What does this mean?
Have you ever seen something that made you scratch your head? Have you ever tried to understand a personal tragedy or national crisis? Have you ever screamed out, “God, why is this happening, and what does it mean?” Moses saw a burning bush one day and said, “‘I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.’” (Exodus 3:3, NIV)
In the book of Acts, the 120 disciples started speaking in foreign languages. A crowd gathered: “Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’ Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’” (Acts 2:12-13, NIV)
friend, you are a sign and a wonder. God wants to show off through you. The Bible says, “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3, NKJV)
I’ll never stop pinching myself and thanking God for all His grace and mercies in my life. When I came to Christ, my dad could never understand my new faith. He didn’t know I was suicidal and abusing drugs. He didn’t know my university hockey career was quickly turning bad with violence and depression.
My new faith and commitment to Christ that gave me love and generosity confused him. I was a living sign. I was an epistle. Slowly, my dad saw the progress and success in my life. He couldn’t figure me out, but one day he said, “Paul, you could fall into a truckload of manure and come out smelling like roses.” He didn’t know that the Bible says, “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 2:15, NKJV)
friend, what do you smell like? Are people confused by your joy, peace, and love? Jesus said, “‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’” (John 13:35, NIV)
So, friend, it’s time to confuse your friends and family with the new you because you are a miracle.
