shadow

Easter

Mirror Image

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“As waters reflect the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”
Proverbs 27:19, NIV

Over a year ago, I enrolled in an online iPhone photography course. Besides receiving instruction from experienced iPhone photographers on how to capture and edit remarkable photos, students are invited to join a Facebook community of their peers and participate in constructive critiques.

While on vacation last summer, I was struck by the crystal-clear reflection of a yellow house along the canal and captured the image with my iPhone. When I edited my photo, I cropped out the majority of the land portion of the house to emphasize its outstanding reflection. After posting my photo in the online community, I received favorable comments, but I also received some stating that I should’ve included in my picture the source of the reflection—the house itself. One comment especially resonated with me: “The reflection is the hero, but without the source, it’s not as powerful.”

Many houses reflected in the canal that evening, but the element that made this reflection outstanding was the angle of the sun. I snapped the photo during the golden hour—the last hour before sunset—the hour when the sun’s rays bring ordinary objects to life with a golden glow. The water mirrored the house above it, but without its remarkable light source, the reflection would’ve lost its impact.

God created us in his image, but we were born into a fallen world and possessed a sinful nature. If we confess our sin and invite Christ to be our Savior, he forgives our sin. From that moment forward, as we devote time to Bible study and prayer, our lives begin to take on the characteristics of Christ. The more time we invest, the more we grow spiritually, and the more accurate the reflection of Christ in us becomes.

The mirrored image of the yellow house was what caught my attention that evening, but when my eyes moved upward, I saw the actual house. How do others respond when they see the image we reflect? Do their eyes travel upward to the origin of the reflection—the light of Jesus Christ?

We either mirror the characteristics of our Heavenly Father or those of a fallen world. Indeed, the image we reflect may be the hero, but without Christ as the light source, it loses its power.

As Easter approaches, may the reflection of Christ in us inspire others to look heavenward and see our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Happy Easter!

Starr Ayers

Savior of the World

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“And they were saying to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.’”
John 4:42, NASB

crossSavior of the world … this One … we have heard for ourselves and know.

She went to the well to draw water but ended up being drawn to Christ. He engaged her in conversation. He pursued her heart. He revealed His identity.

In her excitement, this Samaritan woman “left her waterpot” (Jn. 4:28) and declared to the men of her city, “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?” (Jn. 4:29). She had discovered the Messiah sitting right near her—this One, Savior of the world. Because she shared her experience, “many of the Samaritans believed in Him” (Jn. 4:39).

But the time came when their belief wasn’t based solely on her word. They heard Jesus with their own ears and understood His message. Convinced of who Christ is, they recognized Him as the Savior of the world.

The Greek word for Savior, soter, is defined as “deliverer” (BLB). God sent His Son with a mission: to die for our sins. Jesus placed Himself on splintered wood, suffered the piercing nails as well as thorns, and paid the excruciating penalty for our sins. Three days later, God raised Him from the dead, proving Jesus’ deity once and for all. By faith in Christ’s Person and work, we’re delivered. But that’s not all—Christ also delivers us from sins we struggle with now. And in a coming day, He’ll deliver us from the presence of sin. Forever.Isn’t this awesome news?!

I want to be like that woman who left her waterpot, a critical vessel for daily sustenance, so she could tell others about Jesus and the living water He gives. I long to impact others with my words so they come to Christ. More than that, I yearn for those in my sphere of influence to “hear” Jesus for themselves and know He is indeed the Savior of the world.

The Savior of the world is alive, and people in each of our cities need to hear about Him through us. May God intensify our passion to share Christ, stirring us to “look on the fields, that they are white for harvest” (Jn. 4:35).

Much love in Christ,

Emily

Image by Brennan Wickham. Used with permission. Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.