Have you ever thought about what it means to be a follower, or better, a disciple of Christ? There are times Abba asks me to be, “Jesus with skin on,” for someone who doesn’t quite experience Him. . . yet.
When He walked the earth, Jesus had all the skin He needed, and people could touch Him. But since His ascension in Acts 1:9. . . it’s different.
We can have, and need, a relationship with Him,
but it’s not like people we can touch.
The first time He asked me to represent him that way, I remember I really didn’t even like the person.
That was the beginning of how I learned to love by faith.
What a transformation to invite Abba to love others through me. I’m pretty sure that changed me more than the recipient.
And by His grace, it did make a difference in her life too.
This transfer of love, from our Creator to people, most often begins with someone allowing themselves to trust God’s love for themselves first.
That alone is radical.
What makes it better is the more of His love we give away,
the more we receive.
It opens the door to the overflow of God’s love.
When Abba asks us to be Jesus with skin on,
it is not always fun.
Some people bristle, to put it nicely, at our loving overtures.
It’s not me or you they don’t like.
They usually don’t like themselves,
and are afraid to be loved by anyone.
I am writing this in “Holy week” leading to Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. Reflect a moment on what happened to Jesus. . . .
The good news is, when we choose to increasingly press into Abba for our healing and supply, the overflow of love comes more easily.
I have not arrived, trust me, but now I aim to be Jesus with skin on all the time.
I see changes for the better in my life and those I encounter when I choose Christ likeness over the other options.
Who is Abba asking you to be Jesus with skin on for this week?
Hint: rarely is it ever a “week and done” project.
Our relationship with Jesus is eternal.
Andrea, Thank you for being “Jesus with skin on”
for so many = including me. Blessings, Bette