to say or how to say it. God has equipped us with his Holy Spirit to do that for us. We need only listen and obey. To be willing vessels for God to use in reaching our unbelieving loved ones.

And inspiring to know that God can use us in such a noble fashion. He doesn’t need to, He chooses to. He could do this all on his own, but He’s selected us to be those letters of Christ to our unbelieving spouses right here and now.

So I ask, what is your message to your unbelieving spouse? What words can you show through your actions today? Are you willing to let the Holy Spirit make his mark on you for the benefit of your unbelieving loved one?

Precious Father, use us as your parchment. Make us love letters to our unbelieving spouses. Show us how to show You, Jesus. Lord, help us to be willing instruments, in the image of Jesus, to bring your message of love and grace to the world. Jesus, you are the ultimate love letter and we are so grateful for You. In your Holy and Precious Name we pray, amen.

Praying and believing,
Dineen

Comments

[Amy]

This is really good Dineen!

[Lynn]

Dineen,

Oh this scripture just came alive for me. Not only for my husband but for my family as well.

I am praying this prayer with an earnest heart. Make me a parchment Lord.

Awesome!

[Patricia]

Wow, Dineen!!! This REALLY spoke to me at the exact moment I needed it most!! LOVE THIS!!! Thank you!!

Dear Lord, I too want you to make me your parchment!

Praying with you,
Patricia

[sheryl]

great job! i am, however, not speaking or showing Christ to my husband right now! i honestly don't know that i want to. you know why, but it doesn't make it right.

[Jan @ Bold & Free]

Great post Dineen. Praying for your DH.

[Peggy]

Precious Dineen..what an excellent scripture and meaningful post about Showing Christ...no matter to whom BUT especially for us with unbelieving spouses! WOW! You wrote this so aMazingly ALIVE for me!What
an absolute blessing!This is a JEWEL!

I'm convicted but fear in my case, it's a little too late to correct my past and my spouse, has always allowed me religious freedom and appreciated my involvement with the church, bringing our kids...it just was not for him and he wanted the same freedom to believe in God, his own way! But we all know where that leads. I'm helpless and all I can do is PRAY that God will change this hardened heart and awaken him. I wish I had
done better in showing this message in my daily actions and love for him but only God can break through the walls built around this heart...it is not stone, it must be human and God will chisel it if He needs to do that...HE CAN & HE WILL. Bless your mighty words of your heart and pen! You are
so gifted and in tune! Praying that Cuppy is still perserving...and recovering well!