Growing up, we went to a church in Bay Area, Houston, Texas. It’s where I was born and raised for 18 years of my life and it’s where I think of when I think of home.
This church was right off the side of a major road, across railroad tracks and right down the street from a local donut shop where the owner remembered every face that walked through his doors.
Starting from humble beginnings, my home church grew from it’s original building, now named The Arch, into a 3-building home for those who needed peace, worship, and prayer.
When the new addition was built, it became the main building for people to gather and worship each Sunday.
It soon became the building where several Texas cookouts, celebrations, camps, festivities, worship nights, and fun youth groups games would end up taking place over the years while living in Texas.
And painted in big, bold letters on the far wall of the entrance to this building and the center of all gatherings was the phrase “A Growing Community Becoming More Like Jesus”.
Now, growing up, I never really thought anything of that phrase, the significance and weight of each word, but years and years later, now living in Nashville as an adult, I can’t help but think of home.
When I was in my adolescence, the thought of going to church felt more like a chore…something that had to be done and knowing my dad would likely be on stage, I had to represent for our family. So, I would sit with either my mom or, more likely, my youth group on the clear other end of the building while I tuned out the sermon for the day.
Hey, just being honest…Sunday mornings as a teenager weren’t the most exciting venture.
Until I heard these 3 little words, “Jesus in skin”.
Now, being as young and reckless as I was back then, I brushed it off as though it were any other sermon.
However, through the years, those 3 little words have clung to my chest and burn deep inside of me so much so that no amount of snuffing could cool the embers of its coal.
Being Jesus in skin sounds kind of odd to the naked ear, or eye as you are reading through this blog.
“How can one be Jesus? There is only one of Him and I am human. I don’t have an all-knowing power. I am not Jesus nor could I ever be Jesus”.
No, you are not Jesus but that’s not the purpose of this phrase. In the Bible time and time again, Jesus is patient. He is kind. He does not boast nor is He proud. He keeps no records of wrongs. He is forgiving. He is loving. He extends grace and He is the Prince of Peace.
So, then, how does Jesus’ character reflect the way you are asked to treat others who have wronged you, angered you, think wrongly of you, throw stones at you, accuse you, mistreat or misinterpret you?
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
James 1:19-20
Being Jesus in skin does not mean literally finding a way to have this God-like power…that’s just crazy talk right there.
No, the older I’m becoming and the more I’m maturing in my faith alongside the rest of you, being Jesus in skin means showing grace or mercy to those who your worldly self does not want to respond kindly too.
Being Jesus in skin is extending a hand rather than throwing hands…even if that’s your first reaction.
Being Jesus in skin is intently listening and letting someone speak their concerns rather than using a quick tongue to lash out first.
Being Jesus in skin means to become more like Him for the sake of the world.
It means reflecting His character instead of showing worldly character.
Which then begs the question, “if I am meant to be ‘Jesus in skin’ and show His character even when I’m tempted to show worldly character…what does that even mean? What does that even look like?”
Just the other week, I asked my husband pray over me to soften my heart over a situation because I was having a very hard time forgiving someone who has wronged me as well as several others for selfish desires.
He spoke life over me and asked God to take control of the situation. He asked God to remove any resentful or harmful emotions in my heart and asked for Him to soften my heart towards this individual showing grace and forgiveness over hatred and vengefulness, as tempted as I was to retaliate what had been given.
And it was in his prayer that he reminded me of these verses below.
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
Psalms 116:5
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Micah 7:18-19
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mark 11:25
When you are tempted to respond with worldly emotions, I want to encourage you to take a step back and genuinely ask yourself, “how would Jesus respond in this situation? Where can I show God’s character instead of my own?”
And it was that week that I thought of home…all those years ago, back to the sermon with those 3 little words.
It takes nothing to respond to evil with evil. It takes everything to respond to evil with kindness.
Do you have resentment built up in your heart? Maybe it’s to a loved one or a friend or family member? Or maybe it’s a co-worker or even a stranger who yelled at you in public? With the upcoming elections in America and people posting their opinions left and right, hoping to sway some votership, what emotions does that elicit inside of you?
Today, I want to encourage you when you feel a bit hardened, ask yourself “how can I be Jesus in skin in this moment?”
And then take a few seconds to let the weight of those 3 little words transform you from the inside out.
I hope you have been encouraged with these words just as much as I felt the need to write them…and needed to be reminded of them.
Simply Blooming Grace 