A story is told about a small boy who waited to speak to the minister of a church after the services were over. He understood that he was a sinner, and he wondered what he should do in order to become a Christian.
The minister spent some time with that boy. He explained how it was necessary for him to repent of his sins and to ask Jesus for help to forsake them. “You have to invite Jesus to come and live in your heart,” the minister said.
The young boy was startled. “Oh no, sir, I couldn’t do that,” he exclaimed. “I’m so small and Jesus is so big. He would be sticking out all over.”
“He would, indeed,” came the minister’s reply. “That’s the whole point of inviting him in, young man.”
Amid my daily life—cleaning children, windows, bathrooms, and floors; cooking scores of meals each year; hanging laundry and making sure the pets are fed—I quite frequently forget that I’m to have Jesus “sticking out all over.” I start complaining instead. I whine about cooking or gripe about the weather. In fact, if I really put my mind to it, it’s surprising how many things I can find to grumble about.
Other times, I’m downright rude. I don’t intend to be, but in my rush to do my duties, I forget to be considerate. I don’t take seriously enough the “Do as you would be done to” rule for living, and I begin to act as if it were instead an optional and possibly obsolete text from ancient years.
Living with Jesus sticking out all over must become a way of life. If his spirit permeates every corner of my heart, it’s going to show to those around me. For it must begin at home and extend from there in a shining circle.
Doing the ordinary tasks of my life as if I were doing them for Jesus removes them from the mundane and renders them worthwhile. And it will make me able to reach out to others in a way that gives clear evidence of who is running my life.
Instead of complaining, I should praise God for all he has done for me. And if I put my mind to it, that list never really ends. Instead of rushing around rude and grouchy, I will slow down and acknowledge that I am one of the “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
I will begin to let him stick out all over.
| Prayer | Reflection |
| I wish everyone I meet could see that you are living in me, Lord. Continue to show me how to bring honor to your name. | How will I be an ambassador for Christ today? |