If Christianity Were A Person
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for loving me long before I ever loved You back. Help that truth sink in a little deeper today. Amen.
“We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece —throughout both Macedonia and Achaia. And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God.” 1 Thessalonians 1:4-9 (NLT)
REFLECT:
"If Christianity were a person, that person probably wouldn't like me." These words from Penny, shared in Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz, capture what many outside the faith feel. People often form an image of Christianity based on stereotypes, political figures, or judgmental encounters. Then she met Nadine—a Christian who didn't fit the stereotype.
On a trip to France, Nadine showed genuine interest in Penny's complicated past. She asked questions. She listened. She created space for Penny's story without judgment or agenda. This simple approach—asking questions and truly listening—created something powerful: reciprocity. Because Nadine showed interest in Penny's story, Penny became interested in Nadine's.
What happened next reveals a profound truth: our lived faith often speaks louder than our spoken faith. Paul celebrates this in 1 Thessalonians 1:5: "When we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you."
Over a year of genuine friendship—no agenda, no pressure—Nadine simply lived her faith consistently, allowing Penny to observe Christianity through her life. The result? Penny began to reconsider her assumptions. Eventually, Nadine invited her to read through Matthew's Gospel together. Penny's response: "I found Jesus very disturbing, very straight-forward. If I met Him, He would really like me."
Here's the beautiful irony: Penny believed that if Christianity were a person, that person wouldn't like her. But Christianity is a person—Jesus Christ. And to discover that, Penny needed a follower of Jesus close enough to reflect His heart to her. When Christianity wears your human face, what do people see?
APPLY:
PRAY FOR YOUR ONE
- 1. Ask God what your One might think of Christianity based on what they've seen in you. Be honest with Him about any gaps.
- 2. Pray that your life would create an inner conflict for your One—that they would see something in you that challenges their assumptions about Christians.
- 3.Ask God for patience to invest in your relationship with your One without placing a timeline on the outcome.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Jesus, let my life tell the truth about who You are. Forgive me for the times my words and actions haven't matched. Give me patience to invest in people without an agenda, and courage to share my story when the moment is right. May the way I live make You believable to someone who's watching. In Your name, Amen.
PRAYER REQUEST:
Share your prayer request and pray for others.