Living Icons of Christ 9-27-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I choose to live my life in the power of Your strength and in submission to Your will, as best as I can. Help me humble myself enough to ask for it and help me rise up in faith enough to receive it. ... An icon is something that points us beyond itself to the reality that it represents. We don't worship the cross, but it points us to the One who was crucified for us. We don't worship the bible, but it points us to the One who gives us the words of life and truth. As the body of Christ, we are icons. We point others to the One we represent. Remind us of our responsibility to represent You well, but also remind us of our identity that we are only the representatives. We are "ambassadors for Christ," but we are not Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). We are no one's savior or messiah, no one's healer or deliverer, no one's answer to every question and need; but You are. You are the Reality that we represent as Your body -- submitted to Your will, filled with Your Spirit, committed to live for Your glory. Let us not forget who we are; let us not forget Whose we are. "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it" (1 Corinthians 12:27). "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). "And He died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for them" (2 Corinthians 5:15). We have chosen in humility and in faith to be dead to the ways of the world and alive to the will of God, all by Your grace. In Christ, we now belong to You -- "to Him who has been raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God" (Romans 7:4). Let our lives bear the fruit of pointing others to You as faithful ambassadors and living icons of the true nature of Christ, who lives in us. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com