Recognizable

So.

I had a thought this morning. A big one actually.

The thought led to the question, "Am I recognizable?"

• To God
• To Fellow Believers
• To Strangers
• To Myself

Let me tell you a very short story:

I was driving to work this morning, in a bit of a hurry. I was running really late. I mean, after 8 days off for Christmas vacation (a post and pictures will be posted soon), it takes a couple of days to get back into the swing of things. 

To get to my office, I have to turn down a dirt road and about 1/10th of a mile, come to a guard shack with a gate that is only opened with my ID badge, or the nice guards press a button and the gate opens so that I never even have to stop. :)

I barely made the turn down the road and the gate began to open. The guard, B.F., recognized my car and as I drove past, he smiled and waved 'Good Morning' to me. 

And at that moment ladies and gentlemen, I asked the question, "Am I recognizable?"

Not in the physical way.

In the Holy Spirit way.

A picture flashed in my brain: pearl and gold gates on a road of clouds

I turn down the road.

Do the gates begin to open?

Do I need to swipe my badge?

Do the guards recognize me and press the button and wave me through?

Do my brothers and sisters in Christ look at me and see the Holy Spirit in me?

Do my actions reflect Christ and His Presence in me?

Do strangers see me, hear me, and know that something is different and long for it too?

Do I look in the mirror to see a daughter of the King?

Do I know and believe that I am loved, forgiven and blessed?

Do I see a faithful Christ-follower and servant to the Mighty God?

One turn down a dusty dirt road and God had convicted me and placed on my heart so much to pray about, to seek His Word about. 

The most awesome part is that the study I am currently doing, James: Mercy Triumphs, is so much about these questions...The book of James stirs up buried things in the marrow of my bones, and brings them into the Light so that I can deal with them, be cleansed, be healed, be renewed, and walk in a way that is RECOGNIZABLE to God...to His people...to unbelievers...and to myself. 

I want to be recognized as His child. I want to reflect Him in every way possible. When I turn down that eternal road at the end of this physical life, I long for those guards to recognize me before they even see me, so that I can walk through and meet my Savior face to face without ever skipping a beat!!!

 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God.

The world cannot receive him, because it cannot see him or know him. 

But you know him, because he remains with you and is in you.

 When I go, you will not be left all alone; I will come back to you.

John 14:16-18

My dearly loved brothers, understand this: 

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 

for man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. 

Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil, 

humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.

James 1:19-21

First things first. Your business is life, not death. And life is urgent: Announce God's kingdom!...

Jesus said, "No procrastination. No backward looks. 

You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. 
Seize the day.

Luke 9:60b, 62