MESSAGES
“Is this the same man”
—John 9:8 (NLT)
In the Gospel of John (chapter 9) we read the story of a blind man whose sight was restored by Jesus. Afterwards, the people who once knew him were unable to recognize him. The man they knew was a blind man. This man could now see. The neighbors began asking each other, "Is this the same man . . .?" Some said he was. Others said—No. The man kept saying, "I am the same man."
The other day while I walking about, I ran into a firefighter whom I have met, and whom I have spoken to on more than one occasion. When I saw him I almost walked right by him because I didn't recognize him. I didn't recognize him because he was out of uniform. I had always seen him in uniform. I had never seen him or spoken to him otherwise. I knew him by his first name when I saw him in uniform. Yet, out of uniform he appeared as a stranger to me. I wasn't sure if he was the same man.
This occurrence caused me to begin thinking about my own life. I began to ask myself—How do people see me? Am I the same person in uniform as I am out of uniform? In other words, am I the same person in the fire stations or police cars as I am in the church? Do people recognize me as a Christian no matter where I am? Or do they ask themselves, "Is this the same man?"
As Christians we are to be the same man, the same woman, in uniform and out. Let's always live a life where, no matter where we are, people will always say, "He is the same man."
"I am the same man"
—John 9:9 (NLT)
Stay in your spiritual uniform,
Chaplain Steve |
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| SHIELD OF FAITH |
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For more information,
call (951) 687-6902
Attention Juanita
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