Richness in Christ

The Yearning
Be the Richness of Christ to Others

There was a yearning in the Spirit's word and voice as he spoke the following to me:

"Chuck, be the richness of Christ to others. Let them experience through you how long, how wide, how high, how deep my love really is. Let the fruit of my Spirit always be present in you: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.

"Clothe yourself in tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Make allowances for others' faults and forgive those who offend you. I forgave you so you must forgive them. Make love the most important piece of clothing you have to wear, for love is what binds the church together in perfect harmony. Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart and make you wise. And always be thankful. Use my words to teach and counsel others. And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.

"Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and effective so that you will have the right answer for everyone.

"This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business. As a result, people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others for your financial needs.

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. Let everyone see that you are considerate in all that you do. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and don't forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your heart and your mind as you live in Christ Jesus.

"Worship Christ as the Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do it in a gentle and respectful way, keeping your conscience clear. Then if people speak evil against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

"Again Chuck, be the richness of Christ to others..."