Showing God…

How do we show God to others? It’s really a tough question to ask because I think a lot of us are timid in sharing our faith with others. And maybe it’s not so much the sharing of Jesus as it is that we are afraid of what others will say. It’s a fear of rejection from our friends and loved ones. Or maybe even the fact that we are afraid to share him and do it in such a way that we don’t feel comfortable with the way it comes across. Let me explain. My wife and I were walking into a local store the other day and there where a group of people maybe five or so of them standing with signs and one had maid a cross and was holding his bible underneath his arm. All of these people were yelling at the top of there lungs “Jesus Saves” and lots of scripture to the people getting out of there cars in the shopping center parking lot. Now at first I was a little taken back by this. I couldn’t decide if I was upset at them for “giving Christians a Bad name” or if I admired their boldness. And truly it was probably a little of both, But more power too them if it works and people receive it.
What really got me thinking about this was that the other night I was reading my bible and read Ezekiel 47 (ignore the reference letters)

Ezekiel 47 Water from the Temple
1 Then he brought me back to the door R1802 of the house; and behold, water R1803 was flowing from under the threshold of the house toward the east, for the house faced east. And the water was flowing down from under, from the right side of the house, from south of the altar. 2 He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on F930 the outside to the outer gate by way of the gate that faces east. And behold, water was trickling from the south side.
3 When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles. 4 Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the loins. 5 Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river R1804 that could not be forded. 6 He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen R1805 this?" Then he brought me back F931 to the bank of the river. 7 Now when I had returned, behold, on the bank of the river there were very many trees R1806 on the one side and on the other. 8 Then he said to me, "These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah; R1807 then they go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, R1808 and the waters of the sea become fresh. F932 9 "It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river F933 goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become F934 fresh; so everything R1809 will live where the river goes. 10 "And it will come about that fishermen R1810 will stand beside it; from Engedi R1811 to Eneglaim there will be a place for the spreading R1812 of nets. Their fish will be according to their kinds, like the fish of the Great R1813 Sea, very R1814 many. 11 "But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; F935 they will be left F936 for salt. R1815 12 "By R1816 the river on its bank, on one side and on the other, will grow all kinds of trees R1817 for food. Their leaves R1818 will not wither and their fruit will not fail. They will bear every month because their water flows from the sanctuary, and their fruit will be for food and their leaves R1819 for healing."


When I read this I was thinking what is that this says, I mean what is God trying to say to me and everyone else in this scripture. There are tons of messages in it, but the one that grabbed me is the message of his glory and love.
In different translations it says slightly different things, some say the water was trickling and some say the water was flowing, at any rate the water was moving. And as Ezekiel was taken farther and farther out the water got deeper and deeper until eventually he could not be in it with out loosing control. That was a powerful thought for me.
Everything the water came into contact with it brought to life and life was drawn to it. What came to me in this was that When God gives us life more abundantly he doesn’t intend for is to keep it and horde it to ourselves. He fully expects us to give it back to him and not out of duty but out of love. And to do our very best in all we attempt for him. What is great about this is that he knows what we are made of and he will never put us in a position to fail. A famous runner from the 70’s named Prefontain said “to give anything less than the best is to sacrifice the gift” that’s a powerful statement because what ever God has ask you to do he has supplied you with the Gifts necessary to accomplish the task. The other thing about it is he does the work. "These waters go out toward the eastern region and go down into the Arabah; R1807 then they go toward the sea, being made to flow into the sea, R1808 and the waters of the sea become fresh. F932 9 "It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river F933 goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become F934 fresh; so everything R1809 will live where the river goes. The scripture says that life will be attracted to the flow of God and not only regular life but New Life things that were “living” will now be fully alive, so all the work is done by God.
When God pours into your life he doesn’t do any thing small that’s why the phrase “my cup runs over” is fitting. He pours into you at such a rate that you can’ help but pour into other people. So how do you show God to other people? Jump into the flow of the river that’s how let it take you where the need is. And God will allow the need to be met with Him receiving the glory. because where He is lifted up, men will be drawn to him.