Compelling grace

“What about your life is compelling?”

I heard this question at a special service at church, recently, and I have found myself waking up at night thinking about it, waking up in the morning asking it, pondering it as I go about my daily tasks. For weeks, it has reared its head in my mind, softly asking—almost sadly asking--plaintive and pleading: “Cindy, what about your life is compelling??” And for weeks, I have had no answer for it.

Dr. Alvin Reid, a Southeasten Theological Seminary evangelism professor asked it while using the passage, Acts 4:13: “They took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus.”

Wow. When people look at me, I want them to think to themselves, “She’s been with Jesus.”

If they don’t, I’m missing the point of a life hid in Christ. If MY life is “hid” in Him, then HIS life is the one that will be seen when people see me. But, is it?

Dr. Reid gave three key points on how to live a compelling life:

Live boldly.

“When they saw (inspected/observed) the boldness…..” (Acts 4:13) Do I look for, recognize, then make use of those divine appointments set for me to share Christ?

Show humility.

Jesus is enough. No matter what I face, Jesus is enough. I don’t have to interject myself into the situation or the circumstances. It’s not about me, after all. It’s about Him Who lives within me. Do I demonstrate that?

Display proximity.

“they marveled…filled with wonder”

What’s the testimony of unbelievers about me? Am I obviously close to Christ? How can they tell that when they look at me?

Father, let me step out in faith with my life so hidden in Christ that He is Who people see when I step out.